First Lutheran Church

July 4, 2021

The Sacrament of Holy Baptism

Galatians 3:1-29 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly exhibited as crucified!  The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law or by believing what you heard?  Are you so foolish? Having started with the Spirit, are you now ending with the flesh?  Did you experience so much for nothing?—if it really was for nothing.  Well then, does God supply you with the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? ….

Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. Therefore, the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise.

“The Yardstick vs The Cross”

Pastor Greg Ronning

I want to begin today by taking some measurements.  As you can see, I brought a yardstick with me.  It may appear to you, as a normal yardstick - 36 inches long. However, this is no ordinary yardstick, this is a “spiritual yardstick.”This yardstick is only available to ordained ministers.  (Sorry Jasmine.)  We use it to measure faith.  And so it is that today, I am going to be evaluating your faith, assessing your spirituality, taking stock of your righteousness;to see if you measure up to salvation.  (Pastor Greg holds us yardstick and pretends to be measuring the people sitting in the pews.)It appears that some of you are doing better than others.  Some of you are “barely saved.”  Yeah, and some of you are right on the line.  And a few of you, let me double check, yeah a few of you may be in trouble. 

You know what I really like about this spiritual yardstick?  The person holding it, always seems to measure up!  Check it out, I measure in at over six feet.  That’s a lot of faith.  And Jasmine, (Pastor Greg closes one eye and holds yardstick out towards Jasmine) she measures in at only six inches.  I really hope your second year of seminary will accelerate your spiritual growth!

This (holding up yardstick)is what’s going on in today’s reading from Galatians.On one of his missionary trips, St. Paul founded the churches in the region of Galatia.  But now Paul is concerned that these churches have strayed away from his teachings about the death and resurrection.  In chapter one he writes, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel.”  He adds, “there are some who are confusing you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.”

It seems that the churches in Galatia were doing fine, living in the grace of Christ, experiencing the fruits of the Spirit; until one day some other religious leaders showed up with their “spiritual yardsticks.”  And using those “spiritual yardsticks” they, with the gift of eloquence, somehow convinced those good people of Galatia that their faith did not measure up, that grace, that the cross of Christ, was not enough, and that they were thus in fact,not good people.  Their message - It was not enough to believe in Jesus, they also had to fulfill the Jewish law.Salvation demanded both faith andgood works, strict adherence to the Law of Moses.  And consequently, none of them measured up!

In today’s reading Paul responds, “You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?”  The Contemporary English Version translates Paul’s response more emphatically, “You stupid Galatians! I told you exactly how Jesus Christ was nailed to a cross. Has someone now put an evil spell on you?”You stupid foolish Galatians, you gave up the cross, grace and mercy,- for a yardstick, the law that condemns!

Unfortunately, this two-thousand-year-old story from Galatia continues to be lived out even today.  Everywhere we go, and even at church, even in Lutheran churches, we encounter “spiritual yardsticks.”  We encounter situations where people remind us that we don’t measure up.  And they have “bewitched”us!  They hit us in our weak spot and get our full attention.  We’re all afraid that we don’t measure up.

And out of fear, we let others judge our faith as lacking, our spirituality as insufficient, and our salvation as untenable.  And sadly, we begin to fall away from our beloved-ness, the beloved-ness proclaimed in our baptism.  “Foolishly” we fall away from the “cross” and begin to cling to the “yardstick.”And in fear, feeling unloved, we fall deeper into the viscous circles of “measurement,” until we find ourselves holding the yardstick, judging others to justify ourselves, finding and creating scapegoats to satisfy the false righteousness of a false gospel.Finding a dishonest salvation in the condemnation of others.  Sometimes we all go the way of, “You foolish Galatians!”We lose our grip on grace and fall into the anxiety of works righteousness.

