A Place at the Table

Sermon preached at Celebration Lutheran, East Wenatchee, the Sunday after a retirement.

Matthew 10:40-42

[Jesus said to the twelve:] ⁴⁰“Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. ⁴¹Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; ⁴²and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.”

I had to smile when I first read this morning’s gospel in the context of preaching and presiding at Celebration Lutheran today. When I came back to this synod, the synod of my internship, after my six years in rural Western Iowa, one of the pastors who offered me the most memorable welcome was Dave Haven. We were in Spokane for a stewardship event and ended up talking late into the night about South Dakota, Concordia College, the ELCA Youth Gatherings, and outdoor ministries. I later knew Dave to be a pastor very comfortable up front leading, making us laugh, singing our hearts out. But his first welcome to me was that long conversation about ministry and the church and what I hoped for my new call. He truly welcomed me, and I suspect many of you have similar stories. What a gift you had to celebrate his years of ministry in this place and to have what we in the church call “a good ending.”

I know from perusing your website, hearing about your congregation over the years, meeting some of your members, reading recent newsletters, that Pastor Dave was not the only one who knows a thing or two about welcoming people. Your building appears to be a place of welcome for a variety of outside groups, but hospitality and mission are not limited to the confines of these walls. And let’s be clear, our passage from Matthew is all about mission.

Our three verses from Matthew’s gospel today come at the end of a long discourse by Jesus. All of Matthew chapter 10 is Jesus sending out the Twelve Apostles in mission. Sometimes this chapter is called the “missionary discourse.” Jesus offers words of guidance, warning, and promise about the disciples’ mission. 

Here’s a summary: These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions (5). If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town (14). See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves (16). So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered (26). Whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me (34). And finally, whoever welcomes you welcomes me (40). 

In other words, Jesus is sending them into a dangerous world as part of his mission to love, save, bless and be reconciled to that world. But the disciples will find welcome. Those who welcome them also welcome and receive Jesus. 

As the bishop of our synod, I would be remiss if I did not share how Celebration Lutheran’s welcome extends beyond even this valley in real and vital ways. I mentioned Lutheran Campus Ministry in my greetings from the synod, but I want to tell you a story now about our collective impact on one college campus.

Since our inception as a synod, we have supported three campus ministries: at Eastern Washington University in Cheney, at Wazoo in Pullman and University of Idaho in Moscow. ELCA Deacon Karla Newman-Smiley has been campus minister at University of Idaho for over twenty years. For over twenty years, Karla has been showing up for students, faculty, and staff in Moscow, Idaho. She has again and again been a voice of welcome on that campus and in that community. She has continued to hone her skills, becoming a spiritual director, and she has participated in many campus committees and ecumenical endeavors. 

Last fall, the University of Idaho campus was rocked in a way it had never been, when four students were murdered. Life for the campus had finally returned to normal after the pandemic academic years and suddenly there was this tragedy of four deaths. What’s more, there was deep fear and anxiety. 

In the early hours of Monday, Nov. 14, the University of Idaho’s Office of the Dean of Students contacted various student ministries in an effort to provide counseling and other services to over 10,000 University of Idaho students. Karla noted in an interview that she found her “purpose to be supporting the Dean of Students and keeping The Center (formerly the Campus Christian Center) open as a space for students, faculty and staff, even though right now it feels like a suspended space.” 

While the campus felt deserted, there were some students who could not leave. Some students were local to the Moscow region. And of course there are faculty members also live in the university town. 

Karla had to break off one interview when a student knocked on her door. Later, a faculty member sought her out because they needed to talk. When Karla was able to return to the interview she explained that international students are on campus throughout the Thanksgiving break. Not only are they far from home, but many are not followers of Judeo-Christian religions. 

Organizations like Moscow Interfaith Association, work with The Center to provide spiritual support for all students of all faiths or no faith. Though The Center is supported by seven mainline Protestant denominations, Karla said there is “no need to proselytize” and The Center is available to everyone: it provides a welcome to all.

