"wherever two or more are gathered"

“Wherever Two or More Are Gathered”
Romans 13:8-14
Matthew 18:15-20
Pastor Anna Blaedel
First United Methodist Church, Osage, Iowa
September 7, 2008

This morning I want to briefly offer a glimpse into two different communities, each struggling to be faithful, each striving to know and worship God, each sensing their deep need for revival and renewal. Let us pray…
May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of all of our hearts, be acceptable and pleasing in your sight, we pray, O God our Strength and our Redeemer.
A large group has left the church. People are divided about how to worship, and who should lead them. Tensions are tearing a community apart. Those who keep showing up are wondering if the church could survive without them. Those who have left are wondering if they can survive without the church. The community feels weary. Their passion, shaken. Their very relationship with God, strained.

Who are we as a faith community?
Where should we go from here?
How might we be faithful to God’s call?
How might we witness to Christ’s love, not just for us, but for our neighbors?
How might we not only survive, but really thrive, as God’s gathered children?

The time and place is 1st century Rome. Enter Paul, and our reading from the Epistle of Romans. Paul writes to this community. Gets back to basics. Places back in the spotlight the central theme of the Gospel. Love one another. Love your neighbors. Love God. Search tirelessly for ways to show this love every day. This is all Christ Jesus asks of us. Love your neighbor as yourself, because God first loved us.

Story 2. The community of faith feels defeated. The people are starting to question God’s faithfulness. Numbers are down. People are migrating to other houses of worship. The faithful keep showing up, keep trying to do good, keep trying to care for each other, but it seems every roadblock and barrier lies in wait. Not all is lost. People are praying for each other. Groups still gather to read and study scripture. Deep roots nourish tentative buds longing to blossom. Offerings are made, dreams are dreamt, but it seems every day brings more bad news, more need. The same people are trying to prop up the life of the faith community, but they know they can’t keep going like this forever.

Who are we as a faith community?
Where should we go from here?
How might we be faithful to God’s call?
How might we witness to Christ’s love, not just for us, but for our neighbors?
How might we not only survive, but really thrive, as God’s gathered children?

The time and place is 1st century Jerusalem. Enter Jesus, and our reading from the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus reminds his followers what is required to build and sustain faithful Christian community. Talk to each other. Listen, really listen, to each other. Be honest about past hurts and wounds. Practice kindness to those who have hurt you. But most of all, gather. Wherever two or more are gathered, promises Jesus, there you will find the Spirit of the Living God. Right here, right now. Over caramel rolls Saturday mornings at the Kountry Kupboard. Down in fellowship hall for hot beef dinner with real mashed potatoes. When you sit down for a meal with family. When you invite someone who’s lonely to join you for the meal. In recovery community of AA or NA. On the front porch of the parsonage. When you visit someone sick in a hospital, unable to leave home, isolated in a nursing home. Over at Hardees at 3pm. In the youth room downstairs, when young folk gather to belong in beloved community and a space to call their own. And, by the grace of God, even at committee meetings!

Wherever we gather in the name and spirit of Jesus, in a spirit of love and compassion and hospitality, there we will find God. There God will find us. And there God will bless us beyond our weariest, wildest imagining!

Thanks be to God! Amen.