Yet today, in the sacrament of Holy Baptism, we are reminded that we are saved, made whole, defined, and set free in the death and resurrection of Jesus.  We are reminded that nothing more is needed.  We are a people of the “Cross” and not the “Yardstick!”The cross reveals that we are loved, the cross sets us free, – in Christ God’s love is complete.We are, by grace and love, the beloved children of God.  In Christ the yardstick has been forever broken!  (Pastor Greg breaks the yardstick in two!)

Martin Luther wrote, “A (person) becomes a Christian, not by working but by listening.”  It’s not about measuring up, it’s about letting go, and listening to the gospel, trusting in the promises of baptism, “You are my child, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”  Luther adds,“And so, anyone who wants to exert (themselves) toward righteousness must first exert (themselves) in listening to the gospel.”  You are “saved,” “made whole,” “set free,” not by doing good works but by listening, listening with your heart!  Put your energy into your listening skills not in trying to justify yourself by doing good works.

I hope you “heard” the gospel this morning as we celebrated the sacrament of Holy Baptism.  I hope that you “heard” in the promises spoken to Gavin, promises also being spoken to you.  But just in case you did not hear it, I want to conclude this sermon with my baptism song, “One More Life.”  Today I sing it for Gavin, and I sing it for each of you, and I sing it for myself.  May we all hear and believe the promise of the Gospel.  “Let those who have ears, hear!”

“One More Life”

One more life, a bright shining light

One more hope, that the world will be all right

You're a miracle child, Love made alive

Water falls from heaven, as God says you're mine

God says you're mine

One more heart, begun by You

One more soul, and hey all things are new

And soon you'll know your name, love's made its claim

Heaven will be calling you, and you'll never be the same

You'll never be the same

And you'll never be alone, when you feel lonely

You'll always be loved, yeah, you're part of a family

Something's happened today that can never fade away

When God comes down from heaven, He's here to stay

Here to stay

In one more life, one more life,

One more life, one more life

You're a miracle child

Love made alive

Water falls from heaven

God says you're mine

God says you're mine

Amen.

You’re Doing It, Peter!