After the Thanksgiving Break, on Dec. 1, the University of Idaho held a candle vigil for the community. A few university staff spoke, and members of the victims’ families shared words. One campus minister was invited to pray—ELCA Deacon Karla Newman-Smiley. I cried so many tears when I watched the recording, tears of sadness for the families and community, tears of grief for our broken world, tears of weariness. But I also cried tears of gratitude for Karla’s presence. Karla’s words also led me to shed tears of hope in the God whose welcome is constant and steady, the God whose welcome never tires, never wavers.

I wish I could tell you the impact Karla’s prayer had on the students and families but it would only be conjecture. But what I want to say is to you today is thank you for being part of the Lutheran Campus Ministry story in this synod. Thank you for supporting a deacon who has welcomed people into various spaces for over twenty years. It should not surprise any of us that Karla was then invited and welcomed to offer words of prayer when tragedy struck. She, like you and me, is a theologian of the cross. She was able to name in truthful, loving, accessible language that the God of Jesus Christ is in the hidden, unexpected, and broken spaces of life, like Moscow, Idaho in the fall of 2022.

We have many gifts in our tradition, but one is the ability to grieve as community. When a pastoral transition occurs, we take time to laugh and cry and tell stories, to acknowledge our grief. When young people die tragically, we dig into the well of lament, crying out to God with our anguish, and knowing that God welcomes those cries because it means we are in relationship with God and with one another. We grieve because it is what the saints before us have done for centuries. Like them we grieve ultimately as people with hope, not false hope or hope full of sentimentality, but the deep Easter hope that is ours not just one Sunday in April, but all year long. Thanks be to God.

Message for Sunday Worship at Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp’s 2023 Women’s Retreat

(Adapted from a tvprays.org reflection and my dissertation)

What is it that drives us to love our neighbors, to boldly give people a glimpse of the reign of God through congregational ministries and our daily lives? For us, the scriptural principal of agape, which Jesus uses in Mark 12:31, continues to guide us: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Experiencing the agape of Jesus, how can we not want others to experience it? In a culture filled with options, filled with advertisements, filled with promises, we cannot assume people will experience God’s love. And we should never assume that the paid congregational staff are the only ones equipped and empowered to share the agape of Jesus. 

Laying the groundwork for what later became known as the Priesthood of All Believers, Martin Luther wrote, “For all Christians whatsoever really and truly belong to the religious class, and there is no difference among them except in so far as they do different work. That is St. Paul’s meaning, in I Corinthians 12, when he says: ‘We are all one body, yet each member bath his own work for serving others.’ This applies to us all, because we have on baptism, one gospel, one faith, and are all equally Christian” (An Appeal to the Ruling Class). 

There is another metaphor of Paul’s that I find equally helpful, and that was true before the pandemic had me utilizing the postal service at a new pace. In 2 Corinthians, Paul mentions other apostles whom he calls “super-apostles” (2 Corinthians 11:5, 12:11) and “false apostles” (2 Corinthians 11:13). 

These traveling missionaries have come to Corinth after Paul left. Now, impressed by these new apostles’ credentials, the Corinthians may be asking about Paul’s credentials. Earlier in the letter, Paul tells the Corinthians that he and Timothy do not need letters of recommendation since the Corinthians themselves are a letter recommending Paul’s ministry.

 “3Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Surely, we do not need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you or from you, do we? ²You yourselves are our letter, written on our^* hearts, to be known and read by all; ³and you show that you are a letter of Christ, prepared by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.”(2 Cor. 3:1-3)

I have always been a proponent of letter writing and still have, in various shoeboxes, the letters my parents and I wrote to one another during my many months at summer camp and my first few years in college, before email replaced letters. With all of this as background, I love the metaphor of people being the letters.

The Apostle Paul’s opponents seem to have pointed out that he did not have “letters of recommendation bearing the imperial seal in order to verify [his] identity.” Paul contrasts letters written on paper and letters written on the heart. One scholar explains that this is “a representation of Paul’s fundamental dualism of ‘letter vs. spirit’ (2 Cor. 3:6), which is consistently applied to his interpretation of the Torah (or Law) . . . this defensive rhetoric of Paul, wonderful as it may sound, turned out to be completely ineffective in the presence of people who demanded nothing other than hard proof.” The argument may not have worked on Paul’s opponents, but it absolutely worked on me.

