Time with the Children of God
Today Children of God is a day where we give thanks to God for all the people who help in this church. It’s a day to celebrate all that God has done and continues to do through them.
The greatest thing to give thanks for and to celebrate is that God himself is with us.
In the Old Testament reading we heard that Solomon had built the Temple for God, so that the people could go there and meet with God, and he could hear their prayers and bless them. But in the Bible reading King Solomon prayed to God: “The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you!”
You know there are billions of stars in the galaxies above us…but God is bigger than those. He created them. He sits above them. God is bigger than anything, and everything.
But Solomon prayed that God would be present and hear his prayers in the Temple: “O Lord my God, hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day.”
Even though God is bigger than the entire universe, he came to be with his people at the Temple. And he is with us here in this place of worship too. He has come to fill this place with his glory, and listen to us, look upon us with favour, and bless us.
There are so many good things we can celebrate about this church today, but the biggest thing to celebrate is that God is here, listening to our prayers, and blessing us, just as he does every Sunday.
SERMON
Throughout life there are many occasions to celebrate, from the moment we are born to the day we die. The arrival of a new baby boy or girl gives cause for parents, and grandparents to celebrate. I went to a funeral last Monday which was referred to as ‘a celebration of the person’s life’. As we go throughout life, we celebrate all the milestones and successes along the way.
For us Christians, there is also the celebrations focusing on what Jesus has accomplished for us. Early calendars were shaped by celebrating the life of Christ, but our modern calendars now have a number of secular themes to celebrate, sometimes multiple events on the same day. There are so many more opportunities to celebrate now. Some of the more unique days are: “Earth rotation day” (always seems to come around really quickly), “World logic day” (I’ve never been able to work that one out!) “World bartender day” (they can pour themselves a drink), “international whiskey day” (I mean…well…really…if you insist), “World plumbing day” (I went to that and it went down the drain really quickly), “World flour day” (that one takes the cake) and “National procrastination week” (I just kept putting that one off).
You can access this calendar at www.nationalcalendar.com, there are all kinds of commemorations, sometimes multiple celebrations on the same day. Today we have St Paul’s Celebration service and brunch—an occasion to celebrate all God has done in our past, all that he is still doing, and God-willing, that which he will do in our future.
God himself delights in celebration. Celebration is a theme that runs throughout the Bible. While humans tend to make celebrations about us, celebrations begin with God and more particularly, the life and salvation he brings to his people. In Exodus 12, God gave instructions for his people to celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread, or the Passover, throughout the generations, so that their descendants after them would remember God’s saving help to his people of old, when he rescued them from slavery in Egypt. It was not just to remember a historical event, but for them to live out their faith in trust of God as his people in the present. It was a part of their life of worship as his freed people—so that they could be reminded of God’s faithfulness in the past and have confidence to continue to place their trust in God for their future.
Likewise, today we look back at all that has taken place at St Paul’s in the past, as signs of God’s work among us through all his people, past and present, some of those our loved ones whom God has now called to our heavenly home. There has been a lot of change over nearly 95 years, but we celebrate all that God has done and continues to do, through Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
Our ministry to children might look very different to what it used to be, but the same God is at work. God continues to gather youth and young families to be encouraged in their faith. Today, there isn’t a formal Ladies Fellowship, but our LATTE Ladies continue to encourage one another. The men’s group has been an important way for men to connect together. The confirmation classes look different to the first one taught by Pastor Clarence Zweck—but the Holy Spirit is still at work through God’s word. We still make a profound witness to the community in the Glenelg Christmas Pageant and election BBQ’s. There’s been over 35 years of reaching out to the needy through Community Care, right through to current members supported by many volunteers over the years from this congregation, and from Warradale and Novar Gardens congregations. Thank you to those people for the passion you have sustained for so long to care for those struggling to care for themselves.
More recently the Church Family Ministry Committee has worked on other initiatives. Over recent years have spent countless hours brainstorming how to help nurture our Christian faith, strengthen inter-generational relationships within the congregation and present opportunities for outreach, like the wine and cheese nights and Quiz nights which were huge successes in engaging with others around us. More recently there was the workshop of Christians Encouraging New Christians, and the Community Meal Days in conjunction with Immanuel College Students that provide us with an incredible opportunity to have conversation and build connection with people from so many different backgrounds and cultures in our community.
As we come to the sanctuary to receive from God, it’s appropriate to reflect on the ministry of all those in our congregation who serve and care. In this very space there are those who dress the altar, provide flowers, change the paraments, and attend to the candles. Many people have assisted with these things over the years. Members of the Worship Committee prepare themes, content and displays for the major Christian celebrations. There are those who arrive early to set up Holy Communion and those who stay behind after service to clean up and those who use their personal time and water to wash the linen, those who assist in distributing the sacrament.
Those on the reading roster bring God’s word to us each week. John who provides pastoral coverage in times of pastoral absence as well as our Layreaders. Lay led services are just as important to participate in because it is still God at work sending his Holy Spirit through the word.
When we come to sing we might not realise the effort that members of an evolving music group over the years put in to leading us in music and song each Sunday and the midweek services. That’s all preparation time through the week. Then there’s the people who operate the multimedia and sound on Sundays—if these tasks weren’t undertaken our participation in worship just wouldn’t happen in the same way.
