Monday, October 08, 2018

World Communion Sunday sermon, The Unjworthy Worthy, by Pastor Ruth Foss, Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church, Patten, Maine



October 7, 2018
Stetson Memorial MC
Sermon Series
“The Table Invitation”
Inspired be Marcia McPhee
Come To the Table
Psalm 8
Romans 12:9-21 The Voice

The Unworthy Worthy…
The Lord Be With you…
And also with you…
Let us pray…Prayer for the Spirits leading, and that God is through me or in-spite of me…

A reading from Paul’s letter to the church in Rome, Romans Chapter 12 verses 9-21. Listen to the letter that Paul wrote for the church in Rome that still rings with truth today…over 2,000 years later… Read from the Voice Bible the scripture…

Good Morning. Today is World Communion Sunday. We decided last week that when we think of World communion Sunday, images come to mind of Christians all around the world celebrating this together connecting us all to the same table. We like that thought of all of us together…in one voice…agreeing with each other. But what is the table about? What is the invitation that is offered there?

We have embarked on a journey together to try and understand what exactly is apparent as well as what lies beneath the “Table of Grace.” We are searching for the gift that lies beneath the cloth of the table we are invited to celebrate. We all come from different places. It is my hope that as we gather around the Table we will have a better understanding of what lies beneath the cloth of the banquet Table. Perhaps as we begin to see what is woven into the cloth, our eyes and hearts will be open to the gift that we receive each time we come to the table of grace…


Last week we talked about the fact that as we celebrate communion…as we come to the table…it is a dress rehearsal for the banquet to come when we feast at the Heavenly Banquet one day. The table we celebrate here is a not even close to the table we will sit at in heaven, but it is a reminder that the “best is yet to come” …much like a wedding rehearsal dinner. 

The communion table represents the covenant meal the Lord gave us to remember his work, to receive his promises, and to proclaim his death until the day he returns (1 Cor. 11:26). But we are also being prepared for the wedding feast to come. (The Lord's Supper looks backward as a remembrance to the death of Christ for our sins. It looks to the present as a communion with the living Christ, and it looks to the future as a promise of eternal life in the presence of God.)

We talked a little bit about who is invited, and we agree that all who call on the Name of Jesus. But let’s take that one step further. I have been thinking a lot about that night and the scene that took place in the Upper Room. I have deduced is this…if all are welcome…that includes my enemies. Think about it for a moment…
Ø Jesus shared the meal with one who deny Him
Ø Jesus shard the meal with the one who betray Him
Ø Jesus shared the meal with those who desert Him
Ø This is a Kin-dom meal-saints, strangers, those who persecute , joyful and those who weep
What does this Kin-dom look like?
Ø When we are acting like Kin-dom people we:
Love others well, and don’t hide behind a mask; love authentically. Despise evil; pursue what is good as if your life depends on it10 Live in true devotion to one another, loving each other as sisters and brothers. Be first to honor others by putting them first11 Do not slack in your faithfulness and hard work. Let your spirit be on fire, bubbling up and boiling over, as you serve the Lord. 12 Do not forget to rejoice, for hope is always just around the corner. Hold up through the hard times that are coming, and devote yourselves to prayer. 13 Share what you have with the saints, so they lack nothing; take every opportunity to open your life and home to others.
And Yes, even our enemies are part of the Kin-dom:
Ø 14 If people mistreat or malign you, bless them. Always speak blessings, not curses. 15 If some have cause to celebrate, join in the celebration. And if others are weeping, join in that as well. 16 Work toward unity, and live in harmony with one another. Avoid thinking you are better than others or wiser than the rest; instead, embrace common people and ordinary tasks. 17 Do not retaliate with evil, regardless of the evil brought against you. Try to do what is good and right and honorable as agreed upon by all people. 18 If it is within your power, make peace with all people. 19 Again, my loved ones, do not seek revenge; instead, allow God’s wrath to make sure justice is served. Turn it over to Him. For the Scriptures say, “Revenge is Mine. I will settle all scores.” 20 But consider this bit of wisdom: “If your enemy is hungry, give him something to eat. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink; because if you treat him kindly, it will be like heaping hot coals on top of his head.” 21 Never let evil get the best of you; instead, overpower evil with the good.

