Here's a  Sermon Time ‘drama’ about the Mission and Service of The United Church of Canada.  It was originally written by The Rev. Matthew Penny.  It has been adapted by The Rev. Dave Jagger. (me!)  Have fun with it!

Characters needed:

Preacher- Should be dressed in robes. Look ministerial!

Mission & Service Enthusiast - should be a person who can be truly enthusiastic about sharing the stories.

Three ‘characters at the table’ - These should be casually dressed and a toque would be a good idea on at least one.  (think a cross between Bob & Doug Mackenzie and Statler & Waldorf the old men in the balcony from The Muppet Show)

For the role of Enthusiast you will need to choose 3 stories from the current Minute for Mission book and summarize them briefly.  It is best to choose stories that have meaning to your congregation.  You will also need to find the names of Pastoral Charges in your Presbytery or Conference who receive mission support grants (your conference office can help with that).

The scene opens with the minister about to preach in the pulpit. At the table in the middle of the stage, or at the front of the church are the three ‘curmudgeons’. They have to look the part and be willing to be a little critical of everything at the outset. They have their coffee cups out and appear to be dissecting the sermon during coffee hour after worship. A place at the front from which the Mission & Service Enthusiast is going to pop up from time to time with Mission & Service information. Timing in this play is important.

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Preacher: (a pompous attitude might be helpful) ... then today, let’s talk about Stewardship. One old saying is that the Stewardship of our resources is everything we do after we say, “we believe.” I want the congregation to know that this passage about the sheep and the goats, a parable told by Jesus, is really about the division of people who are faithful in giving to the church and caring for others and is probably designed to encourage those who don’t seem to want to ‘get involved’ with the care of the world and the care of other people. What we need to do as a congregation is realize just how important other people are.... (When done his bits the minister should quietly move aside so as allow the focus to be on the others.)

First Curmudgeon: Did you hear that bit o’ preaching this morning in church?  Going on about how we are to spend our money? It was dis-gusting. (draw out the ‘dis’ bit). I mean, if the preacher really wants the church to do O.K. he should spend all of his time out there visiting folk and praying at the hospital over the sick and not worrying about how much money I give to the church.

Second Curmudgeon: Well, I was a bit surprised to hear him talk about the congregation being like a bunch of sheep and goats. Imagine what our church would be like if all we did was worry about treating people like livestock. And what about the United Church being the inclusive church? (put emphasis on word inclusive) That man should not be saying anything that even hints at one person in the church not being just like all the others. Aren’t we the United Church and aren’t we the ones who are supposed to be all the same.

Third Curmudgeon: All the same! Just a minute there. Do you think that every person in every United Church has the same problems and difficulties? I don’t want to be the same as you. In fact I don’t want you to be the same as me! Some people do need a little help from time to time you know.

Enthusiast:  [insert a brief story of the work of Mission & Service to provide support for people]

Second Curmudgeon:  Well yeah, there are people who need some help from time to time, but I still don’t see why the minister ever has to mention money in the sermon. Don’t we get enough letters from the Finance & Property committee and articles in our church newsletter and invites to go to some event where they ask us for money, money, and more money. I tell ya, to go to church these days you have to shake hands at the door and keep one hand on yer wallet! 

First Curmudgeon: Yea, yea, ya got that right.

Third Curmudgeon: Oh yeah, Oh yeah.

Preacher: And friends, what Jesus is saying in this passage is that we have to be aware of what we are doing and who we are doing it to. Sometimes we ignore people, fail to be the caring community and don’t even realize that we may be doing damage to the world without even knowing it. That’s why both the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25 didn’t even realize that they were either helping or hurting other people. Did you know that in this country, most people spend about $60 per month on coffee and snacks and less than $50 per month on their church? 

When this is said, all the people at the table should turn to look at the preacher. They should mumble and grumble about that.

Third Curmudgeon: Well you know, if some people would just quit spending their time at the coffee shop or Bingo Parlour then things would work out. It’s them kind of people that don’t know when to quit.

