Today’s Word from Pastor Jim…
We are sent! We are the young, we are the old, and we are the older! Watch us change the world!
He walked into my office on a Thursday morning. For four days he had been contemplating the sermon that I had given the previous Sunday. The sermon touched on familiar TLC themes, Gospel themes, and the teachings of Jesus. From the first sermon of Jesus, we have these words: “He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4. And we ended with the very last words of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew where Jesus sends his disciples to the world: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.”
He walked into my office on a Thursday morning, or should I say he hobbled in with a gait consistent with his age. After some niceties he said that he wanted to talk about my sermon. It was Thursday, my mind and energy were already focused on the Sunday to come. “Can you remind me what I talked about?” He recalled the sermon better than I did and then he said, “It moved me pastor. You said that we are sent, that we are the hands and feet of Jesus today, that the disciples are gone and we are left to carry on.” I was impressed.
Then he said, “I want to go to Ukraine to help with the refugees, to assist the oppressed people, to help feed them and care for them.” I said, “Slow down, this war is 6 months old, it is chaos in Eastern Europe, it is dangerous.” He replied, “You said that we are sent pastor, Jesus has no one else to send but us. So, I am answering the call.” “Let me stop you right there. You can’t take me seriously! At least you cannot take me literally. You are 80 years old, walking is a challenge, the last thing they need in Ukraine is another mouth to feed, another old person to worry about. I so appreciate your spirit, but God is not calling you to go, God does not even want you on a ladder. So, get out your checkbook and provide funds for those that God has sent to do this work.”
After a cup of coffee and after writing a check, he hobbled back out of my office with a more important takeaway: “Don’t take Pastor Jim’s sermon seriously.”
My dear friends, for 37 years we have done this work together. We have been faithful to the great commission! We are making a difference on Whidbey Island, in our nation and in the world. We do more than write checks. We quilt, we cut wood, we serve on the boards of local non-profits, we volunteer our time, we say our prayers, we are a part of something bigger than ourselves. And we are Blessed! We are blessed, but we are never blessed in isolation; we are blessed to be a blessing to others. We are the young, we are the old, and we are the older. God has not called most of us to go to Ukraine, to Venezuela, to Gaza or Sudan. But we are called and we are the hands and feet of Jesus. We might not be able to go to the ends of the earth literally, but we can go through our global partners.
Tomorrow will be an extraordinary day in the life of our congregation. We have the privilege of welcoming Bishop Curry and Bishop Wee to worship with us, to experience the miracle that is Trinity Lutheran Church. Common people united in mission, doing extraordinary things. Tomorrow we will be going to the ends of the earth. Tomorrow we will be sharing our gifts with the people of God on Whidbey Island and with the world. Tomorrow we will be giving away more than $500,000! Local foodbanks will rejoice, your neighbors will have food, the oppressed of the world will be given hope, the Gospel of Jesus will take flight, and our spirits will be renewed.
Don’t take me seriously! But please come to church tomorrow at 8 am or 10:30 am. At 9:15 in the sanctuary our Bishops will take part on a Q & A session. The coffee hours will be amazing; the music will touch your soul, and your church family will be gathered in joy!
Don’t take me seriously! I am simply one beggar, telling another beggar where to find bread. I am your,
Pastor Jim