Pr. Jasmine Waring

5th Sunday of Pentecost June 27, 2021

In Steven Spielberg’s 90’s classic, Hook, Robin Williams plays a now middle aged Peter Pan who finds himself back in Neverland to rescue his kids, and rediscover his forgotten childhood roots. A disheveled, awkward, and reluctant Peter finds himself living amongst the Lost Boys, who take him in to teach him how to be The Peter Pan again. There is a particular scene which came to my memory this week as I thought about our text for today. The Lost Boys were preparing a feast after a long day of training him how to fly. Peter, who is sore and famished, licks his lips with eager anticipation as the steamy pots are passed by him. He holds two spoons in his hands ready to devour this feast. One boy says to him, “We don’t use those.” To which Peter replies, “Then why have them?” The boy then says, “We have them so that we don’t have to use them.” After the boys paused and then yelled, “GRACE!” everyone digs in. To Peter’s surprise, there is no food! Yet the boys are eating invisible corn on the cob, watermelon, giant turkey legs, and scooping bowls of soup. Tinkerbell encourages Peter to eat, and he replies frustrated, “Eat what? There’s nothing here! Gandhi ate more than this!” It wasn’t until much later, Peter was able to loosen the restraints of adult sensibility, and began to play and use his imagination. That was the moment the table transformed from a feast of air, into a feast that nourished them. “You’re doing it, Peter!” they said to him in wonder and amusement. I imagine the Kingdom of God is a lot like this feast. To the world, the kingdom of God is foolishness, like feasting on air. But for those who have eyes to see, ears to hear, and open hearts, can understand that God has prepared a feast for all of us. The Kingdom of God is a reality counter-cultural to the oppressive systems of this world. We can enter into it and find a seat at the table. This revelation is what transforms what is invisible to the world, into something that is as tangible as bread and wine. It is here, at the Lord’s banquet table we find nourishment for all who hunger. Not only those who experience food insecurity, but also for those who are hungry for community, purpose and meaning. Jesus said that he is the bread of life. We are nourished by him…carbs are very good in the Kingdom of God! In a world filled with scarcity, we can experience abundance. There is grace found at the Table. I loved the part when the Lost Boys took a moment of pause to shout grace before they ate. Even a rowdy bunch of boys knew this feast was gift freely given to them. Grace reminds us that we are beloved and valued for who we are as children of God, not by what we do or produce. Everything is a generous gift from God. We see this grace in our text when the messenger goes out and invites anyone, regardless of their social status. In a world that holds your mistakes against you, and makes you earn and strive for everything, the Kingdom of God shouts GRACE! There is equity and hope at the Table. Jesus tells his disciples who were fighting over the seats of honor at the table to humble themselves and take the less honorable seat. The banquet host gathers in those on the fringes of society and gave them a place of honor at the Table. Jesus said in Matthew 20, “The first will be last and the last will be first.” In world of punishingly hard hierarchies and inequality, the Kingdom of God elevates the poor and oppressed, and humbles the mighty. This brings us hope because if we can experience liberation in this place, then maybe we can experience this in other places. We can go into the world and see the things which held us back, only to leave them there to show (like the spoons) “That we don’t have to use them.” Every Sunday we gather together in order to join in on the feast that is already happening. Traditional Lutheran liturgy has been crafted so our worship services act as a divine drama. We are all cast in a role and are participating, imagining, even playing as we enter into a realm no eye has seen, nor ear has heard, and no mind could comprehend. For some, we look like we’re feating on air. For those with holy imagination, worship and liturgy are one of the many ways we can experience the Kingdom of God here. Now. We can be nourished, we can find grace, we can find hope and equity at the Table God has prepared for us. As we enter into the Kingdom of God here on earth, with our holy imagination, we have a cloud of witnesses cheering us on saying, “You’re doing it! You’re doing it! You’re doing it!” Of course we know from this parable that the feast is not just for us. This feast is for everyone. God is on the move in the world sending messengers to invite anyone who will receive it. The late author, Rachel Held-Evans wrote this in her book, Searching for Sunday, “This is what God's kingdom is like: a bunch of outcasts and oddballs gathered at a table, not because they are rich or worthy or good, but because they are hungry, because they said yes. And there's always room for more.” The reality is, there will be people who reject the invitation because the Kingdom of God is incompatible with their lifestyle. We are witnesses to a God who is the host of a great banquet. God is moving around the world sending messengers to invite everyone and anyone who will say yes. How do we respond to this? Will you accept the invitation? Will you join in on God’s mission? There is plenty of room at the table here at First Lutheran Church Fullerton. Let’s go out into our neighborhoods, to our favorite coffee shops, to our book club. Let them know that life doesn’t have to be this way. We can experience heaven on earth if we allow ourselves to play, imagine, and create as we partner in God’s mission. If you feel like you’ve been feasting on air; may the Holy Spirit ignite your holy imagination, and may you be nourished by Christ’s presence in bread and wine. If you don’t feel worthy to take a seat; may you find yourself in the good company of fellow misfits, and be reminded of your belovedness. May you sit at the Lord’s table and shout, “GRACE! GRACE! GRACE!” because everything is a gift. May you hear the cloud of witnesses cheering you on as you enter into the kingdom of God, saying, “You’re doing it! You’re doing it” Amen

First Lutheran Church

June 20, 2021

“Lost in Paris”

Ecclesiastes 4:7-13

Again, I saw vanity under the sun:  the case of solitary individuals, without sons or brothers; yet there is no end to all their toil, and their eyes are never satisfied with riches. "For whom am I toiling," they ask, "and depriving myself of pleasure?" This also is vanity and an unhappy business.

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.  For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help.  Again, if two lie together, they keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone?  And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king, who will no longer take advice. 

