Sunday, May 20, 2012

"Don't Miss the Boat!"

On Sunday, May 20th my colleague, Pastor Ruth Ann Loughry and I "tag-teamed" on a sermon.
The front of our sanctuary was set up to feature an ark because the Children's Choir was presenting a music, "THE RAINBOW EXPRESS" at the 9am service. So, we went with a nautical theme.
Here is what we shared:



May 20, 2012
Easter 7b
Don’t Miss the Boat
Pastor Ruth Ann Loughry
Pastor Ronald T. Glusenkamp

RAL-Good morning and welcome aboard the Rainbow Express.  Please take in hand the bulletin and let’s pray together once again that lovely prayer of the day.

All-“O God,
strength of the powerless and light in all darkness:
Look in mercy upon your church,
a wonderful and sacred mystery,
that it may be an ark of peace in the midst of chaos.
Let the whole world come to see
that what was fallen is being raised up,
that what was old is being made new,
and that all things are being restored to wholeness
through the one from whom they first took being,
Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.
RAL – When God asked Noah to build the ark, it became a place of peace in the midst of chaos.  God was restoring to wholeness all of creation. Noah, his family and the animals might not have understood that, but they certainly understood God’s mercy as they looked out the windows and saw nothing but water. 

 RTG- I saw a church sign this past week that read, “Amateurs built the Ark, Experts built the Titanic.” While I am not so sure that I’d like amateurs to perform major surgery on me, I think what this really means is that “with God all things are possible.” As I shared this thought with Brenda Greenwald she said, “It’s really about the work of God’s hands versus the work of humans’ hands.”

RAL-Today we have our annual meeting, our outdoor carnival, t-shirt pick-up for BE THE BLESSING, updates on “renewed in faith” and the children’s musical. All of this connects in context to the “ark”-to the church that as the prayer states, “it might be an ark of peace in the midst of chaos.” On days like today we speak of “holy chaos” because there are so many things going on and it’s all for a good cause.  We invite you as the sermon title states, “don’t miss the boat.”  That is a call, a re-invitation to our theme for the year, “blessed to belong.” We belong to each other through the waters of Holy Baptism.
"Queen Bee" Stacie Schubert shows off
this year's t-shirt


RTG- Our nautical theme is most appropriate as we set sail for debt reduction and a new fiscal year. As you know we often join a church  with the hope that it will be a pleasure cruise on the “Love Boat” or the Good Ship Lollypop.

RAL- But sometimes due to a variety of circumstances, the storms of life come upon us bringing the effects of sin and sadness.  What we had hoped for - smooth sailing - becomes more like an experience of “Titanic” or the “Poseidon Adventure” or even worse “the Ship of Fools.”

RTG- One of my favorite paintings is by Delacroix and it is entitled “Christ on the Sea of Galilee.” The disciples are all upset as the storms rage around them and Jesus is asleep with his head on a life preserver. The good news in the photo is that in the middle of the storm, Jesus is in the middle of the disciples.  The Lord Almighty is in the boat with them!  And so they wake him up and Jesus says, “Peace, be still.”
"Christ on the Sea of Galilee"
RAL- The beauty of our Lutheran theology is that we worship an incarnational God: Jesus with skin on.  This Jesus doesn’t run from the storm or make the disciples row harder and faster.  God is with us in the midst of our storms and Jesus says to our troubled hearts and souls, “Peace, be still.”  Then there is a holy hush that settles over everything - all part of the storm.

RTG- Today’s sermon title, “Don’t miss the boat” is to invite you to stay engaged or to get engaged with BTB, RENEWED IN FAITH, Mission Trips, VBS, the Annual Meeting, Photo Directory, all sorts of wonderful ministries happening.
BLC happenings

RAL- At the same time, just like Noah and his family, the message is to remember that church and all it’s activities is not the destination, but the vehicle to get to that point in life and love where Jesus is the center of all things. “Don’t miss the boat” also means that at some point this holy ark of peace, sailing in the midst of chaos, will arrive at it’s destination and we the called sisters and brothers of God get off, disembark in a new land, a new place to honor, worship and serve God.

RTG- For God called Noah to walk in faith.  Jesus called Peter to get out of the boat and walk in faith.  God is still calling us today, to walk in faith whether it’s raining or not. 

RAL- We praise and thank God for Bethany.  For you her faithful members, for staff and their leadership, for programs and budgets and all that keeps God’s ministry here afloat.

RTG- We haven’t missed the boat.  And God is calling us to follow into new lands and new places to worship and serve God. 

RAL & RTG- Thanks be to God!  Amen.