Preached at Two Rock Valley and Tomales Presbyterian Church – July 21, 2024 – Based on Psalm 23 and Ephesians 2:11-22
Many years ago, I served as a deacon in my home church.
This was before I decided to go to seminary,
when I was still in the business world.
Having made that decision, I was attending one of my last deacon meetings
when the following happened.
A group of nearly 40 deacons sitting in a large circle,
spent close to 20 minutes discussing the type and size of disposable cups
we should use during fellowship hour.
The less environmentally friendly folks felt that Styrofoam was the way to go
as it would protect the hands of those drinking hot coffee.
However, someone readily pointed out that our call as Christians
is to be good stewards of the earth and suggested that paper was clearly preferable.
Then, one of our beloved bean counters presented the savings we would reap
if we purchased small cups versus large ones,
not just because we could purchase more cups for the same price,
but also because we would spend less on coffee on a weekly basis.
This raised the dander of someone who began to argue
that this would cause more spilling to happen,
because people would probably fill the cups to the brim
and those little-handed lemonade drinkers would wreak havoc
by making sticky stains on our lovely carpeting.
At this point, somebody advocated that we go ahead with the larger cups
but that we give special training to servers who would be directed
to fill the cups only halfway
so that those less stable of footing would have some wiggle room
for the beverages to slosh against the sides
instead of falling onto the ground.
As I witnessed this conversation my eyes must have widened to the size of saucers,
or dare I say maybe disgust registered all over my face.
As a junior manager in business, I wondered how in the world
we could possibly spend this much time discussing disposable cups.
When the meeting ended, the Associate Pastor for Congregational Care,
having not intervened in this very painful conversation,
walked up to me, patted me on the back and said,
“Welcome to leadership in the Church, Lisa!”
It’s a miracle of God, that I stand before you today …
In a much more serious manner,
the Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians,
speaks to the different perspectives we naturally find within the church.
Here Paul is writing to Jews and Gentiles.
While he lifts up the very different backgrounds they have,
he reminds them that they are now a part of the same family and the same house,
which is God’s family and God’s house.
We could spend considerable time this morning discussing the differences
between Jews and Gentiles,
the distinct histories they each had,
the fact that Jews had a long relationship with God,
manifesting in a strong identity as the people of Israel
and a solid understanding of God’s special covenant with them;
whereas the Gentiles were newly a part of the fold,
having come from different nations and places and not adhering to the same customs.
Similarly, we could review the ways in which we, here in this place
have many distinct perspectives based on our own histories.
Some of you grew up on ranches and farm land like all the beauty around us
(TOMALES: or in this sweet little town);
whereas others of you landed here from quite different parts.
We have some City Slickers here,
not from that great movie that came out in the 1990s,
but people who literally hail from San Francisco
and other so-called worldly places.
But rather than get caught up in distinctions,
deep significant ones or more trivial matters,
I’d rather ask us to consider what it means to be people of God.
Each one of us has a unique story about how we find ourselves here this morning.
There are as many different stories about that as there are different people gathered here.
Some of you were raised in the faith and can’t imagine any other place that you would be.
Some of you had a life-altering experience that brought you through these doors.
Some of you rolled out of bed with ease and excitement
and got ready to come and be among friends and family.
Some of you struggled to get here,
life being a challenge due to physical restraints or hard life circumstances
that are weighing you down.
But somehow, each of us got here today,
and the common denominator, ultimately, is Jesus Christ.
My sermon title is “A Dwelling Place for God,”
which is not the leave bit creative or original,
as these are the last five words in our scripture passage from Ephesians.
But, it is the description of that dwelling place,
which precedes those last few words of scripture
where I want to invite us to focus.
The church’s potential as a dwelling place for God depends on community,
on being joined together.
Much of what I read and studied about this passage from Ephesians
spoke about wiping out or breaking down that which divides us
so that we are truly One in Christ.
Yet, I’m not sure that should be our focus.
I don’t believe that erasing our differences is helpful, or even possible really.
It seems it would be much more productive to look at weaving our differences together.
We cannot be the One we are meant to be in Christ as individuals
without at the same time, being the many we surely are in the Church.
My opening story about a group of church folk attempting to select disposable cups,
while clearly embellished,
speaks to what makes church a unique witness in the world –
the fact that at our best, we ACTUALLY BELIEVE everyone’s voice has a place
and that by lifting up those distinct voices we will, … eventually, and with great patience,
make the best decision we can for our collective good.
When it comes to selecting cups,
or when we are gathered with like-minded folds,
we are generally able to speak our truth.
But, being good church folks, sometimes we’re too nice to speak about our differences.
It’s human nature to be conflict averse … at least a very many people are.
We can be silent about things that really matter,
which can be problematic in communal living.
When we fail to speak openly and honestly about what is deeply important to us,
we can live shallowly, which is ultimately not very fulfilling.
Out text today talks about being a dwelling place for God.
This is not just as individuals but as a community of faith.
In order to be that dwelling place,
we must be able to speak our own truth in love
and we must be able to bring those truths together so that we have a collective voice,
a larger picture, for God.
When I was initially thinking about a dwelling place for God,
I was thinking about a peaceful place,
and yet, sometimes God sits smack dab in the middle of our messes.
In fact, Christ did just that over and over and over again.
It’s actually, if we are truthful, I think,
why we love and respect him so very much.
Listen to this unique translation of Psalm 23 from Emily Bernardi,
which I heard a couple of weeks ago when attending the Memorial service
for the Rev. Linda Powers, a dear friend of this congregation,
and a woman who was notorious for coming alongside people
that not everyone would find easy to love …
“The Lord is my best friend,
the one who takes care of me, heals me and feeds me.
That is why I always have more than enough.
He has offered me a resting place in His luxurious love
and that is where I am learning to abide and stay.
As I listen and follow Him,
He leads me daily to an oasis of peace and the quiet brook of bliss.
This is where he restores and revives my life.
He opens before me the pathways to God’s pleasure and leads me along –
so that I can bring honor to His name.
If I go His speed and follow Him daily,
and continue to abide in Him, learning to carry His presence,
my life will bring Him all of the honor He could ever want of me.
Even when the path takes me through the valley of the deepest darkness
(not talking about personal attacks against my family and things or me),
fear will never conquer me.
He always remains close to me and leads me.
The comfort of His love takes away every fear, and I am never lonely.
His authority is my strength and peace.
The One who created the entire universe is the One who is with me,
on my side, always with me to help me.
The Lord is my delicious feast, even when the enemy dares to fight.
My life is anointed with the fragrance of the Holy Spirit.
He gives me all I can drink of Himself until my heart overflows.
This is the presence I carry and changes and transforms the atmosphere around me.
Why would I fear the future?
His goodness and love pursue me all of my days,
and I will live in His presence forever.”
Thanks be to God.
Amen.