Sermon “Lost in Paris”

Pastor Greg Ronning

This morning I would like to share a story with you.  It’s a true story.  It’s a story about being lost.  It’s a story about being a “solitary individual,” a “rugged individualist.”  It’s a story about being foolish instead of wise.  It’s a story about pride and humility.  It’s a story about me, and most likely it’s also a story about you.  It’s a funny story and a scary story.  It’s a story that takes place in Paris many years ago, and it’s about a story that is about to take place here and now.  “Let those who have ears, hear!”

In the summer of 2007, I had the opportunity to travel to Taizé, France for a campus ministry conference.  Taizé is a well-known ecumenical retreat center well known for its worship life.  We use some of the music from Taizé in our worship here at First Lutheran, “Eat This Bread,” “Jesus Remember Me,” “O Lord, Hear My Prayer,” and others.

The retreat center is located in rural France, a few hours by bullet train from Paris, in the beautiful French countryside.  During my week-long stay I had the opportunity to wander about the area.  Each day I would venture out, head out on the small country roads, and explore nearby villages.  And each day I would find my way back to the small village of Taizé.  No problems!  It was wonderful.

The week came to an end, and I headed back to Paris, for my return flight home.  Thankfully my flight did not leave until the next day, so I had some time to explore the sights of the city.  That evening I left the hostel where I was staying in search of the Eiffel Tower.  The woman running the hostel handed me a map with some directions.  (Pre Smart Phone!)I followed them easily, taking all the main boulevards, and in just 30 minutes I found my way to the Eiffel Tower.  I waited in line, climbed the tower, and watched as the sun set beautifully on Paris. 

Eventually it was getting late, so I started back to the hostel.  I got back on the main boulevard, ready to retrace my route back to the hostel.  That’s when I had this great idea.  You see, the main route was not the most direct route back.  It appeared to me that if went back on a more direct route, weaving my way back and forth on the small streets, I would get the chance to see something different, and maybe even save some time and distance.

So, I headed off the main boulevard and down a side street.  Off the beaten path I found myself in more of an “everyday” kind of Paris.  I stopped and got a snack at a local market, andas I walked along,I enjoyed “people watching.”  It was delightful.  And soon I found out that people were watching me! At one point a few “ladies” yelled down to me from the second floor of their apartment, they yelled in French so I had no idea what they said, but I decided that I was looking good in Paris, and they must have thought so too!

But my confident attitude was about to change.  Soon I noticed that I had been walking for a good while and had not yet found the street intersection where my hostel was located.    I had been walking much longer than it took me to get to the Eiffel Tower.  I looked at my watch and realized that I should have already been back at my hostel. 

I began to wonder if I was - lost.  So, as I came upon a larger street, I decided to just stay on it till it crossed a major boulevard, something that I could I find on my little tourist map, then I would know where I was, and where I needed to go.  It was getting late, at this point it was almost 9:00 in the evening, but I still had two hours until they locked the Hostel, no problem.I walked for about twenty more minutes, and never crossed any street that I could find on my map, and it seemed like I was deeper into Paris than I wanted to be.“OK,” I finally conceded to myself, “I’m lost.”

A few minutes later I found myself in front of a church, surely this was a sign from God!  And from this church there were four streets, four possible directions that I could go.  I looked at each possible route, quickly ruling out one road “that went up a hill and into some trees,” I knew that was not the right way.  After some analysis and reflection, I chose the road that, in my mind, seemed most likely to get me to some kind of landmarkthat I could find on my map.   As I headed down the street, as it twisted and turned because there are no straight streets in Paris, I suddenly heard my “lady friends” once again call out to me from their windows.  This time,they scared me, so I quickly passed by and turned down another street.  And before I knew it, I looked up and I was back at the church.  Somehow, I had traveled in a complete circle. 

