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Tracy UMC, 309 Parker Street, Tracy, IA (2026)

Worship: Sunday mornings at 10:30am.

07/09/2022

July 10, 2022 — Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Tracy United Methodist Church
Announcements
Prelude and Lighting of the Candles
Hymn: “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” #384
Call to Worship
Leader: Friends, what do you see?
People: We see that God has set a path before us.
Leader: What else do you see?
People: We see that God is among us.
Leader: And what else do you see?
People: We see that God calls us to be prophets
All: Together, we will speak God’s truth to injustice.
AMEN.
Opening Prayer God of Prophets,
You call all of us to be prophets. Like shepherds with their sheep, you guide us in the direction you wish us to go. You make clear the path of goodness and righteousness. You set a plumbline for us to follow, an example guiding us toward the Way. May we be aware of your presence in our hearts today, as we use this time to prepare us for the journey to come. Amen.
Hymn: “God Will Take Care of You” #130
Old Testament Reading: Amos 7:7-17
Psalm 82 pg 804
New Testament Lesson: Colossians 1:1-14
Gospel Lesson: Luke 10:25-37
Gloria Patri: #70
Message: The Plumb Line
Today we hear a part of the story of Amos one of the minor prophets. As Amos declares, he is not a professional prophet, one hired to basically say what the employer wants to hear. Instead he is a simple shepherd and dresser of sycamore fig trees. But he was called from these humble tasks to be a prophet to Israel. Amos was active c. 760–755 BCE during the rule of kings Jeroboam II of Israel and Uzziah of Judah. He was from the southern Kingdom of Judah but preached in the northern Kingdom of Israel. So that is why Amaziah basically tells him to go back where he came from and prophesy there. Bethel had its own prophets chosen by the king. Amos responds that it was God himself who told him to go to Israel. And if he isn’t listened to, they will suffer the consequences. What consequences? Amos wrote at a time of relative peace and prosperity but also of neglect of God's laws. He spoke against an increased disparity between the very wealthy and the very poor. The major themes of his preaching were social justice, God's omnipotence, and divine judgment.
The reading starts off with God showing Amos a plumb line. As you know a plumb line is used to determine the vertical line of a wall. So God was saying that God’s standards of justice and righteousness were like a plumb line to keep the faithful living lives centered on God. Walls that are constructed out of plumb eventually fail because the weight is not centered. Societies that are not just eventually fail because of the societal imbalance. So Amos tells Amaziah the natural consequence of refusing to listen to God’s word, the kingdom will fall.
Then we come to the Gospel reading of the Good Samaritan. A lawyer is testing Jesus. Often this is interpreted as the lawyer was trying to trip Jesus up which seemed to happen often. But I’d like to give him the benefit of the doubt and suggest that he may have been looking for a plumb line. Just as in Amos’ day, there were many false prophets in Jesus’ time. Perhaps he was testing Jesus’ authenticity, his straightness. So he asks Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus throws the question back to him. And he answers as any good Jewish student of the law would, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” This was not a new insight. He was quoting from Deuteronomy and Leviticus phrases that were important in Jewish life. And Jesus agrees with him. But the lawyer probes further for up until now the conversation hasn’t revealed any new insights that might set Jesus apart. So he asks, “Who is my neighbor?” Up until now, neighbor had been pretty narrowly defined as someone who was Jewish. Here is where Jesus introduces a revolutionary thought. Jesus carefully chooses the characters in this story. The victim who is not identified as a Jew is bloodied and on the side of the road. A priest and a Levite, who is an assistant to the priests, notice the man, but choose to pass him by.
The priest, riding a donkey in accord with his elite status, notices the victim and ponders. If the victim is dead or is a non-Judean, the priest would be defiled by touching him and have to return to Jerusalem for purification. Those who just saw him gloriously fulfilling his priestly role would now see him returning in shame for purification. The risk is too great. the priest rides on.
The Levite may have come even closer to examine the victim. Even though the road is not straight, the Levite very likely saw the priest’s response to the victim from afar. If the priest did not give first aid, why should the Levite? That would be a challenge to the priest, an insult. Moreover, the victim might be a Samaritan, The Levite, too, passes on.
The Samaritan is a shocking third character. Not only are Samaritans hated by the Jews, they consider themselves unclean if they come in contact with them. Even Jesus had his run ins with Samaritans. They had run Jesus and his followers from their town not too much earlier in the Gospel. And not only does the Samaritan care for the victim, he goes over the top to make sure he gets all the care he needs. And even this is a risk. If the victim is Jewish, he might actually resent being saved by a Samaritan. The wine and oil the Samaritan used to clean the wounds would have made a Jewish victim impure. The Samaritan puts all caution aside to tend to someone in need. In the story the priest and Levite ask, if I stop to help, what will happen to me? The Samaritan asks, if I don’t stop to help, what will happen to him?
So then comes the clinching question. The lawyer had asked, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus asks, “Who became a neighbor?” The one who showed mercy. The plumb line: Go and do likewise.
A more modern story. One of the parishes I was a member of in St. Louis was about an even number of black and white parishioners. I learned a lot from the black members. One story in particular is of Flora, a feisty black woman in her 70’s at the time. One of her sons had been murdered by another young black man in the neighborhood. Even though he had gone to trial and found guilty, he was back out on the streets a few months later. Since he lived in the same neighborhood as Flora, he would have to pass by her house, but he would always cross to the opposite side of the street. When Flora prayed the Our Father, she took seriously the words forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. So one day when he was passing by on the opposite side of the street, she yelled out to him, “I’m not going to hell because of you. Get in here and visit with me.” She was able to let go of her own pain in order to see his. And healing for both of them began. The one who showed mercy. The plumb line.