First Curmudgeon: By the way do you want a ride to Bingo, Bingo on Wednesday for the 9 o’clock? 

Third Curmudgeon: No, I got a cousin comin’ over and she wants to go to London to the slots at the Western fair grounds.

Second Curmudgeon: I’ll go, Lord knows it’ll be noisy around here Wednesday night, what with the Weight Watchers in here and all those little girls in Sparks and Brownies running around.

Enthusiast:  [insert a brief story of the work of Mission & Service to provide outreach mission help]

First Curmudgeon: I got to wonder about a preacher who’s always goin’ on about the need to care for other people. It bothers me that... well... he ... uh... just seems to... 

Second Curmudgeon: I know exactly what you mean. He’s just so....well.....

Preacher: And what Jesus meant when he said the sheep and goats would be divided was that God would look upon the people and point out how little some had done to help others and how much others had done without even being aware. It’s not that the goats, those who didn’t help, left so much out of their lives. It’s obvious from the story that they did not purposefully deprive the little ones of food or clothing or help in some way. It’s just that they were so caught up in themselves that they forgot how to be helpful to others. Probably it’s more a matter of attention.  We have to be shown sometimes the folly of our ways and then, when this happens, we can get on with life, now with our eyes open.

First Curmudgeon: That preacher just.... well...

Second Curmudgeon: Yeah, I know what you mean. He’s just such a.... well. Mmm... 

Third Curmudgeon: This is getting to you guys isn’t it? You are starting to understand what that story from Matthew 25 means aren’t you. You two are starting to be changed. 

Second Curmudgeon: Now just a minute. I know that we’re supposed to be, like, good to other people. But that doesn’t give the preacher any reason to make us feel guilty. How does he know what I do with my money and who I give to? Is he nosey? 

First Curmudgeon: I know that being a caring person in this 21st  century means things will be different than they ever were. I know that sometimes we have to give money to help others.  But do I have to hear about that in church?

Enthusiast: [insert a brief story of the work of Mission & Service locally]

First Curmudgeon: I really do have a soft spot for people that are in trouble you know. That’s why I work at the church Bazaar and the Yard Sale. Why I even bought one of the Choir’s CD’s and sent it down east to my mother. I sure don’t want to be one of those people who gets lumped in with the goats. Do you think God really wants to judge us, like that story says? 

Second Curmudgeon: I think it’s like this. God wants us to keep an eye on the world. Not just our little piece of it, but all of it.

Third Curmudgeon: We can’t do that. How am I, one person, whose best part of the day is getting together with friends over a cup of coffee, to go out and save the world? If that preacher expects me to go to Africa and preach to the heathen then he’s got another thing coming.  Some nerve! Why don’t we just look after the people in our own church? 

Preacher: In essence what Jesus is trying to point out is that God resides not just in our imagined views of heaven. God is not just some robed deity sitting on a throne and watching the world, judging how we behave. God is watching, yes, but God is watching from the viewpoint of the poor, the naked, the sick, the imprisoned, and dare we say it now, the uninformed, the hated and the lonely. God is in the soup kitchens, the food banks and exists in the people with funny accents, the ones with HIV, the ones who need our love. It is not that we are to change all this, but we each can help those who do care to do their work. We can be the ones who assist the battle against HIV in Africa. We can help those who work on the front lines with the poor. We can assist those who counsel the new immigrants and those who reach out to the people living on the streets.

Second Curmudgeon: Well now. I don’t know about you two, but I think that today I’m going to make an effort to help all those people. I’ll be a sheep. When the other two jibe at this one she/he should look surprised and a little upset.

First & Third Curmudgeons: Baaaa, Baaaa,

Third Curmudgeon: I wonder if he/she’ll be the black sheep of the family?

First Curmudgeon: Naw, he/she is more like a shepherd?

Third Curmudgeon: A shepherd?

First Curmudgeon: Yeah, he/she likes to fleece people!