I serve a congregation that puts more emphasis on our actions rather than our words, so to me this Scripture passage also seems to serve as a bridge to something more. Yes, our actions of growing food, providing housing, practicing hospitality, and loving our neighbors will always be paramount. But we also understand the power of language and are slowly growing our skills in telling our faith stories. 

Eventually, both our words and our actions will be the letters of recommendation for the congregation, the larger Christian church, and the triune God we worship. 

We all have the potential to be the letters of recommendation to the communities we live in and to the world, letters of Jesus’ agape. Our very human hearts are filled with the love of Jesus. That love is made known in feeding and housing people, caring for the neighbor, learning about the world we inhabit, disrupting racism, and advocating for marginalized people or the natural world.

Prayer of the Day

O God of glory, your Son Jesus Christ suffered for us and ascended to your right hand. Unite us with Christ and each other in suffering and in joy, that all the world may be drawn into your bountiful presence, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

Acts 1:6-14

⁶When [the apostles] had come together, they asked [Jesus], “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” ⁹When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. ¹⁰While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. ¹¹They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
 ¹²Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. ¹³When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. ¹⁴All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.

Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35

 ¹Let God arise, and let God’s ene- ^| mies be scattered;
  let those who ^| hate God flee.
 ²As smoke is driven away, so you should drive ^| them away;
  as the wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the pres- ^| ence of God.
 ³But let the righteous be glad and rejoice ^| before God;
  let them also be mer- ^| ry and joyful.
 ⁴Sing to God, sing praises to God’s name; exalt the one who ^| rides the clouds;
  I Am is that name, rejoice ^| before God! 
 ⁵In your holy habita- ^| tion, O God,
  you are a father to orphans, defend- ^| er of widows;
 ⁶you give the solitary a home and bring forth prisoners ^| into freedom;
  but the rebels shall live in ^| desert places.
 ⁷O God, when you went forth be- ^| fore your people,
  when you marched ^| through the wilderness,
 ⁸the earth quaked, and the skies poured down rain, at the presence of God, the ^| God of Sinai,
  at the presence of God, the ^| God of Israel.
 ⁹You sent a bountiful ^| rain, O God;
  you restored your inheritance ^| when it languished.
 ¹⁰Your people found their ^| home in it;
  in your goodness, O God, you have made provision ^| for the poor. 
 ³²Sing to God, O kingdoms ^| of the earth;
  sing praises ^| to the Lord.
 ³³You ride in the heavens, O God, in the ^| ancient heavens;
  you send forth your voice, your ^| mighty voice.
 ³⁴Ascribe pow- ^| er to God,
  whose majesty is over Israel; whose strength is ^| in the skies.
 ³⁵How wonderful you are in your holy places, O ^| God of Israel,
  giving strength and power to your people! ^| Blessed be God!

1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11

¹²Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. ¹⁴If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you.

 ^5:6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. ⁷Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. ⁸Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. ⁹Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. ¹⁰And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. ¹¹To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.

John 17:1-11

¹After Jesus had spoken these words [to his disciples], he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, ²since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. ³And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. ⁴I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. ⁵So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.
 ⁶“I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. ⁷Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; ⁸for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. ⁹I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. ¹⁰All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. ¹¹And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.”

Sermon – Pastor Meggan Manlove

Baptisms, Affirmation of Baptism, Last Sunday

In an almost offhanded way, it is written that Jesus appeared to his apostles for forty days after his “suffering.” But 40 is significant. We find the number forty throughout the Bible. It rained for forty days and nights while Noah and his family were safely aboard the ark. The Hebrew people wandered the Sinai wilderness for forty years. Two pillars of faith, Moses and Elijah, went into the wilderness for forty days and nights to discover the will of God. Jesus, himself, was led into the wilderness, where he was tested by the devil for forty days and nights.

Gail Ramshaw suggests that perhaps the origin of this metaphor lied in the fact that forty days exceeds the lunar pacing of 30 days. In other words, 40 is a long time. But forty is also mythically alive. It is a time pregnant with a religious future. Fort is how long we must wait for God’s intent to be realized. Forty is the delay which all humans experience. It is the legendary period of hope, the duration of either joy or sorrow that opens to emotions unknown. It often takes forty to open the door.

