Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us… Hebrews 12:11

One of our members sent this message to me:

“I wanted to thank you for using the prerecorded benediction with our choir the past 2 weeks.  What I find especially satisfying is the chatter and laughter during the postlude.  It feels like home. I think that we are getting a taste of the separation of the family of God of those in Heaven and those still on earth.  What rejoicing there will be when we all get together at HBPC but even more so when it is in Heaven.”

I’ve been thinking about this for awhile as we continue our online worship presence.  We are a part of the Church Militant, the church still on earth.  The Church Triumphant includes all those who have gone before us and worship with the heavenly choirs.  And they worship with us.

Both the books of Isaiah and Revelation speak of heavenly worship, where the angels gather around God and offer their praise.  Revelation speaks of the worship of angels, creatures and elders.  Worship in heaven sounds lively – and I’m reminded of the hymn “All Creatures of Our God and King” written by Francis of Assisi.  All of creation worships God.

I am also reminded of a scene from the 1984 movie “Places in the Heart”.

–SPOILER ALERT–

The closing scene of the movie shows a Communion scene.  As the Elders pass the bread and cup, seated in the sanctuary are church members who died during the movie.  They sit together with the living members.  The church, whether gathered or scattered is surrounded by that great cloud of witnesses.

Brothers and sisters, we are not yet able to enter the sanctuary together.  We might be watching the worship services at different times.  But we are still worshipping together!

And one day, hopefully soon, we will joyfully be reunited in our sanctuary.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

Colossians 1:9-14

⁹For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, ¹⁰so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. ¹¹May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully ¹²giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. ¹³He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, ¹⁴in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

We are on a journey.  Each of us has been on this journey since birth and throughout we have grown.  We learned to walk, talk and eat.  Our food has changed from milk to puree to solid food (hopefully balanced with protein, vegetables and grains!).  Our knowledge has expanded through academic study and “street smarts”.  We change.  We grow.

Our spiritual lives should also be growing.  Paul prays that the church “be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God.”  This is not a stagnant faith, rather a growing process.

Motivational speaker and college football player “Inky” Johnson says; “We can’t be who we used to be and who we’re going to be at the same time!”  To become who God calls us to become, we must change, adapt, pray and grow.

As you start out this new week, take a close look around you – examine your surroundings and look for signs of God’s presence.  Notice how God creates and sustains the universe.  Look for changes as the weather changes.  Then examine yourselves.  Are you growing in the knowledge of God?  If not, are you trying to be who you used to be even though God is calling you to move forward?

Peace,

Pastor Bill

A new church was formed and, as often happened, it was persecuted.  The beliefs of Christians were different from the Pagan world.  Many felt the Christian beliefs angered the gods of Rome, which caused the downfall of the Roman Empire.

Paul, after forming the church and moving on with his missionary journey, wrote to the church to remind them of hope in Christ – and to remind the individual church that they are not alone – that in fact the entire church is with them.

In 1 Thessalonians 2:17-20 Paul writes:  As for us, brothers and sisters, when, for a short time, we were made orphans by being separated from you – in person, not in heart – we longed with great eagerness to see you face to face. For we wanted to come to you – certainly I, Paul, wanted to again and again – but Satan blocked our way. For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? Yes, you are our glory and joy!

We are in one of those situations when the church is separated physically, but not spiritually.  We may not gather together in person, but we continue to gather, we continue to reach out, we continue to proclaim our hope in Christ.

We can learn from Paul’s journeys.  He was shipwrecked, arrested multiple times, beaten and driven out of cities.  Yet he always kept his hope in Christ.  His faith was challenged and probably shaken at times, but it remained in Jesus.  He may not have been able to gather together with the various churches he started – but he remained in contact with them through his letters.  And we gain by those very letters, for they were inspired by the Holy Spirit and given to us.

Our “stay at home” orders may have been extended for a little while longer, and opening the building is still “down the road”, but the church continues.  We remain separated only in person but not in heart.  And we must stand firm in our joy – Jesus and each other.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

Normally on Mother’s Day I include a litany for us all to say, giving God thanks for all the mothers and the mother like figures in our lives.  But we cannot join together to say that litany this year.

Normally on Mother’s Day I do a Children’s Sermon talking about women I know who were mother like figures, but not mothers themselves, and how all women of faith are mothers to us.  But we cannot join with the children this year.

And I recently lost my mother to Covid-19.  This dread disease has disrupted lives and made simple things, like celebrating our mothers difficult.

But here is something I’ve learned.  Moms are tough.

Guys, admit it, they might just be tougher than us.

My wife went through a very difficult pregnancy.  We walked hand in hand every day with the fear of losing our unborn child – but she had the harder part.  She experienced morning sickness the entire pregnancy.  She could only eat certain foods.  And I could go on but that is not the point.  I’m trying to say that our mothers experience so much – in bringing forth life and raising that life.  Moms are pretty incredible.  And tough.

And so are the women out there who have never had children but treat all kids like their own.  The mother-like figures who brought us up in the faith, the mother-like figures who watched over us when we were playing, the mother-like figures in our schools and so on.

So today, on Mother’s Day, I offer up a prayer of thanksgiving to God for:

Mom who brought me life, taught me so much and dedicated me to the church

Aunt Marie, who taught me how to serve the church

Manisha who is such an incredible mother to Kiran (and so many others)

And all the other mothers and mother-like figures.

Let us pray:

Thank you, God, for our mothers and the women in our lives who have guided us.  For those who have departed, help us to remember all the good.  For those still with us, bless and guide them.  Help us to live in ways that honor them and You.  In Christ, Amen.

Mark 10:46-52

⁴⁶They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. ⁴⁷When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” ⁴⁸Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” ⁴⁹Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” ⁵⁰So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. ⁵¹Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” ⁵²Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.

Philadelphia sports fans can be a contentious lot.  We have the reputation for being passionate, knowledgeable and, in some cases, loud and obnoxious.  We boo poor performance.  But one thing Philadelphia sports fans do not boo is heart.  If a player makes a mistake but is giving his all, he gets a pass – we say he has “heart”.  Look at the Philadelphia Flyers.  Their last championship was 1975 but fans love them – because they play with heart.

Heart is important.  Having heart is about bravery in the face of turmoil, giving your all, doing your best and the like.  It is not about being the best or having all the talents.  It is more a state of mind than of physicality.

In our gospel text Bartimaeus is told to “take heart, get up, he is calling you.”  Yet Bartimaeus already has heart.  Even when told to be quiet, he continues to shout, “Son of David, have mercy on me.”  Bartimaeus may be blind, he may be a poor beggar, but he does not lack heart.  And what does that heart get him?  The attention of Jesus and the healing of his blindness.

Take heart today.  Yes, things are still a mess.  Yes, we are not sure when we will gather together again, but we still do our best.  We still gather to worship and pray in the ways we can.  We still support each other; we still care for each other.  We still have heart.

And heart will lead us to mercy and healing.

Peace,

Pastor Bill