Joys and Concerns:
Pastoral, Silent and Lord’s Prayer
*Doxology: #95
Giving of Gifts and Talents:
Prayer of Thanksgiving: Holy God, source of all good things, we ask that the gifts we offer to you this day would be dedicated to bringing your kingdom of love, justice, and compassion into being in our midst. We acknowledge that when this service is over, it will be tempting to put our blinders back on, keep our focus on what’s right in front of us, and not see that which is all around us. Help us to see both the beauty of your caring and the ugliness of our indifference. We pray this in Christ’s name. Amen.
Benediction: Eternal God,
comfort of the afflicted and healer of the broken,
you have fed us at the table of life and hope:
teach us the ways of gentleness and peace,
that all the world may acknowledge
the kingdom of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Closing Hymn: “Lord, I Want to be a Christian” #402

06/18/2022

June 19, 2022 — Second Sunday after Pentecost
Tracy United Methodist Church

Announcements

Prelude and Lighting of the Candles

Hymn: “Be Thou My Vision” #451

Call to Worship
When we long for the special effects we think life should offer:
it is enough, for us, that God comes in a soft, summer shower.
When we our hearts are cracked by the drought of doubt:
it is enough, for us, that God opens up the fountains of faith for us.
When our senses are deadened by the sales pitches of
our culture.
it is enough, for us, that God wraps us in the silence of grace.

Opening Prayer: O God who is greater than the most powerful forces in this world, enable us to be still and know that You are God. O Lord who answers out of the whirlwind of everyday life, breathe in us Your Holy Spirit to strengthen, comfort, and guide us in the midst of the storm. O still, small voice, speak to us this hour that we might become makers of Your peace
in our homes, in our communities, in our world. We pray all this in the name of the One who calmed the raging sea. Amen.

Hymn: “God Will Take Care of You” #130

Old Testament Reading: 1 Kings 19:1-15
Intro to 1 Kings: It is helpful to give this reading the context of the previous chapter. In it Elijah proposes a contest between the false god Baal and the God of the Jews, Yahweh. Jezebel had been killing all the Jewish prophets. Elijah was left. The Jewish people were wavering between worshipping Baal or Yahweh, or probably both depending on which offered the better deal at the time. Because of their unfaithfulness, a drought had filled the land. So Elijah proposed that they prepare two bulls for sacrifice, but not light the fire. Whichever God lights the fire is the true God. So the prophets of Baal do all their rituals and dancing and nothing happens. For hours they carry on. Nothing. Meanwhile Elijah prepares his bull, drenches it in water along with all the wood and even the trenches around the altar. He implores God to come down and light the fire so the people would know he is God. And fire comes down and incinerates the bull, the wood and even dries up the trenches. So the people acknowledge Yahweh as the one true God. Elijah then orders all the prophets of Baal rounded up and killed. That evening rains begin to fall.