Second Curmudgeon: Now come on you two. Wouldn’t you like to feel good about doing something in your life? Wouldn’t you like to give up a coffee or two just to make a difference in someone’s life?

First and Third Curmudgeon: (in shock) Give up a coffee?!

First Curmudgeon: Heretic.

Second Curmudgeon: Yeah. Maybe. But if each of us just started to give a bit of our money to the Mission and Service of our United Church, that would make a difference.

Enthusiast: Churches supported by grants from Mission & Service within [local] Presbytery/Conference include: [list here].

Did you know about campus ministry at Universities across Canada? They have excellent programs for students and faculty at many of these facilities.  Students are supported at times of stress over exams or loneliness as this may be their first time away from home for an extended time. Some may require grief counseling if a close family member or friend has passed away during their absence from their home environment.  This may be a student’s first major experience with studying or working with students from foreign countries. Through campus ministries students will celebrate special holidays together and be introduced to customs and traditions of different cultures.

Preacher: In essence Jesus does not threaten us in this passage. He encourages us. God in Jesus encourages us to love one another as Jesus has loved us. This judgement of the nations passage is not an end of the world scenario. It’s about people being shown that in the places they least suspect it, they will find God. It shows us that we can help by being caring for those who exist around us. We don’t have to do great things all the time. We can do small things with great love. God encourages us. Reach out.

First Curmudgeon: I’m convinced. I’m going to start my giving to Mission and Service right now!

Second Curmudgeon: And you know what, I’m going to do mine through PAR.

Third Curmudgeon: Through what? PAR? Does that mean you only give on the golf course? 

Second Curmudgeon: No, No. It means I’m going to ensure that the money is there for the church all the time, not just when I remember to give a gift. I can always give more, but this way it gets to where it’s needed and they don’t have to worry about it. 

First Curmudgeon: And you know what? We don’t even have to give up cream in our coffee. We can make a difference and we can begin anytime. That’s what the preacher meant isn’t it? God is always looking for us to act. And so we will.

Enthusiast: You too can discover how to make a difference in the lives of many people who need help here in our own area and all across the world through Mission & Service.  As a congregation of the United Church of Canada, we are part of Mission & Service. Please join me in giving it your support?

Preacher: God in Jesus demonstrates a special concern for the suffering of the world. When we stand with and on behalf of the least, there we will find Christ and discover what it means to be a community of faith. Jesus came for the mending of creation and in him the poor, the oppressed and outcasts experience God’s liberating and saving love.  Thanks be to God.  Amen.

Just Imagine!

1 Peter 2:2-10  Easter 5 Year A

Just imagine!

What is the first thing that pops into your mind when you hear the phrase, “Just Imagine”?

Lottery advertisements?

(Ontario has a lottery called 649 that used the phrase “Just imagine” as the way to entice people to buy the tickets)

John Lennon’s song “Imagine”?

Today I want you to come with me as we do a different kind of “Just imagine!”

Just imagine!

At a gathering of congregational leaders, this question was asked:

What would happen in your congregation if your “professional minister” disappeared and the laity had to do everything from now on?

Don’t tell us what you think you should do, but be honest and tell us what you expect would really happen.

Would anyone notice?

From the sound of the room and the volume level, this generated quite an energetic conversation.

Just imagine!

No minister to plan and lead worship. No minister to give direction to committees. No minister to visit people in need. No minister to provide leadership as you live out your vision for your church. Maybe you’ve had a time period without a minister between ministers or during sickness so you have a taste of what this could be like. Maybe this is the normal state of affairs in your congregation. Maybe it sounds like a good idea!?

Just imagine!

OK, let’s take it further.

What would happen in your congregation if the “wider church” ceased to exist? All of it.

Think about that.

And be honest, what do you expect would really happen in that case?

Would anyone notice?

Just imagine!

Maybe your initial response is one of celebration!  Wahoo!!  No more interference from outside.  No more annual forms.  No more meetings to take up the time of our minister and our “wider church” reps.  Heck!  We wouldn’t have to beat the bushes to find reps anymore! 

