Gifts of Generous Giving
July 10 , 2005
Luke 21:1-4
James 1:17-18
The early church was in trouble. It was in trouble for using its power to abuse the people. The community was troubled because the disciples, the leaders began to strip widows of their property claiming ownership as administrators of the church. Their greed to have more began to drive their practices. Today’s parable from Luke of the poor widow, who gave her only property, two lepta, two coins of the least value, because she chose to give all she had instead of giving out of her abundance, bears witness to a radical shift in what it means to give, what to give and how it is we must receive. We are called to share our gifts because we are. Because we have being. God created and we were called good by God’s ordained blessing. Whether you believe in creationism or evolution our Christian mythology, from the beginning, is filled with gratitude for simply having the luck to be created. As James reminds us today, with each creation, a piece of the Divine Creator is left behind. We have a piece of God within each of us in a unique way, and for this alone we must give thanks. And a piece of that gratitude calls us to give in return. Give our gifts from that place of blessing to the world that awaits these special gifts, that needs these special gifts.
And, as I return to you this day after ten days in Atlanta working with the national gathering of the UCC. I give thanks for this amazing community of First Congregational United Church of Christ. As I re-entered our community I was once again overwhelmed by your generous giving. For Harvey who buys paint and gets our name into the paper two weeks in a row advertising the upcoming 80s film fest. For Bob who finds windows, doors, pavers, and time to tear down pews. For Sandra who makes time to build, paint, shop for furniture, get donations. For Chuck who builds PowerPoint presentations, networks computers, and is a jack of all trades. For Betsy who impresses us each week with a stronger, more accessible and exciting website. For Roz who learned the sound and PowerPoint and backs us up anytime we ask. For Cindy who still Moderates even though she was on the Council, then the search committee, then the Council. For Joan who is always outside the box. For Cathy who is passionate about justice. For Barbara who tirelessly works with refugees and inspires our global thinking. For Dacia whose compassion never ends not to mention work with our youth. For Nancy who drives in from Phoenix and embodies welcome. For Sarah and Jess who show up to paint and lend a hand at a moment’s notice. For Thelma’s constant recruiting of nursery workers. For Christy’s ability to pull painters out of a hat, get our kids to camp, compile meeting minutes, and think everything through when no one else is. For Jim and Carol’s insatiable desire to help. For Judy’s ability to capture your giving and gifts on film. For Rev. Dr. Lee’s gift of teaching and his ability to keep teaching and ministering beyond his “retirement” years. For Susan’s eye with our altar. For Erik’s ability to work the coffee hour making all feel welcome. For Keith who brought and shares his family with us. For Amanda and Pam and their humor. For Chuck’s singing that is the voice of God. For Trudy’s tender mercies and her patience. For Howard’s never-ending appetite to learn and share. For Alan’s welcome and bulletins. For Naomi’s OCWM announcements and letters. For the Wus' work on UNICEF and Heifer Project…We can not be more blessed. You embody generous giving. And I give God thanks for each one of you!
It matters not what has challenged us in the last year and a half: renovation, nursery or Sunday school, youth group, buying a church building, moving, moving, or moving, switching the office around, expanding our mission outreach locally, nationally, globally, attempting a new governing structure, allowing the press into our midst, you have opened your hearts, shared your gifts and beauty has come from it.
I really consider myself a part of this community. And, I don’t like to be away. Yes, a change of scenery is nice. Yes, new sights to see are welcome. But, I miss you. And, Cathy and I talk of you so much while we are away. Wouldn’t Chuck be impressed with this lighting display! Wouldn’t Angelo be introducing himself to her! Wouldn’t the Wus find this interesting? Wouldn’t this make Richard’s eyes twinkle. We carry you with us and wish we could share things with you. And, the only reason this is, is because you yourselves have shared your lives and stories with us and I thank you generous givers. But it is also a relief to know. That when Chuck’s mother dies, and I am on the wrong side of the country, Sandra and Judy just happen to be with him. And open their schedules to keep an eye on him, support him and get him to the airport. It’s a relief to know that when the Padillas or Edmans or Dennises need a few meals we are there with our take out, our hot dish, everyone is willing to step up. It’s a relief to know that when disaster knocks on our door, and the light seems to have gone out, each of you is willing to be present, to take a turn holding the lantern up, and taking a hand until the light is back. It is a relief to be with such a people as all of you, you who are filled with generous giving.
It is not always easy to be open, to be challenged, to be stretched, to do a new thing. It is not always welcome when we are tired, overworked, overscheduled to do one more thing. And yet, just as the widow did, when you create space to share your gifts the energy, hope, peace, love, and joy that come into your life give more than another hour of sleep. Give more than another dollar earned. Give more than a trip to the mall. So when things are not going as we’ve planned them. When the project takes an unexpected turn. When the hope seems to be going up in smoke. When we desire to stop talking to one another. Let’s make a deal that we will stop and give thanks. Give thanks for the breath of life, for this living is all too short. Let’s stop and give thanks for the opportunity and luck of finding one another and this community. Let’s stop and give thanks for a loving and bountiful God who views us as the fruit of Creation.
And, it’s something to be the recipient of your giving. I have a friend from Missouri whose name is Bryan. He was here for Installation. He’s 76 years young, a tall bald man, twinkling eyes, generous spirit, hearty laugh, deep love of God and family. On a trip to Hawaii this past year he drowned while snorkeling. Of course, he just happened to be snorkeling with a medical group on vacation who immediately dragged him out and began to work on him. He happened to be snorkeling off of the most accessible beach for rescue by ambulance. And, they had him breathing again by the time the ambulance arrived. His wife called their pastor in Missouri, who called the pastor in Hawaii of a UCC church. The pastor was at the hospital by the time they arrived. He invited Anna Jean to sleep at an apartment their church owned, where she lived over the next two weeks while Bryan recuperated. They sent countless church members to pray with them, be with them, love them. Their church in Raytown, Missouri prayed without ceasing, sent update emails, talked to them on the phone, prepared for their arrival home. And, when Bryan recovered, he said with tears streaming down his face, “There is nothing, like standing in the middle of all of you and being the recipient of your love and compassion. I can not thank you enough for your generosity.” Life is difficult and even cruel at times. I give thanks for God that no matter what life brings us or where we are, we will have one another and eventually each have an opportunity to receive your generous giving.
Oh generous Givers I give thanks to God for each of you. And if you are here for the first time today, realize, you are surrounded by generosity. We have been waiting for you, your gifts, your passion, your self no matter where you are on life’s journey. We give thanks for your presence this morning. And we hope you’ll stick around awhile to tell us about your gifts, your passion your joy. For we are a gifted people. Thanks be to God, let us pray!
Beautiful and Sacred Breath of Life we give you thanks for being. We give you thanks for being in your image. We give you thanks for community, sharing, and visionary, prophetic voices. We give you thanks for relationship, living together, eating and sharing our living. We give you thanks for the opportunity to give thanks, to give of our gifts, to give generously in your image and to do it from a place of light and good. We give you thanks and praise Great God. Amen.