Psalm 43 pg 778

New Testament Lesson: Galatians 3:23-29

Gospel Lesson: Luke 8:26-39

Gloria Patri: #70

Message: How Big is Our God
In the past couple of weeks we have explored the mystery of God, first by focusing on the Holy Spirit, then the Trinity. Today we will look at how people relate to God, what image of God to they have. Each of us is created uniquely by God so each of us has a unique relationship with God. This relationship is formed by the image of God that we have. Many people relate to God as Father, but that image of God can be difficult if one has never experienced a father in their life or had an abusive relationship. Others may see God as a Supreme Judge, watching all we do and ready to pronounce a judgement if we wander. Others may see God a divine bookkeeper who weighs our good against the bad as if we have to earn our way to heaven. Others see God as someone who created the earth, but then lets it unfold as it will with no divine guidance. Others see things as being predetermined with little choice on our part. Others see a loving Creator God who has imbued all of creation with his loving presence. And often our image of God is a bit of several of these.
This week’s readings invite us to explore different images of God and how we respond to God. In the story of Elijah we see him coming from a rather spectacular victory. But immediately after Jezebel says she will do to Elijah what he did to the prophets of Baal. So Elijah become totally dejected thinking that all he did has literally gone up in smoke. Things haven’t really changed. Jezebel is still in charge and is life is in danger. So he runs off and asks God to let him die because he is worthless. But instead God sends an angel to give him sustenance for a forty-day trek. He finds a cave for shelter. And God asks him, “What are you doing here?” And Elijah recites his list of accomplishments ending with that he will be killed. Then Elijah is told to listen for God’s voice. And it wasn’t in the fierce wind, or earthquake or fire, but in sheer silence. And again he hears the question, “What are you doing here?” And Elijah again gives his stock answer, but this time he hears the Lord telling him to get back to work. That what he has done is his work and he is to do it. How big was Elijah’s God before he listened to the whisper (or sheer silence)?
What has always amazed me about this Gospel story is not that Jesus had power over the demons, but the response of the people when they saw this person who had been possessed, clean and sane. Instead of rejoicing that the man had been healed, and throwing a big party and celebrating the miracle, they were afraid and drove Jesus away. How big was the god of these people that they couldn’t recognize God’s power at work?
In Galatians we are told that our belief in Christ changes our image of God from that of a disciplinarian under the law, to being a child of God. And since we are all children of God we need to treat each other as brothers and sisters united in the Body of Christ. We are offered here an image of a very big God.
Have we experienced times like Elijah when we were ready to throw in the towel, but Jesus says, this is what you were made to do. Do it! Has it come in a time of silence?
Have we been so overwhelmed by God’s grace and power that instead of rejoicing in it we reject it? Or perhaps it calls us to let go of false images of God?
Is our God big enough to embrace all of humanity and indeed all of creation?

Joys and Concerns:

Pastoral, Silent and Lord’s Prayer

*Doxology: #95

Giving of Gifts and Talents:
Prayer of Thanksgiving: God of power and might, as we offer our gifts to you this morning, we remember how dependent we are on your love and mercy for every good and helpful thing in our lives. We affirm in our giving that all the money and possessions in the world cannot rescue us from the demons that torment and tug at us every day. When we’ve tried to fix things on our own, we have failed; when we put our trust in your loving power made known to us in Christ, we have found our lifeline. Dedicate these gifts and our lives, that we might not only find our way but lead others toward Jesus, our rock and our redeemer. Amen.

Father’s Day Blessing:
We give our thanks, Creator God, for the fathers in our lives.
Fatherhood does not come with a manual, and reality teaches us that some fathers excel while others fail.
We ask for Your blessings for them all and forgiveness where it is needed.
This Father's Day we remember the many sacrifices fathers make for their children and families, and the ways--both big and small--they lift children to achieve dreams thought beyond reach.
So too, we remember all those who have helped fill the void when fathers pass early or are absent; grandfathers and uncles, brothers and cousins, teachers, pastors and coaches and the women of our families.
For those who are fathers, we ask for wisdom and humility in the face of the task of parenting. Give them the strength to do well by their children and by You.
In Your Holy name, O God, we pray. Amen.

