Leaving a Hole

• Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

on Matthew 5:13-16, salt and light

• I grew up in a brown house in the suburbs of Chicago, a 2-story bungalow, built around 1925. Big picture window in the front, frontroom woodwork was stained (not painted) an olive green. Built-in china cabinet and drawers. Extra lot with trees. Residential block, ten houses on each side. Lived there until I went to college. Folks got a condo a few years later and the house stood empty for several years until the people who bought it tore it down and replaced it with something bigger. Still in character with the neighborhood but a close observer would notice it is not original, has a different flavor.

When I visit my folks and drive down that block, there's a hole.

Long-time residents of Bville could probably describe lots of holes in Bville, you don't even have to leave this block. I'd love it if I could walk a few doors down for all my hardware needs...

• What kind of hole would be left if First Church was no more? (geography. Sign at bridges, steeple...) Not so much the physical hole at the corner of Water and Main, but the community hole, the social hole?

• We're in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is about to teach the crowd about what it means to be disciples, and he starts off by saying you are the salt of the earth, you are the light of the world. Not commands: BE salt, BE light, but descriptions: this is what you ARE, by the grace and appointment of God. God has given you to the world to season it, to illuminate it. The world is a brighter place, a more flavorful place because you're in it. Because you're in the world, colors are more vivid and bright, food is more appealing and satisfying.

Not literally, of course (although thankfully there are people who make bright colors and yummy foods), but when people encounter salt and light disciples they should notice it. As we live our life we ought to enhance the flavor, enhance the lives of those around us.  Fellowship with a Christ-follower should be a positive experience for those living in the world.  We are to be a blessing to those we come into contact with.  Even non-Christians should feel a good sense, a good flavor, when around us.  We should not be a burden to non-Christians, or come across as arrogant or prideful.  We should leave a good taste in the minds of the unbeliever.  It should be desirable to be around a disciple, and parting should leave something of a hole.

Some things salt and light disciples might do...
smile, greet, ask, listen, address needs, pray for, pray WITH, invite.

• The stated mission of Bville First Church is...

to share the love of God with people in a hurting world.

If Bville First Church weren't here, it should leave a hole.

• Past Tuesday 'homeless ministry' meeting 35ppl from probly 5 churches and several other organizations how might we meet the needs of community, enhance the lives of folks in need, several projects cooking: meal (2/22, 2pm); schoolkid outreach weekend backpacks; something for shutin seniors.

First Church? That's the church that ...

• Faith in action. To God be the glory. Thanks be to God who makes his disciples to be salt and light, that the world might be a better place.

• directly into prayer of confession

Prayer of Confession (from P.M.De Cuehlo, in Harvest Prayers, posted on the Christian Aid website)

Lord, you placed us in the world to be its salt.

We were afraid of committing ourselves,

afraid of being stained by the world.

We did not want to hear what ‘they’ might say

and our salt dissolved as if in water.

Have mercy on us, Jesus, and forgive us.

Lord, you placed us in the world to be its light.

We were afraid of the shadows,

afraid of the poverty.

We did not want to know ‘difficult’ people

and our light slowly faded away.

Have mercy on us, Jesus, and forgive us.

Lord, you placed us in the world to live in community.

Thus you taught us to love,

to share in life,

to struggle for bread and for justice,

Your truth incarnate in our lives.

So be it, Lord Jesus.

Make our hearts your home.

Season and brighten the world.

Amen.