Thank You

Luke 17:11-19

        Congregation sings verse 1 of Hymn 15

All Creatures of our God and King, Lift up your voice and with us sing.

Alleluia (2x)

Thou brother sun with golden beam, O sister moon with silver gleam.

Sing praises, Alleluia (4 times)

 

        There are three things on which you can count: taxes, death, and if it is October, Stewardship Season. I am at a huge disadvantage this year. Many of you still remember the sermon Ron Culberson preached.  I know what you are thinking. That sermon was marvelous. It had us laughing, it had us crying, and it had us sitting by our mail boxes just waiting for the Stewardship Letter so we could joyfully and faithfully fill it out. I am the first to admit the job Ron did last year blew back everyone’s hair  but his. I started to ask him for a repeat performance, but once you paint the Mona Lisa, what do you do next? So I am the alternative. If I bore you, shut your eyes and dream of Ron.

Congregation sings Verse 2 of Hymn 15

O brother wind with clouds and rain, lift up your voice and with us sing,   Alleluia (2x)

O sister water flowing clear, make music for your Lord to hear,

Sing praises! Alleluia (4x)

 

        For children, is there a time more magical than Christmas? For 25 days, visions of sugar plums dance through their head. And then the magical moment arrives. The tree is surrounded by expected and unexpected treasures. Anticipation is so great that even Carly Simon can’t wait to dive in. Before the rooster crows living rooms are turned into disasters areas of ribbons and bows haphazardly tossed aside revealing the secrets that have plagued the minds of folks of all ages. Well that is what I have been told happens in most households. But then I didn’t have that marvelous experience.

        On Christmas morning my sisters and I were restrained at the top of the stairs. Being a good Presbyterian, even on Christmas my father did things in an orderly fashion. He led us downstairs where we each got to celebrate one gift brought by Santa. Then we retreated to the kitchen where we gave thanks and ate breakfast.

Congregation sings verse 3

O brother fire so warm and bright, chase off the shadows of the night.

Alleluia (2x)

Dear mother earth, who day by day, unfolds such blessings on our way,

Sing praises! Alleluia (4x)

 

        How can one eat when we have already witnessed the bounty in the other room? We knew any complaints would have been futile, and so we ate. The menu was always the same: a bowl of Oyster stew, a Smithfield ham biscuit, a cup of fruit cocktail. It was a wonderful breakfast which was never appreciated. But we sat and we ate, because we knew no one could leave the table until the Dad read the Christmas Story from Luke and that story would not be read until our plates were clean. 

For all the wrong reasons our hearts yearned for the gospel. We sat quietly, listening to a story whose conclusion would open the floodgate to our dreams. Every kid in the neighborhood had already broken half their toys and yet we sat, ticking off each component of a story we knew by heart. It was like a countdown. Emperor Augustus; No room in the Inn; shepherds in the field; Glory to God in the highest; Let us Bethlehem go and see those gifts waiting for us under the tree. We rushed into the living room …….. and sat down.

Congregation Sing verse 4

All who for love of God forgive, all who in pain and sorrow grieve.

Alleluia (2x)

Christ bears your burdens and your fears, so even in the midst of tears.

Sing praises, Alleluia (4x)

 

          One at a time we opened a gift. One at a time we showed our gift to the rest of the family. One at a time we took the tag off the gift so later that day we could write a thank you note to the person who had remembered us. As a six year old I was confused by this tradition. As a 13 year old I resented that all my friends outside sharing their stuff while I was stuck in limbo participating in this awful ritual. But then one Christmas morning, something happened. I actually looked up and watched Mom open a gift. It was probably a rock painted with glitter yet she would smile and delightfully declare it was just what she needed. No matter the gift, she always stopped and gave thanks to the person who had remembered her. Her joy was always genuine.

        One day, Jesus ran across ten lepers. He felt compassion and healed them. All of the lepers leapt for joy. They couldn’t wait to see their loved ones and friends. But one stopped, returned, to Jesus, and said, “Thank you.”       

        I suspect for most of us Stewardship Season is a routine of discovering our card in the mailbox, giving it about a moment’s thought, generously making a pledge and then moving on. The church thanks you for your generosity. But to really get the most out of this season, when you get the card:

STOP,

REMEMBER,  

and THEN GIVE THANKS,

Not to Rockfish Presbyterian, but to God.

        Just take a moment to think about how much you have been blessed.

        Sing the 6^th verse.

O sisters brothers, take your part, and worship God with humble heart.

Alleluia(2x)

All creatures bless the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Three in One.

Sing Praises, Alleluia, (4x)

 

 

Amen.