Benediction: Now may we who have been put into our right minds, and clothed with compassion and grace, return to our homes and declare –
declare what God has done and is doing in your life
declare the healing at work in us
declare the promise of community and of life.
May we go to declare that God is at work, and we are the sign.
May we go to live a declaration.
May we go with God.
Closing Hymn: “For the Healing of the Nations” #428

05/07/2022

4th Sunday of Easter-May 8, 2022
Tracy UMC Tracy, Iowa

Announcements
Prelude and Lighting the Candles
Greeting and Gathering

Is It Our Finger or the Moon?
Thomas Merton wrote a little sermon illustration whether he intended it to be a sermon illustration or not I am going to use it as such. It goes something like this: A child asks his father where the moon is? His father lifts up his finger and points at the moon. The child looks and calls his father’s finger the moon.

Brian Mclaren, who is sometimes referred to as a modern-day Martin Luther. Was asked in the question and answer discussion that we had at the School for Ministry ten years ago. What is wrong with the United Methodist Church?

You could tell by his demeanor that he really didn’t want to go there. But after a few moments he told us that story about the finger and the moon.
Mclaren then says, “What is wrong with the United Methodists and a lot of other denominations is we call our fingers the moon. Or we believe our fingers are the moon. Or we believe that our fingers have become the moon. In other words we have substituted the Gospel for the business of the church. We forgot we are here for the moon but all we see is our fingers.”

In the Beginning:
“Come to me,” Christ says.
We know and hear this voice.
“Walk with me,” Christ calls.
We know and follow this call.
“Live with me,” Christ offers.
We rejoice in this promise of life.
Come, let us worship with Easter joy!

Hymn: “Come We that Love the Lord” # 732

O Great Shepherd, walk with us in this time of worship, as you walk with us all the days of our lives. As we sing your praises and worship your holy name, speak to us with your wisdom, call to us and lead us home. Open our eyes and enlighten our minds, that we might hear your word and grow in our faith. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.

Epistle Lesson: Acts 9:36-43
Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, "Please come to us without delay." So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them. Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, "Tabitha, get up." Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive. This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. Meanwhile he stayed in Joppa for some time with a certain Simon, a tanner.

Hymn: “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us” # 381

The Gospel: John 10:22-31
At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, ‘How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.’ Jesus answered, ‘I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will sn**ch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can sn**ch it out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.’

This has been God’s word.
Thanks be to God.

Glori Patri # 70: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Brand New Day:
Easter Season is the fifty days after Easter Sunday that begins with death and ends in new life. To die the death so that we may live the life, says the Apostle Paul. That is a little bit under stated as to what happened on Easter morn. The resurrection is so beyond the reach of our humanity that it is unexplainable. We cannot and I will not try to explain the events of cross and resurrection, death to life. If you find someone with all the answers, I would be very skeptical of that person. What I can say is that I can witness to the actual claim of the wonder that God’s power was compelling enough for life to happen in this world.

God’s power for life is demonstrated and witnessed specifically in the adventures of Elijah and Elisha, the Gospels, and in the beginning where God says, “let there be light.” Outside of the creation story the witness to God’s life-giving action in the world was carried out by people chosen and anointed to carry the message of life. Elijah and Elisha each raised a gentile widow’s son from death. Jesus raised the dead from a daughter of a centurion to Lazarus who was in the tomb for four days. Now, Peter in the Acts scripture has become God’s agent for life, new life.

God is the center of my life and I pray is the center of your life. When called by God to go and do unto others it is God who is moving in this world to nullify the negativity of our lives to bring new life. Just like the saints before us it is God who is providing the speech and the voice to a radical, out of the box change. It is God through Jesus that voices the words from Genesis, “let there be light.”

In Acts it is Peter who is now the head of the church and the embodiment of the church’s vision and mission. It is Peter who becomes the rock that the church is built on. This makes Peter the personification to the authority and mission of the church. Peter is now the embodiment of the church. He enters the room where there is a smell of death. He prays. He engages the body. He utters his commanding imperative. And life is given, life that is, in verse 41, celebrated by saints and widows.

