7/11/21 Sermon Pentecost 7 Proper 10 RCL B
Amos 7:7-15, Psalm 85:8-13, Ephesians 1:3-14, Mark 6:14-29
God chooses people.
In the original Greek, the reading today from Ephesians is one long sentence. So perhaps you are like me, who when I first read it, my eyes kind of glazed over. But on closer look, several things stood out to me. Paul never thought of himself choosing to do God’s work, but that God chose him. Jesus even says to his disciples in John, “You did not choose me, but I chose you.” God chose us.
Much of the Bible is about character development and the transformation of people, and more often than not, it begins with an experience of “chosenness”.
Think of the many, many stories in the Bible of God choosing people. Moses, Abraham and Sarah. Then there is Joseph, Deborah, David, and Esther. There is Israel itself. Later there’s Peter, Paul, and most especially, Mary. God is always choosing particular people. Sometimes it’s clearly for a role or a task, to be a willing instrument, like Amos. Amos said, "I am no prophet, nor a prophet’s son; but I am a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore trees.” I love that title. Amos wasn’t a prophet, but God chose him to prophesy, so that’s what he did.
(Thankfully, when God chooses someone in the Bible, the standard opening line is “Do not be afraid” and the final line usually includes the promise “I will be with you”.) God chose us. Have you ever thought about what being chosen means to you?
This past weekend, I attended the Women’s Retreat at Camp Cross, which was led by our Bishop, Gretchen. I invited my sister from Chico, CA to come with me, which made it extra special. The Retreat was a very meaningful, rich, and unique experience.
As an aside, for those of you that don’t know, let me briefly talk about Camp Cross. Camp Cross is an incredibly beautiful property owned by our Diocese. It’s referred to as the “jewel of the diocese”. It sits on 110 acres on the shore of Lake Coeur d’Alene. The Episcopal Diocese has owned it since around 1920, and it is rumored that it was purchased for $1. It’s called Camp Cross in honor of a Bishop Edward Makin Cross. Many children as well as adults of our diocese have gone to camp there over the ages. There are cabins and meeting halls, outdoor places to worship, a beach with canoes to use, trails for hiking, and great food, and the most welcoming staff of young people. We went to sleep each night listening to the water lap up on the rocks outside our cabin. It was hot last weekend, so instead of having a planned cocktail hour on a pontoon boat and a campfire, we had our cocktails in an air-conditioned room, and had morning prayer on the pontoon boat. It was a beautiful, magical event.
[Just so you know, I have been officially designated a Camp Cross Cheerleader for the upcoming capital campaign to improve it so we can expand its use. This isn’t the last time you’ll hear me talk about CC.] Back to the sermon.
At camp we explored four themes: connect, relate, belong, and unite. The first night, we found connections or things we had in common with one another. After connecting, we were asked the question, “Where was God in a life-changing experience in your life?” We began relating to each other by sharing our stories in small groups of 3.
Personally speaking, the story I was prompted to tell was of the day I learned I might have cancer. Sitting in a doctor’s office, waiting for a surgeon, after my gynecologist found I had enlarged lymph nodes under my arms. In that office, I was overwhelmed with feeling God’s presence. I felt suddenly like I had been chosen, I’d been set aside for a special path. I knew at that moment, my life was going to be different, and that God had chosen me. I am still perplexed at my reaction, yet I know God was at work. And for the most part, I think God is still unveiling to me what I was chosen for.
The Bishop told us that, for people in general to feel like they belong, requires four key things - someone knows your name; someone knows your story; you know another person’s story; people notice and miss you when you are gone.
Someone knows your name;
Someone knows your story;
You know another person’s story;
People notice and miss you when you are gone.
I bet you all have a story about a time in your life that was life changing, or you felt “chosen”. So here is a question. Have you shared it lately? Have you listened to someone else tell their story recently?
Another of our exercises at camp was to think back on a time when we felt like we belonged and when we didn’t. Church was the first recollection I had of a place where I felt like I belonged, and I sincerely have to thank you all for making that my reality today.
I came back from the retreat with a renewed sense of purpose for Holy Spirit Church: To make sure everyone who comes here feels like they belong.
How do we do that? It’s not that hard. In many ways, we already excel at this. But we can always do better. Do we share and listen to one another’s stories? Do we notice when people are not here? We all take part in building a sense of community and belonging in this place.
After we have connected and related to each other by sharing our stories, we experience a sense of belonging. Then comes the realization we are united in a common purpose. Our weekly dismissal prayer says, “send us out to do the work you have given us to do”. We find common purpose in following Jesus and doing his work.
As Paul says, God chose us, he destined us to be his children, he lavished on us the riches of his grace, and he has made known to us the mystery of his will. We have a lot in common with one another.
Jesus prayed that we would be one as he and the Father are one. All of humanity is connected as one living breathing life in God’s love. We are connected because we are all equally beloved of God. To belong is one of the deepest desires of the human heart. When we belong, we are woven together on a deep level.
Loving God and loving one another and knowing we are all chosen puts us in a stance of hospitality and welcome. As Jesus followers, we are always looking to the good of the other.
Let us pray. Heavenly father, thank you for choosing us. Help us to increase every member and visitor’s sense of belonging here. Grant that we may know and understand all the things you want us to do, and give us grace and power to accomplish them. We pray with grateful hearts. Amen.