No more “wider church” sticking its nose into our business.  No more waiting for the “wider church” to find people to assign to a Joint Needs Assessment Committee when it’s time to change ministers.  Same for Joint Search Committees.  No more hoops to jump through and forms to fill out.

No more Mission & Service and assessments taking money away from our congregation.

Just imagine!

At first, I suspect the idea sounds a lot like what many late teen and early 20’s start to think about moving out of the house.  “Freedom!!”  “We can do what we want, when we want, without Mom & Dad looking over our shoulders.”  No more hassles.  No more rules.  Just do what we want.

Sounds great!  Just imagine!

However...

Do you remember your youthful days?  When you moved out on your own? 

Wasn’t it great?!  Wasn’t it just what you thought it would be?!!

Until all your clothes were worn and the laundry was lying in a pile with no one to wash it for you.

Until all the dishes had been used (perhaps on both sides?) with no one to wash them for you.

Until the dust was an inch thick and the cleaning elves didn’t show up.

Until there were bills to be paid and no money for fun and friends.

Until you were sick and no one was there to help or comfort you.

Just imagine!

Just imagine what church life would be like without the “wider church”.  When everything is going smoothly it could even work, for a while. 

Until...

No support, no encouragement, no sober second thought, when the time comes to consider what your ministry needs are and how to enact the vision God is calling you to fulfill

. 

Heaven forbid, but when the minister and the congregation aren’t getting along, there is no one to turn to.  You’re on your own.  Or when parts of the congregation are in conflict with other parts of the congregation.  Solve the conflict yourself, or pay a mediator to come in and help, because you’re on your own.

And you’d better be good at training your own minister.  No “wider church”, no Discernment committees.  No training for new ministers.  No making sure that people who want to be ministers are actually called and fit for the position. 

Oh, and you’d better like that minister you have now.  No “wider church” could make it difficult to find a new minister.  It could also make it difficult for a minister to find you, so I hope you like the ministry situation you have now. You could be stuck this way for a long time.

Oh, and how do you feel about lawsuits?  Without the “wider church” to help guide the processes of calling a minister or getting rid of a minister, the chance for a lawsuit increases.  Improper dismissal.  Problems with benefits and pay. 

Even the networks of support that the “wider church” encourages between congregations would be less likely to occur.  I imagine congregations becoming more and more self-absorbed and isolated without the links to the “wider church”.  No “wider church” to remind us of what’s going on “out there”!  No “wider church” to challenge us to try new things and respond to other issues. 

Similarly for ministers.  The “wider church” provides a natural and initial set of relationships for ministry personnel when they are new to the area.  A place to meet.  A place to share ideas and struggles.  A place to ask for help or to celebrate with others.

The “wider church” has a real ministry to us as well as through us.

After all, we are the “wider church”.

And as for no Mission & Service and assessments to take money away from our congregation, how do you think so much of the support and resources and help from the “wider church” is paid for? 

No “wider church”?  No Mission & Service.  No global outreach with the 94 mission and justice partners around the world, providing education, health care, sustainable agriculture, clean water, and human rights, except what your congregation does. 

No Mission & Service?  No community development and justice work through 64 community ministries, 36 chaplaincies and 20 ecumenical and interfaith agencies in Canada, except what your congregation does. 

No Mission & Service?  No support to 84 local congregations and outreach ministries, no grants for youth programming, no work toward reconciliation with First Nations, except what your congregation does. 

No Mission & Service?  United Church resources for study groups, Sunday School, worship, theological education, church governance and stewardship; all gone, unless your congregation creates them.

Just imagine!

It’s so important for each of us to realise that we also are the “wider church”.  

Just as each individual follower of Jesus makes up the congregation, so the congregation, the Pastoral Charge, makes up the “wider church”.

The Bible tells us that as followers of Jesus we are like living stones, being built into a spiritual house. (1 Peter 2:5)  I am the church, just as each of you is the church.  It’s how God intended it to be.  Us, together.

