November 24th, 2019 - Download a Worship Bulletin Above Micah 6:6-8
With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my first-born for my transgression, the fruit of the body for the sin of my soul? He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Pastor Christy was out ill this week, and her sermon was read by our Lay Leader, Heidi Jeldres. If you’ve visited Pastor Christy’s parsonage, you’ll notice that she loves house plants. She’s got several basking in the windows, spread on the dining room table, spilling out from bookcases, and even hanging air plants in glass globes. This used not to be the case: whether it was something like a spider plant or a different, more hearty plant like a succulent or orchid, they would inevitably fail under her care. Whether she watered them or let them dry out, moved them into the light or back into the center of the house, they’d never do well, and a few weeks after the plants’ adoption, they’d be dumped into the backyard to compost. But upon moving into the parsonage, she recognized that the light was perfect for plants - there is so much light in that house, and it feels so airy and open. And so she tried again, this time with much better results. The plants didn’t just survive - they thrived. And she’s since been gifted with greenery that she hopes will last through the long cold months of winter into the newness of spring. Last week, we were asked to reflect upon our hopes and vision for George Whitefield United Methodist Church, and many of you stated that you’d love to see a growth in membership, that we would welcome all people into our ministry, that we’d be able to survive as a church. But what would it mean to focus on thriving rather than just surviving? What would happen if we saw the ministry of our church through the lens of abundance instead of scarcity? Over the past several weeks, we’ve been naming what we find to be most precious about our church - what we love the most, the people who have made a difference in our spiritual lives, and our hopes for the future. And there is power in the naming of these blessings; when we name what we’re thankful for, those things suddenly become more visible to us, and we’re able to respond in gratitude to all that we’ve been given. This morning’s scripture reading talks about responding to blessings through different offerings to God - whether it’s burnt offerings, livestock, oil, or even our firstborn in dedication - but ends with a surprising conclusion: we are called to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God. This is the offering we can bring to the altar of God. And it matters much more how we bring forth our offerings as opposed to what or how much we bring. God would much rather us bring our whole selves to the ministry set before us. When we approach the ministry of George Whitefield from a place of abundance, we’re able to name the blessings set before us - of our loving community, our beautiful building, the town of West Brookfield and beyond. We’re able to see the ways in which the seeds we’ve cultivated have come to fruition, for our twenty years of sending gifts through Operation Christmas Child, of our nearly 90 pounds of food and goods we’ve donated to the Sharing Cupboard in just a few short months, for the ways in which our prayer squares send blessings upon blessings without geographic limits. We are doing amazing ministry at George Whitefield, and we have the opportunity to thrive here and now and well into the future. As we close out our stewardship season, we are called to reflect upon our blessings and respond in gratitude, and one of the most amazing things about this time is that we recognize that it’s a gift to give. Whether we’re able to give financially, or through our time, talents, or prayers, your gift is not only a blessing to us but to you as well. By giving, our church is forever changed, and so are we on a personal level. The act of giving is a spiritual discipline that our founder, John Wesley, found to be particularly powerful. For Wesley, giving is an act full of grace that reminds us that we are “rooted in … an emptying of oneself for others, an expression of love of God and neighbor.” (Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations, 112) In our generosity, not only will we be able to name the blessings in which we’re already partaking, but we’ll also be able to witness the ways we can thrive rather than just survive. Earlier this morning, we sang that Jesus’ reign “shall know no end, and round his pierced feet fair flowers of paradise extend their fragrance ever sweet.” (Crown Him With Many Crowns) We are able to be a part of that vision, and we are invited to respond. During our final hymn this morning, we invite you to come forward as you are led to drop your pledge card into the offering plate on the altar. Know that your gift, whether financial, or through your time, talent, and prayer, is a precious gift from God, and we are so excited to see the ways in which God will use us all in the ministry of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. And now, may we be witness to the abundance that surrounds us each day, knowing that every good gift comes from God. May we respond to the call to extravagant generosity through the stewardship of our gifts, and may we partner in creating an environment that nurtures the thriving of our faith for the sake of the entire world. Through Christ our Lord, who taught us to bring our whole selves to the altar: to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God. Amen. - Pastor Christy Wright
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