Maybe Christians adopted this number, this chronology, because we accepted the historicity of a literal even on the hill near Jerusalem. Or maybe it was because we know that even after the transformation of Christ’s resurrection we need to wait yet longer for his full manifestation. Today is full of mystery, mythic imagery, truth, and hope.

So back to the church year and the end of the Easter Season. The festival of Pentecost, which we will celebrate next week, is followed by ordinary time, the time of the church, the time when our sanctuary is adorned in green. The Day of Ascension was Thursday, 40 days after Easter. So, Ascension prepares us for Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit.

It has been a roller coaster ride of emotions since Jesus’ friends followed Jesus into Jerusalem. They have felt hope, fear, despair, and then the unbelievable presence of Jesus. Jesus is no longer dead, but alive. But they knew he would not stay. 

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.” This is the same Spirit that rested on Jesus in his baptism. It is the same Spirit that anointed Jesus to preach good news to the poor and freedom to the oppressed. This same “power from on high” would now be given to the disciples and, by extension, to us. This is a gift from beyond us. It is not the same as “team spirit” or inner peace or anything we create on our own.

How can we speak of something we have never seen? Could the Spirit be anything we imagine? Though we cannot see the Spirit, we can see where the Spirit has been.

There’s a wonderful woodcut of the Jesus’ Ascension by Albrecht Durer. If you look closely at the picture, you can see footprints on the earth. Durer has carefully outlined Jesus’ footprints down on the level where the disciples are standing with their mouths open. Perhaps the artist was simply imagining a detail that is not in the text. Or perhaps, he is asking us, “Why do you stand looking up into heaven?”

Look at Jesus and we will see where the Spirit has been. Jesus’ feet carried him where others would not go. His feet brought him to tables surrounded by odd companions, grounded him as he children on his lap, and carried him as he questioned disparities between the wealthy and the poor. 

One scholar says the Holy Spirit “is nothing less than the mystery of God’s personal engagement with the world…the mystery of God closer to us than we are to ourselves.” This is staying power.

Listen for the Holy Spirit in the faith stories we will hear and see today. Listen for the Holy Spirit in the baptisms and affirmation of baptisms, and even leave-taking litany. It is the gift of the Holy spirit which sustains and leads each of us and the church collectively. Now let us hear how the Spirit has been at work specifically in two people’s lives.

Faith Statements by Confirmands

Prayers of Intercession

The prayers are prepared locally for each occasion. The following examples may be adapted or used as appropriate.

United in the hope and joy of the resurrection, let us pray for the church, the world, and all in need.

A brief silence.

God of harmony, as you drew your Son to your side, you draw us to you and unite us with the planet and one another. Weave your church together in a web of mutual love for the sake of the world. Hear us, O God.

Your mercy is great.

As your Spirit hovered over the waters of creation, so your Spirit hovers over all that you have made. Bless the water that sustains the planet and grant wisdom to use it wisely. Hear us, O God.

Your mercy is great.

You empower your people with the fire of your Spirit. Challenge activists and organizers, teachers and politicians, and all in leadership to speak a message of peace and justice. Hear us, O God.

Your mercy is great.

You care for all your children. Show your steadfast love to those suffering isolation, especially exiles, refugees, or prisoners. Break the chains of all held fast by systemic oppression of any kind. Comfort all who are afraid or suffering from illness (especially). Hear us, O God.

Your mercy is great.

We give thanks that humankind serves as your body in the world, stewarding your abundant gifts. Guide this congregation’s leaders as they seek your will. We pray for our staff and council (persons can be named). Hear us, O God.

Your mercy is great.

Here other intercessions may be offered.

You raise your saints to new life in Christ. We give you thanks for (Helena and) all your saints who have given us glimpses of your redeeming love. Hear us, O God.

Your mercy is great.

Rejoicing in the victory of Christ’s resurrection, we lift our prayers and praise to you, almighty and eternal God; through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord.

Amen.