So, also, I am the “wider church”, just as you and this congregation are the “wider church”.  Again, it’s how God intended it to be.  My ministry, your ministry, our ministry, is the ministry of the “wider church”.  We are the church, together living out God’s mission to each other and for each other, and for all the people of God’s world.

Just imagine!

Living without the friends around us that we call the local church.

Just imagine!

Living without the support and guidance of that other thing we are, the “wider church”.

I can’t imagine it.

Think about it.

1.    Just imagine!  What would happen in your congregation if the “wider church” ceased to exist?

2.    How can this congregation celebrate and lift up the value and ministry which is ours through “wider church”?

3.    In your praying this week, please pray for the ministry of our “wider church”, The United Church of Canada.

AMEN.

Say “Yes!”

Preached on an Annual Meeting Sunday

[This sermon looks at the stewardship of our choices and all parts of our lives. It is not a money sermon.  It works equally well not on an annual meeting Sunday.]

I know not a lot of time today to read all the Annual reports.

So much happening!  So busy we are.

So much that it’s not possible for any one person to be part of it all.

As the number of activities and programs we could each be a part of increases, each of us will be required to pick and choose how we are involved.  It’s true in all aspects of life.  Especially if you have kids, but I hear it’s equally true in retirement.

It’s no longer possible for any of us, to do it all.

Which requires a new way of thinking.

What I don’t want is any of us to get the idea that IF I CAN’T DO IT ALL I WON’T DO ANY OF IT!

Instead, each of us needs to ask ourselves the question:  Which activities will help me to grow in faith?  Which activities will I make time for in my busy schedule?

Adopting this new mind-set will also require us to learn a vital skill - HOW TO SAY “NO.”  Both in our church life, and equally in our personal and family lives. 

Saying “NO” can be a hard skill to learn.  NO can disappoint people.  NO can put us at odds with people.  NO can make us feel guilty.  At least it can seem that way at the time.  But NO is required for healthy living.

Let me ask you, “What do you need to say NO to in your life?”  “How do you decide whether to say NO to something?”

[If you are able to, this is a good point to show the Nooma video “Shells.”  If you can’t that’s OK.]

I want to suggest that in order to say NO, I have to know to what I’ve said YES.

Doesn’t that make sense?

It’s an idea that Rob Bell develops in a video in the Nooma series entitled “Shells”.

He tells the story of one of his kids running into the ocean to grab a starfish, only to find that he can’t because his hands are already full of shells.  The only way to get the starfish is to let go of the shells.  The idea is clear.  If I’ve said yes to shells, then I can’t also say yes to the starfish.  In order to say yes to the starfish, I have to say no to the shells.

Think about that in your life.  It makes sense.

If I’ve said YES to hockey, than I have to say NO to activities that interfere with hockey.  Right?

If I’ve said YES to getting the best job I can, then I have to say NO to anything that gets in the way of getting that job.  It makes sense.

If I’ve said YES to keeping my family intact and healthy, then I have to say NO to anything that gets in the way of that goal.  Of course.

If I’ve said YES to growing closer to God by following Jesus, then again, I have to say NO to anything that stands in the way of growing that relationship.  It just makes sense.  In fact it more than makes sense, it’s imperative.

So Rob Bell encourages us with this idea, “We must examine the rhythms of our life if we’re ever going to will the one thing.”  Hear the need for intentionality in that statement?  Randomly reacting to life’s opportunities isn’t good enough.  Just doing everything that comes our way, isn’t good enough.  There MUST be intentionality.  We MUST examine and choose with purpose. 

What have I said YES to?

What have you said YES to?

And this is so true, not just for us personally, but also for us as a church.  Saying NO is based on what we have already said YES to.

As a congregation of God’s people striving to follow Jesus we have said YES to this:
[The mission statement for your congregation].

Therefore, to what might we have to say NO?

Having said YES to our mission will help us decide to what we have to say NO.

