First UCC Tucson

April 27, 2008
Luke 10:30-35

 Today we find ourselves smack dab in the middle of our series on Buyin’ In. We’re investigating the core values of this community of faith. We’re taking a moment to revisit what it is that we hold sacred. What is it that binds us together in covenant with one another. What is it that we are willing to protect, nurture, and grow. We’re doing this to deepen our commitment to meeting the stranger wherever they are on the journey and discerning who it is that might be looking for our community of faith. We also must be able to recognize those who resemble the people who make our hearts burst. Last week we discussed what it means to be Always Open Open All Ways to the Divine. Today we consider what it means to be Always Open Open All Ways to the marginalized and oppressed.

The leaders and members of First Congregational United Church of Christ need to be united in mission “We are moved by compassion” United in Mission We are moved by compassion United in Christ We are moved by compassion First Congregational United Church of Christ has a mission existence.

We are moved by compassion We exist to improve the living and positive progress of the marginalized and the oppressed. “We are moved by compassion” Yes, we want to transform the lives of the marginalized and oppressed. We are moved by compassion. We want those who feel cast out, shut down, un-touchable, broken, trashed, thrown away, we want to be in relationship with those people and help to transform their lives

We are moved by compassion. That’s right relationship. A mission attitude is not passionate for a public policy, a program, a product, or a legacy. It is not passion for the environment; or for worship, education, preaching and pastoral care; or for an excellent band, digital worship, performing arts or quality picture frames, or meaningful weddings; or for the essence of being UCC, or manufactured goods that are “made in America.” The only attitude that counts as a mission attitude is a passion for people. Authentic mission connects with real people in their brief journey from birth to death. Mission cares about people more than public policy, and more than excellent programming, and more than heritage. A mission attitude is all about relationship with people who in turn move us to compassion. We are moved by compassion! We really, really want to find a way and do whatever it takes and take significant risks, to better the lives of the people that we care about so much.

We are moved by compassion! Our hearts burst individually and collectively yearning to help. We yearn to help the LGBTQ, Marshallese, Refugees, Struggling families, children and youth from troubled homes, those in recovery. We have a heartburst for these particular people here at First when we hear their stories and our collective heart breaks for them. We experience a heartburst and … We are moved by compassion! A mission attitude sets out to change people. It is a change to in our habits, attitudes, expectations, and the very lives of the people that we cherish. Heartbursts demand a deeper, riskier, deliberate and purposeful interaction with the people that we cherish. It is all too easy to respect without love. Indeed, in the interests of respect, organizations deliberately refrain from experiencing real love. If you really love someone, you get really involved with someone; and you will become involved for the specific purpose of transforming your lives for the better.

When we open ourselves to the neighbor We are moved by compassion When the Samaritan was moved by compassion, his life was transformed. This man, delayed his own journey, expended great energy, risked danger to himself, spent two days’ wages with the assurance of more, and promised to follow up on his activity. He was ceremonially unclean, socially an outcast, and religiously a heretic to the Israelite, and yet through his compassion they were united in relationship. United by mission. United by reaching out and touching what was untouchable, unclean, dangerous. It was shocking how over the line this ran, it transformed them both forever being moved by compassion. When we open ourselves to the neighbor We are moved by compassion

 When we heard the stories of not one or two but 48 bombs dropped on little tiny islands closer to Australia than here. When we heard the stories of our nuclear fallout from our test bombs on the people who are still living on those Islands. When we hear the stories of the struggle and grit it takes to come to the United States seeking opportunity and health. When we look into the eyes of the Marshallese We are moved by compassion.

When we hear the stories of members of our beloved trans community being thrown out of bathrooms and security summoned because their gender expression is too much. When we hear precious stories of LGBTQ parents and the way they are bringing new visions of families into our midst. When we know the pain of being thrown out of churches because our love has been labeled sin and our sin too great for the compassion of Jesus We are moved by compassion.

When we hear the stories of addiction and the tenacity it takes to be in recovery We are moved by compassion When we hear the stories of the Zambian orphans wandering the streets hungry, alone, frightened and chose to tithe 10% of our building to the Zambian Children’s Project which now has a farm, housing for 50 children, a school with 150 children walking in, a clinic, 3 meals a day and the food sharing program for the walking in children.

When we met the teenage boys Angelo and Logan who were homeless, parentless, compassless and found them families and encouraged directions toward healing. When we began to see and name all the ways that children came to be part of families and all the ways in which a family could be arranged We are moved by compassion We are United in mission We are moved by compassion WE are United in Christ We are moved by compassion

We are First Congregational United Church of Christ and We are moved by compassion! Let us pray!

      

Back to Sermons