Beloved…we can’t view World Communion Sunday in the way we profess if we decide who is part of the “world”. It’s not our choice who is part because Jesus already set the parameters on the night He shared the first table with a bunch of unworthy diners. You see we are all unworthy diners. But it is in and through Jesus we are made worthy. As we pick up our cross and follow Jesus it is required that we follow God’s way…Jesus’ way…of offering a good meal at God’s table for ALL of God’s guest…not just the ones we deem worthy because as I just said…none of us is worthy on our own…

AMEN

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edited October 12, 2018
remembering that which we did not experience – v2
October 12, 2018
remembering that which we did not experience
edited October 12, 2018
an invitation to come – v3
edited October 12, 2018
an invitation to come – v2
October 11, 2018
an invitation to come
edited October 11, 2018
each time we come – v2
edited/merged October 11, 2018
an invitation, a prayer – v2
edited October 11, 2018
a meal, a mystery – v2
October 11, 2018
an invitation, a prayer
October 11, 2018
a meal, a mystery
October 11, 2018
Communion, the Lord’s Supper
October 11, 2018
each time we come
October 10, 2018
everyone you hate
October 10, 2018
every one you judge
October 10, 2018
every one you hate
edited October 10, 2018
they too are family – v2
October 9, 2018
they too are family
October 9, 2018
the failed disciples
October 9, 2018
Christ ate with his enemies
edited/ merged October 9, 2018
Christ ate with Judas – v2
October 9, 2018
those who hid, who ran away
October 9, 2018
Christ celebrated with Peter
October 9, 2018
Christ ate with Judas
edited October 8, 2018
waiting to come forward – v2
edited October 8, 2018
drenched in Christ’s blood
October 8, 2018
when I eat of the bread
October 8, 2018
waiting to come forward
October 8, 2018
we are drenched in His blood
October 8, 2018
we taste sacrifice
edited October 8, 2018
we taste grace – v2
October 8, 2018
we taste grace
October 8, 2018
we taste love
October 8, 2018
we are fed of His meal
October 8, 2018
bread and juice
October 8, 2018
Jesus makes us worthy
October 8, 2018
the table is set - 2
October 8, 2018
You’re invited
edited October 8, 2018
to commune with my enemy – v2
October 8, 2018
the unworthy worthy
October 8, 2018
no one would come
October 7, 2018
to commune with my enemy
edited/new name October 7, 2018
we come to Christ’s table broken
October 7, 2018
we come broken
October 7, 2018
we come broken
October 7, 2018
the same table
October 6, 2018
Christ calls to us
October 7, 2018
World Communion Sunday
Second service in series
“The Table Invitation”
bulletin cover photo
“The table is set and you’re invited”
Week 2
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Psalm 8
Romans 12:9-21
and sermon: “The Unworthy Worthy…”
video
text
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
8AM Live
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Children’s Message
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
October 7, 2018
&
October 8, 2018
an image of the Kingdom
October 8, 2018
renew us, Lord
10/7/18
“Renew!”
The Reverend Doctor Douglas Ruffle
Associate Executive Director
New Path Starts (Path 1)
Discipleship Ministries
The United Methodist Church
Northern Maine District Resource Day
for Aroostook Cluster
&
edited October 6, 2018
I am evil but invited – v3
edited October 6, 2018
I am evil but invited – v2
October 6, 2018
I am evil but invited
edited October 6, 2018
An invitation to all – v2
October 6, 2018
the smell on my hands
October 6, 2018
the taste of the vine
edited October 6, 2018
as we receive the bread – v2
October 6, 2018
as we receive the bread
edited October 6, 2018
we are called - 3 – v3
October 5, 2018
we are fed at the table
edited October 5, 2018
we are called – 3 – v2
edited October 4, 2018
flawed and broken – v3
edited October 4, 2018
flawed and broken – v2
October 3, 2018
flawed and broken
edited October 3, 2018
none of us is perfect - 2
edited October 3, 2018
we all come with baggage
October 3, 2018
we come with baggage
October 3, 2018
come to be fed
October 2, 2018
we come to the table
edited October 2, 2018
the invitation – v3
adding third stanza
edited October 2, 2018
the invitation – v2
adding second stanza
October 1, 2018
the invitation
October 1, 2018
all of us in communion
October 1, 2018
fed in the spirit
October 1, 2018
nourished
October 1, 2018
we are called - 3
October 1, 2018
we are invited
October 1, 2018
we are invited to the table
October 1, 2018
as we gather around the table
September 30, 2018
a foretaste of heaven
video note taking while on a walk up Finch Hill
so I wouldn’t forget it tonight
September 30, 2018
a rehearsal dinner
September 30, 2018
at the head of the table
September 30, 2018
the gift we receive
September 29, 2018
An invitation to all
September 30, 2018
First service in series
“The Table Invitation”
bulletin cover photo
Week 1
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Psalm 124
Revelations 19:1-10
and sermon: “This Is Your Invitation…”
video
text
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
8AM Live
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Children’s Message
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
September 30, 2018
&
edited September 19, 2018
communion – 2 – v3
edited September 18, 2018
communion – 2 – v2
edited partially on 9/15/18 adding final stanza
September 18, 2018
communion - 2
written 9/15/18
in anticipation of upcoming series on communion

All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 47,800 of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

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