Happy July! We are in full summer swing with all of our activities. I remember a time when July was a slow time of year in the church, because everyone was out doing their own thing. People took a vacation from church. I can understand needing time off. That is what Sabbath is all about; a time to be refreshed. I will be vacationing the last week of July. A time to get away with family and go and visit old friends.
But Jesus' ministry continues to move us to share our faith with our neighbors. How do we share our faith even over the summer? I love the quote from St. Francis of Assisi, "Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words." What he means is to live out our faith by what we do.
Our youth group is going on a mission trip to Garnett, Kansas July 14-20. This is a group work camp where youth (about 400 youth) from all over the USA will come and serve the under-resourced by repairing their homes. This summer 10,000 teenagers will descend upon cities and towns all over the country serving and proclaiming the Gospel and at times use words. We do this by seeing all people the same, as children of God.
In our Galatians text, two Sundays ago; for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.
I used what Sarah Henrich, Prof. of New Testament, Luther Seminary said as a framework - This is a great point of equalization before God for Paul. Paul insists that the Lord's Supper is for all people and enjoyed among all people equally, and that worship and prayer belong to all those claimed by God. This move is so contrary to the thinking of society that it hardly makes sense, because of the walls of elitism, prejudice and institutional rules we build to keep God locked up in our box and to keep people away from God who are not like us.
God's grace, mercy and unconditional love are for those who at one time rejected God, to those who feel hopeless, for the prisoner and the ones imprisoned by their demons, for the most ignored and the most hated, for the gay and the straight, for the marginalized and for the oppressed, for the rich and the poor, are all welcomed as children of God and heirs of all that God has promised.
Jesus is prodigal (recklessly giving all that he has) in his grace (unconditional love and forgiveness). When we see all people as children of God, then we can start to share our faith; not yelling with a bullhorn, but by sitting with a friend with a cup of coffee.
Edgebrook Lutheran Church has been growing in its understanding of "who we are" as people of God in a new and exciting way over the last few years. ELC has grown what it means to be a missional church; to reach out to all people in a multitude of ways, both with our traditional roots and with a contemporary and relevant Gospel.
As we take time to rest and recharge in July, I'm looking with anticipation to hear of the stories of how we have shared our faith in our actions and our words when necessary.
Peace,
Pastor Joe
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Bricks 4 Kidz Lego Camp