Having said YES to these things will help us decide what we have to let go of, what we have to lay down, and also, to what we have to say YES!

So here’s my hope and prayer for us this year and in the coming years.  Guided by God’s Spirit and embracing God’s path for us, in our personal lives and as a church, may we be healthy, may we be intentional, and may we be like Jesus, able to say NO, because we’ve already said YES.

Think about it:

1.    What do you need to say NO to in your life?

2.    How do you decide whether to say NO to something?”

3.    To what have you said YES?

AMEN.

Legacy Sermon

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 – Communion

Today we will participate in a practice of legacy. (Indicate the table)

It’s Jesus’ last night with his friends. Passover celebration.

When we read and compare the 4 versions of this story from the 4 gospels, (especially in John’s gospel, even though Jesus doesn’t establish communion there) Jesus appears to know what is coming and is planning for when it occurs.

He teaches (John). He models servanthood (John). He gives the disciples a practice to engage in. (Matthew, Mark, Luke). He predicts his betrayal or handing over. (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) Very intentional. Not leaving anything to chance. “Here’s what’s coming. Do this in remembrance of me.”

There is a pattern here for us to emulate. And we have, for the last almost 2000 years. And we will today. The sacrament of communion, the Eucharist. “Do this in remembrance of me.”

There is another pattern here for us to emulate, though. That of preparing for what we believe is coming.

Hold that thought, over here.


This morning we heard read 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.

The Apostle Paul’s intro to his instructions about the Lord’s Supper; communion again.

“For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”  In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”  For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (NRSV)

Again, there is a pattern here for us to emulate.

“For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you.”

The pattern of receiving and passing along.

Eric Law, in his book Holy Currencies, takes up this imagery and talks about keeping resources flowing, like water. A healthy, beautiful, clear, stream is one that flows. As soon as the water ceases to flow, it becomes stagnant and sick. Similarly with our resources and currencies. We need to keep them flowing.

I receive. I pass along.

Now bring back that earlier thought you put aside. Remember?

The pattern of preparing for what we believe is coming; what Jesus was doing for his disciples on that last night he was with them. Establishing a legacy.

Each of us needs to consider what will be our legacy. One day, hopefully after a long and fulfilling lifetime, but you never know, each of us will die and leave this earth. And interestingly, many of the things we believe will happen to us after our death we believe because of what Jesus taught on his last night, in that upper room, around the table, according to John’s gospel. “In my Father’s house are many mansions.” “I go to prepare a place for you.” “Where I am, there you may be also.”

And so we have faith and trust in God that, as our new creed tells us, “In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us. We are not alone” and so we say, “Thanks be to God.”

Our Christian faith gives us hope and brings us peace about our own death and future life.

But we’re not there yet. And that’s good.

Because in the meantime, we have the opportunity to prepare for that day. We have time to consider what will be our legacy; to pass along what we have received and keep our resources flowing, even after we are gone.

If you would like further information about planning your legacy and making a gift to your church, please contact the church office or your local Stewardship & Gifts Officer. They would be happy to meet with you and offer possibilities and resources to help in your decision making.

(You can find a list of Stewardship & Gifts Officers here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0ONYpGPGJTfOTZsMjVpOHZhXzg/view accessed through the stewardshiptoolkit.ca web-site.)

Now to grease those gears and get you thinking, as we prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacrament of communion with Christ and with each other, let me leave you with a couple of questions to ponder.

1. How does your Christian faith give you hope and peace about the end of your life on earth?

2. What legacy will you be passing along, in remembrance of Jesus?



AMEN.

NEW Mission & Service Music Video

We are excited to release this NEW Mission & Service Music Video.

Peppy music accompanies pictures and video from many of the ministries and programs that your Mission & Service gifts help to make possible.

What a difference United Church people are making in local neighbourhoods, across the country and around the world!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cS6fBWRSLc&feature=youtu.be

To get involved and help support the Mission & Service of The United Church of Canada, go to united-church.ca/donate.