The saints in this story are those who stuck around. They did not flee from the smell of death but waited to see the miracle of life happen. The widows are the ones who live in tension with death every day because of their vulnerability from economic insecurities. Those who do not get to wear the mantle of sainthood are the ones who feared death and left the room. Those who are non-widows were the ones who make the widows vulnerable, insecure and remind them that death is constantly knocking on their door. They too, are like those who have fled from the smell of death. It takes a certain kind of witness to see the newness of life sprout up and grow! The saints and widows stayed in the chamber of death and were there for the surprising gift of new life.

Clearly the gospel shows us that Peter-who is the mission and vision of the church is given the resurrection power of Jesus. For us, our church-the same church embodied by Peter- known as the body of Christ has been given the power to create new life. Because of this empowerment we like the testimony of the book of Acts will constantly conflict with worldly empires whether political or religious. The power to bring life out of death threatens any and all status quos. Even the status quo of those who sit in sanctuaries on Sunday morning and committee meetings during the week and try to create their own empires.

In the Gospel reading, the works of Christ testify that Jesus is the Messiah, the works of new life that Jesus enacts everywhere. But many do not believe the testimony, because they are accustomed to the old arrangements of death and despair. But “my sheep” are the ones who “follow me.” The church that stays close to Jesus, and so follows Jesus, not only in being obedient, but also in dispensing the miraculous power for life. The church continues to do what Jesus has done in order to make the world new.

The ones who do that, the faithful, the empowered church, have “eternal life,” a quality of bold freedom in the world (John 10:27). Perhaps that “eternal life” was already signified in the life of “Tabitha” who was “devoted to good works and acts of charity” (Acts 9:36). She already knew, in her daily round, about “eternal life.” Now the whole body of saints and widows, attached to the narrative, is invited to live that life with her, close to Jesus, agents and recipients of new life! And with that I say Amen!
(A reflection of an article written by Walter Brueggemann in the Christian Century, April 23, 2007)

We Respond: “Brand New Day” Van Morrison

Joys & Concerns
Special Litany for Mothers
Mothers come in many different forms, and today we celebrate them all!
Thank God for mothers!
Everyone here is either a son or a daughter.
Thank God for my mother!
For those women who have joined God in Heaven and whom we miss dearly here on earth.
Thank God for the mothers of the past.
For every woman who is working day and night to raise her children right now.
Thank God for the mothers of today.
For all the women who are expecting, but aren't quite mothers yet!
Thank God for the soon-to-be-mothers.
For the women who took in others' children through adoption and foster care.
Thank God for the mothers with hearts so big.
For those women who have lost a child to death and must carry on.
Thank God for the mothers who are so strong.
For all the women who have desperately wanted to have children of their own, but chose instead to mother everyone else.
Thank God for the mothers in spirit.
All: We thank you, Lord, for the women who have influenced our lives in so many ways. We pray that we will honor them in everything we do. Amen

Silent Prayer & Lord’s Prayer: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen

Doxology # 95: Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise him, all creatures here below; praise him above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

*Prayer of Thanksgiving: Loving Father, you powerfully fill the voids in our lives. You reveal your compassionate grace by the simple act of always being present. You unselfishly feed us when we are hungry and quietly walk with us when we feel alone. Combine this offering with others so that all your children can be filled with the power of your redeeming spirit. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.

Before We Go: Follow the voice of Jesus wherever he leads. Trust that he will nourish and protect you and fill you with the goodness of God’s love. In the name of the one who calls and guides us, let us go out to love and serve the world. Amen.

In the End is Our Beginning: “Easter People Raise Your Voices” # 304
Postlude:

May 15 Scripture Readings: Acts 11:1-18; Psalm 148; Revelations 21:1-6; John 13:31-35

05/01/2022

May 1, 2022-3rd Sunday of Easter
Tracy UMC Tracy, Iowa

Announcements
Prelude and Lighting the Candles
Gathering and Greeting
Call to Worship
Be joyful in the Lord, all you lands; serve the Lord with gladness
and come before his presence with song.
The Lord is glorious in his saints: O come, let us adore him.
Know this: The Lord himself is God; he himself has made us, and we are his; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.
The Lord is glorious in his saints: O come, let us adore him.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise; *
give thanks to him and call upon his Name.
The Lord is glorious in his saints: O come, let us adore him.
For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his faithfulness endures from age to age.