And we are able to gather in a building that is maintained by volunteers who invest their time into maintaining and repairing plant and equipment. We thank those who put out and bring our bins out to keep our church plant clean and healthy, for those who sweep the driveway; those on the mowing roster and who have mowed prior for many years and those who work hard at cleaning.
Our ushers who greet us with a smile and those who serve morning tea with enthusiasm and joy—managing even during COVID. There are those who serve on Catering and Fundraising Committee and those who so passionately provide spiritual food for the children of the congregation. There’s our offering counters, there are many who serve on our various committees, and for those on Church Council.
Inevitably I’ve left someone out, but I know that there are so many people who give generously of their time, like folding bulletins and cleaning kids toys (I know they wouldn’t want me to name them) and many others who give generously and donate goods, equipment and money for projects for the good of congregational life. In reality, we could name every single person, past and present, those who do things behind the scenes who aren’t on rosters or committees. So I would like to acknowledge and thank all our volunteers, everyone in the congregation who give generously of their time, their money, and themselves. And at this point in the sermon you might think that I’ve taken a lot of time talking about people, and not a lot about God today. But you see, that’s the very point. It is not just you doing these things. It is God, who is with you, at work through you. As you serve, God serves, as you work to help, encourage and build up it is God at work, helping and building up.
That is one of the themes from today’s Gospel reading. Jesus appointed 72 to go out ahead of him, where he was going. When they arrived, he would be with them as the unseen guest. Therefore whoever welcomed the disciples welcomed Jesus, their unseen companion, which is why Jesus tells them to announce that “the Kingdom of heaven has come near.” Whoever listens to them listens to the unseen Christ who speaks through them. Whoever welcomed them welcomed the unseen Christ, their travelling companion. The disciples were to enter the homes that welcomed them and to eat what was set before them. Through those households who welcomed the disciples was God’s very provision for them—food and a place to stay.
You don’t need to be a pastor or a missionary or a teacher to be doing God’s work, like the disciples in our text. It was also the hosts who were doing God’s work to sustain the ministry of his kingdom. In all your service to the congregation and community you are doing God’s work. When you comfort someone God comforts through you. When you put the bins out, God goes with you. God is present in every meeting, every conversation. He reaches out and puts the cup of coffee in the person you give it to. He has called you and given you all his work to do, whether ushering or reading, or setting up communion cups, sweeping the driveway, operating the PowerPoint slides, playing the organ. It is all in the service of God, by his grace, in his strength, for his glory.
This then is the greatest cause for celebration today, and every day—a celebration to which every secular celebration is dwarfed by: that the Kingdom of God has come near to you too. It has come all the way from heaven to this sanctuary on earth again today in the Person of Jesus, our unseen guest. Solomon prayed: “Will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you.” But yes, God really will dwell on earth, born in the same frail human flesh we have. No longer in the temple at Jerusalem does God give attention to the prayers of his people, but in the Person of Jesus, crucified, dead and buried, risen and ascended, and present for you again here today, with his eyes and ears open to you.
Jesus is the One who has fulfilled the Old Testament reading of 1 Kings 8. He is the fulfilment of God’s promise to Solomon’s father David, that there would always be a king on the throne to rule over his people. It is Jesus, in whom the Kingdom of Heaven has come near, to reign with grace, and freedom, truth and blessing. In all the times you have heard God’s word, been absolved, been blessed, witnessed baptisms, and heard Jesus’ invitation to come and eat the meal he sets before you, the Kingdom of God has reigned here on earth to bring you blessings from heaven. Here is the fulness of divine favour for you; here is the forgiveness of sins, here is the Holy Spirit, here is the Lord Jesus Christ, the greatest Pastor you have ever had who is always with you, the Bishop and Overseer of our souls, tending his flock as the Good Shepherd. The greatest reason to celebrate is that through Jesus the Father pours out the Holy Spirit upon us, and his Kingdom continues to reign as he creates and sustains faith in baptism and confirmation. Here is Jesus for you, with the fulness of divine blessing, the means of grace, the fount of blessing, the Victor whose victory over sin, death and hell is yours through faith in him, forever. That is why the spirits of the kingdom of darkness submit to you, not because of you and your strength, but because of Christ and all that God has done for you in bringing you to share in Jesus’ own victorious death, resurrection and ascension. Therefore Jesus’ words to his early disciples are his words to you also: “Do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
That is the ultimate reason for celebrating and giving thanks today, in the midst of a world of conflict and chaos, and no matter what fears, failings, burdens you bear. When we find ourselves in the midst of trials, pain, sickness, or grief, Jesus does not want us to flee from it, because we can’t. But he wants us to come to him who promises to be our refuge and strength. Some of you might say, “Well, I can no longer do anything in the congregation. All I can do is pray.” Let me say by your faithful prayers, and your participation here in worship, you are doing what is needed most. You are making a visible witness to the world by coming to the Lord Jesus who promises to give you rest.
Through the ministry of all your pastors over the years the Lord Jesus has ministered to you, your Father in heaven has blessed you and poured out the Holy Spirit upon you. Together with those first baptised at St Paul’s and those baptised so recently, your names are written in heaven together with theirs. And later in the Gospel according to Luke, chapter 15, Jesus tells us that there is great rejoicing in heaven over that. Amen!
