May 6 Sermon Notes

May 6 Acts 10:44 Many churches struggle with  identity and boundaries. How do we decide who is ‘in’ and who is ‘out’? The PCUSA has paid a price for including gays more fully into our ordained ministry. It is also an opportunity to reach out to a group of folks who were and are thrust to the margins of social life. In an effort to keep out those with whom we disagree, or those who are different than we are. The question each church and denomination must answer is, will we have the courage, like Peter, to reject traditional distinctions made on the basis of religion or culture in favor of welcoming everyone into God’s family?, Barreto writes, "ethnicity is a projection of our own anxieties and hopes, an inclusive impulse to identify who we are but also an exclusive effort to distinguish between 'us' and 'them.'

I John 5:1,  love to the emphasis on belief, it is clear that love of God is inseparable from love of one's Christian sisters and brothers. Does it extend further as in the Good Samaritan story or the story of Acts? At the end of the previous chapter (4:20-21), the author argued that one could identify love for God by whether or not there was love for the brother or sister. One loves God's children by loving God and keeping God's commandments.  Love for God and love for God's children are integrally connected...one love cannot exist without the other.

John 15:9-friends the interaction of abiding-the vine can only be understood in light of its definition as an abiding in love, and the fruitfulness of this love, as described in John 15:16 only makes sense in light of the vine.natural image of life(and love)no longer slaves but friends, not on the basis of anything that they have done for him but on the basis of what he has done for them. He has made known to them everything that he has heard from the Father. In John, love (the belovedness of friendship, the depth of comrades, of a military unit/buddies,a team as in that championship Season)) “Don’t walk in front of me… I may not follow-Don’t walk behind me… I may not lead-Walk beside me… just be my friend” ― Albert Camus“Why did you do all this for me?' he asked. 'I don't deserve it. I've never done anything for you.' 'You have been my friend,' replied Charlotte. 'That in itself is a tremendous thing.” ― E.B. White, Charlotte's Web mutual knowledge, like love and commandment-keeping, go hand in hand.Perfect on a sunday when we are giving scholarship to students on the cusp of adulthood.

Jesus’ initiative is underscored in John 15:16. He does the choosing, against American creed of choice. We have been singled out as friends of Christ.. And for those of us who wish to abide in his love, this is surely good news, that we do not carve out a position as Jesus’ branch-friend and that our abundance does not depend on us; we might not even be able to imagine precisely what it will look like since we aren’t the ones doing the pruning and can only see our part of the vine. We merely choose to abide in the love that has drawn us in, and then we blossom.Stamper

The music you will hear this morning during the anthem  will not only be the carefully considered work of Greg and the choir but this particular piece has an interplay that gives us good insight into the image through the ear with its interlocking intertwining music and vocals.