Hymn: “My Hope is Built” # 368

O Lord, your wondrous birth means nothing unless we are born again, your death and sacrifice mean nothing unless we die to sin, your resurrection means nothing if you be risen alone. Raise and exalt us, O Savior, both now to the estate of grace and hereafter to the state of glory; where with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, God for ever and ever. Amen.

First Lesson: John 21:1-14
After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.’ They said to him, ‘We will go with you.’ They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, ‘Children, you have no fish, have you?’ They answered him, ‘No.’ He said to them, ‘Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.’ So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the lake. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.

When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.’ So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Hymn: “Amazing Grace” # 378

*Gospel Lesson: John 21:15-19
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ A second time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ And he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep. Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.’ (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, ‘Follow me.’

This has been God’s word.
Thanks be to God.

Glori Patri # 70: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Message: “Smiling, He Called You By Name”

After seeing Jesus twice before: The first time was in the room where they were hiding from the authorities on Easter evening when Jesus suddenly appears without opening locked doors or tearing open the roof. The second time was a week later where Jesus enters the room once again. The second time Jesus enters he wants to make sure that Thomas, the disciple who said he would not believe unless he saw the holes in Jesus’ hands and the gash in Jesus’ side, finally sees what he is looking for. So Jesus enters the room once again and gives Thomas an up close and personal look at the holes in his hands and feet and the gash where the spear pierced his side. Thomas of course at that point says, “My Lord, my God!”

One of the main issues in the gospel of John is that the author of John uses certain symbols to denote the lack of faith of the main characters. On Easter morning the gospel writer has Mary Magdalene, Peter and John in the dark as a symbol of their lack of faith. Then the gospel writer has the rest of the disciples in a locked room as a symbol of lack of faith. Then in the second occasion with the disciples still in a locked room-still lacking in faith-Jesus once again comes in. At this point faith happens when Jesus appears when the disciples and Thomas see Jesus just as it happened to Mary on Easter morning.

Now you might assume that the faith of the disciples has been restored and all is good. But in this morning’s gospel lesson we have the disciples in a boat, and they are fishing. People who don’t know what to do or become lost in their direction in life usually return to familiar patterns of behavior as in the case of the disciples who go fishing.

While fishing they see a man standing on the shore and do not recognize that it is Jesus. That tells us the disciples have not yet come to faith and having not caught anything all night long is another sign that they have not come to faith. The man on the shore tells them to put their nets out on the other side of the boat and the disciples do what they are told.

At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry there was a similar scene where the disciples had been out all night and hadn’t caught any fish and Jesus says go back out and try again. They go back out and they catch so many fish that they need to have help in hauling in the catch.

As the disciples throw their nets into the water the nets start to fill up with fish. The scripture says 153 fish and they had to drag the net on to shore because it was so full. But in the miracle of catching fish they come to see Jesus as the man who is on the beach.

John says to Peter, “it is the Lord.”

In the first episode I just told you about when the disciples were catching so many fish that they needed help to haul in all the fish they had caught. Peter recognizes Jesus as someone who is divine and says to Jesus, “get away from me for I am a sinful man.” In this morning’s scripture Peter who is naked puts on clothes just like Adam and Eve did when they put on fig leaves. Remember what God said to Adam and Eve, “who told you were naked?” Peter soon comes to realize that he cannot hide his guilt and shame from Jesus as Adam and Eve could not hide from God.

When the disciples get to the shore Jesus has breakfast waiting for the disciples as they come up out of their boats. This is a sign of friendship, love and hospitality from Jesus to his disciples. Jesus is still the servant’s servant. While the disciples are eating Jesus asks Peter do you love me? Not once but three times and Peter is embarrassed and a little angered, but it was necessary for Peter to realize what he had done. Peter’s clothes could not hide his shame and as God sees all things so does the Son. That reality comes to Peter but Jesus could have left it there with Peter feeling really bad about himself. With those feelings of depression Peter could have ended up like Judas, but Jesus doesn’t do that. The miracle of these last verses in the Gospel of John is not the catch of fish, but that Jesus not only forgives but after searching us, and while smiling calls us by name to feed his sheep and his lambs.

I always loved the words in the refrain of the hymn “Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore” that says, “O Lord, with your eyes you have searched me, and while smiling you have spoken my name.” I think those are some of the most beautiful words that I have ever been written in a hymn. I have never backed away from telling anyone about the life that I have led and some of the paths that I have gone down. Jesus’ eyes still searched me and while smiling called me by my name.