Undaunted, this time I chose a different street and headed down a different direction. It was getting later, and the shadows were more ominous, when I heard another call from an open window across the street, “Hey do you want some (weed.)”  I put my head down, and started walking faster, as I prayed, “God, please get me out of here!”  After a few more minutes of brisk walking, I looked up, and once again, lo and behold, I was back at that church.  It no longer felt like a sign from God that I was going to be OK!  Once again, I had walked in a complete circle.  It was now closer to 11:00 PM and I was getting worried about getting back to the hostel before the doors locked at Midnight.  I pictured myself walking in Paris all night long! 

At this point, there were only two more streets left to explore, and the one that “headed up the hill and into the trees” was definitely not the right way, so I headed down the other street.And it was the same old story, I twisted and wound my way (figuratively and literally) down the street, and somehow, once again, I’m not kidding, I came across both the guy with the (weed), and the “ladies” calling down from the second floor.  I was now officially scared, and when I ended up back at the church for the third time, I thought my situation was hopeless.  Forget about getting back to the hostel by Midnight, I might never get out of Paris, and I only had 12 hours till my flight left!

At this point, the only thing I knew for sure is that “the street that went up the hill and into the trees” was the wrong direction. So, I headed back into the neighborhood of circles and this time I stumbled upon an ambulance station. And this time, finally, being too tired and too scared to wander on, I did something drastic, I stopped and asked for help!

In broken English the man on duty told me, “Go back down this street until you see a church,(!) and then take the street that goes up the hill, the street with lots of trees on it, (!)  it will bend to the left, and that will intersect with the street you are looking for.” It was about 11:30 at that point, and with his help, with some good directions, I was back at the Hostel at 11:55 PM.

“Again, I saw vanity under the sun: the case of solitary individuals.”

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.

“Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king, who will no longer take advice.”

Why did I wait so long to ask for help?  Why do we all wait so long to ask for help?  Why do we feel like we have to be self-sufficient rugged individualists?  Why do we isolate ourselves?“Two are better than one.”  “A threefold cord is not quickly broken.”One of the greatest gifts of faith is the belonging to a community of faith.  It is not good that we are alone, God does not create us to be alone, but to be in community, in family, in relationship.

As we come out of this pandemic, as we begin anew here at First Lutheran, let us not make the mistake of trying to do it alone.  The work before us, is going to take all of us!  And I for one, need your help.We need each other’s help. 

In the next few weeks, you are going to hear about opportunities to be a part of a variety of ministry teams, some old teams, and some new teams.  We need people to help with Messy Church, we need people to help with worship, we need people to help with special events, we need people to help us expand the Caring Hands Pantry, we need people to help with stewardship, we need people to help with our new evangelism efforts, we need people to help fix and maintain our lovely old building, we need people to host fellowship events, we need people to reach out to our homebound members, we need people to reach out to visitors and new members.  It’s finally time to get back together and get to work!

As we come out of the pandemic we have before us a great opportunity – to begin again our ministry here in this place.  As people re-emerge into society, they will be looking for community.  We’re all tired of wandering alone.  If we are going to be able to take advantage of this moment in time, this moment where people are coming out of isolation and looking for community, we are going to need to work together.

My favorite verse in today’s first reading is verse 12, “And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken”.  Note the interesting math; it begins with one, moves to two, and then three.  How do two people suddenly become a strong “threefold cord?”  When we gather together, when we do ministry together, - we are joined by Christ.  Christ is the third chord that makes us stronger.

Let us not get lost or distracted in our ministry, let us not venture off alone into endless circles only to end up back at church with nothing having changed.  Instead let us join together, - you and me and Jesus.Let’s take the street that “goes up the hill,”“the one with the trees,” the one, that for whatever reason, we’ve never taken before.A new beginning awaits us, a new adventure.  Please prayerfully consider how you might be able to help, what gift you can share, what adventure you want to be a part of, - we need “each and every one” of you.  “Two is better than one.”  And three or four or more on every ministry team will be even better!  May the Spirit unite us in our mission.  Amen.