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    Oct 19, 2014

    The Faith Family

    Passage: Psalms 103:1-18

    Series: Stewardship 2014

    Category: Stewardship

    Keywords: stewardship, offering, giving, life, family

    In addition to our Offering, we can also practice our stewardship by being a member of the faith family that is the church. We all have a role to play. What is yours?

    Good Morning!

    Today we are going to continue our sermon series on stewardship.  Last week we talked about when we are giving The Offering, it’s a way to participate in God’s Kingdom and ministry here on earth.  The Offering is a way that each of us can participate, in our own way, to support the Kingdom through this church and the family that it represents.

    As one of our members said it: “our church family is here to help us grow spiritually.  We need to continually feel God’s love so that we can strengthen our faith.  We need to be in attendance with each other so that this can take place.”  I couldn’t agree more.  Spending time with our church family is important if we want to grow.

    Like most families, this Church is full of many unique and interesting characters…  

    Yeah, we have quite a few… 

    And like a family, we all have a role to play in making the family work.  Each of us is blessed with some form of spiritual gift and this rich tapestry of gifts is like a blanket that we can use to enfold each person here.  And if you’re not sure what your gift is, know that each of us has a heart, and a faith that we can share.  We can all show God’s love to one another, and hold each other up, so that we may deepen our “family bonds” and help us to grow.

    So for today we decided to ask some of our faith family members what being part of this church has meant to them and how it has helped them to grow in their faith.

    Listen to what one of them said:

    “Two areas I have been involved in at church have been missions and youth ministry.  Both have significantly impacted my journey as a Christian.

    Working with the youth has allowed me to watch these incredible kids mature into strong Christian young adults.  They are not only leaders here in our church, but also in our community.   They take their Christian values into their schools and show others what it means to be a Christian.  Over and over again, their compassion for others comes back to me in stories of how our youth have championed the unwanted, stood up for injustices, and just been there when others have a need.  Watching their growth, their compassion, and their acceptance of others has made me question many notions that I had held from my own upbringing.  I have re-evaluated ideals that I held that were not so Christian.  The youth have led me to be a better Christian.

    My time at the food pantry and community lunch has also made me re-adjust long held ideas that I held.  Meeting community members face to face and hearing their stories has made me do away with many generalities I have held about groups of people.  I have been blessed with a family that has supported me throughout my life.  I was then blessed again when I moved away, to find a church family that has supported our family through many tough years and difficult journeys.   The people I have met at the food pantry and community lunch have become more than just clients, or “people in need”.  Many have become friends.    I have realized that were it not for the strong family support I have had, I too could have been a client, instead of a volunteer.”

    And now we’re going to hear from members of our VIM trip and how being part of that ministry has helped them to grow…

    <VIM people give their witness>  

    Thank you VIM team for your service and witness!

    Our next family member shared about their experience a little closer to home…

    What difference has my RUMC experience made in my life? Wow, now that is a very thought provoking question. The spiritual growth I have experienced over the years has been monumental.

    For 25 years, I rode the subway into Baltimore city every day. I walked several blocks to my office and quite frankly was accosted by homeless people almost daily. I can safely say I avoided eye contact and moved quickly by them. Every now and then I would run into McDonalds and buy some food and give to someone begging on the street. But as I said, avoiding eye contact and communication. After many years of bible study, prayer and pastoral messages, my whole attitude about the homeless or unhoused population began to soften. I started seeing them as people, not annoyances, and realized that this could happen to anyone.

    When I was laid off two years ago, I realized how very fortunate I was to be prepared, as I watched others lose everything with the loss of their jobs. Think about a family with youngsters living in a car because they can’t afford a roof over their heads. Think of our veterans, suffering from injuries and emotional distress, trying to navigate the red tape of governmental help. All of this and much more has led to the increase of homelessness in our country.

    I am so grateful to be part of a congregation where “the least of these” is more than just a scripture passage. These words are at the very heart of the VIM team, the Food Pantry, The Mission of Mercy Lunch Bunch, the Community Luncheon and, most recently, His Hands and Feet ministry. I was a person who hurried by the homeless in the city every day, the quicker I could get into those office doors, the better.

    A few weeks ago as dusk fell around us, we shared pizza on a park bench with our new friend Kevin. He had had a very rough couple of days and really wanted to just talk. Bonnie had gotten a pizza and as we ate together and listened to him, it became very clear that having people come and visit meant everything to him. He felt that he had value and that we truly cared.  By the time we finished it was completely dark and we stood and took his hands and prayed together. He thanked us over and over again and as we left the park, he said, “I love you guys”.  Thank you Jesus for bringing me to RUMC, for opening my heart to the many needs of the least of these, and allowing me to be your hands and feet.  

    Our final witness couldn’t be with us this morning and we had an opportunity to make a short video of her sharing how RUMC has made a difference in her life.

     

    In closing, I’d like to ask you all a question….

    What part in this faith family do you play?  Are you one of the people that is actively involved in one of the many ministries we support?  Are you one of the people that holds others up by sharing a warm greeting? Speaking an encouraging word?  Offering a smile or a hug?  Maybe you’ve got a willing ear to listen?  Sometimes it’s enough to just be present.  In this way, all of us can be part of the faith family. Amen.