Now I am not the most vilest offender and as it says in the hymn Amazing Grace I don’t think I was the worse wretch to be saved, but that is my consolation. Sin is sin and if you done bad you have done bad. If you want to argue a pecking order for sin you can just go right ahead but Jesus still called me at my worse to feed his sheep and his lambs.

Just like Jesus did when he called Iowa boy, Ron Gruber, who may be on the list for vilest offender and definitely a wretch of the devil’s own due. Ron Gruber took a walk on the wild side as he became an enforcer for a motorcycle gang and as an enforcer he had the opportunity to define and re-define what is evil at his own discretion.

I had seen the Grim Reaper biker gang around the Peoria, Illinois area in the early 70’s and they weren’t particularly scary to me. Maybe because I knew a few of them and they were ordinary guys during the week. Then I moved to California and while living in San Diego there was this beer bar two blocks down from my apartment. One Saturday morning I looked out and there was an army of law enforcement people all over the place. So I walked down to the corner to see what was going on. What was going on was the Hell’s Angels had invaded this bar and anyone with a badge in southern California was searching bikes and pulling people out from the bar to search them.

Being from the Midwest I was not prepared to see what I was about to see. These guys were nothing like they are portrayed in the books and the movies. They were big, mean and ugly and what I mean by ugly was not because they did not look good, but their demeanor said there is nothing good inside these people. These guys really put the fear of God in me as I was standing far enough away with as many police officers that I could get in between me and them.

I tell this story to maybe let you realize Ron Gruber’s life with his biker gang was definitely a horrific enterprise. I looked Ron Gruber up on the world wide web and there was one picture of him in his colors and he was no Hollywood make over. In other words, he wasn’t a nice guy dressed up to look like a bad guy. He was the real deal. He was jailed for murder, racketeering and money laundering. But while in prison he heard the gospel and “O Lord, with your eyes you have searched me, and while smiling you have spoken my name.”

With God’s grace, Jesus’ redemption and the Holy Spirit leading Ron Gruber is now a disciple for Jesus Christ. I mention Ron Gruber because he has some roots around the northeast Iowa area. He also has a ministry that is centered in Iowa where he shares his story and his love for the gospel. His organization is called Essential Instruction and there is a video on the website that is pretty powerful.

Jesus calls even the vilest offender to feed my sheep as he called Saul who was zealously persecuting the church when Jesus knocked him off his horse, blinded him and then restored him as Paul the Apostle who would lead the Church into its gentile mission.

And to us who have gathered here this morning I don’t know what is in your hearts and minds, but Jesus does. Whether you have a fig leaf like Adam and Eve or you get dressed to hide yourself from Jesus like Peter; Jesus will still be there smiling, searching you and will call you by name to feed his sheep. That is what we call forgiveness and mercy, that is what we call grace and that is what we call faith in you without necessarily having faith in him because he is going to ask you to do what he has done for you and that is to feed his sheep. And with that I say Amen!

Video: “Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore”

Joys, Concerns & God sightings:
Prayer of Confession: Have mercy upon us, O God, according to your loving kindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out our transgressions. Wash us thoroughly from our iniquities, and cleanse us from our sins. For we acknowledge our transgressions, and our sin is ever before us. Create in us clean hearts, O God, and renew a right spirit with us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Moment of Silence
Words of Assurance: The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. May the almighty and merciful Lord grant us remission of all our sins, true repentance, amendment of life, and the grace and consolation of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Doxology UMH # 95 Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise him, all creatures here below; praise him above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

The Great Thanksgiving # 13
Lord’s Prayer: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Breaking and Giving of Bread and Cup:

Communion Prayer: Eternal God, we give you thanks for this holy mystery in which you have given yourself to us. Grant that we may go into the world in the strength of your Spirit, to give ourselves for others, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Benediction: The Spirit moves, not just to renew and transform us, but to call us to service in the name of Christ. Go now, strengthened for that service, mending what is broken, healing what is sick, and joining what has been separated. May the love of God be with you in all that you say and do, now and forever. Amen

Closing Hymn: “Here I Am” UMH # 593
Postlude:

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