United Church of Pittsford

Acts 1:6-8 and Acts 2:41-47

Let me tell you a story!

Jason (age 9) was not happy at home. He did not like all the rules and regulations his parents had for him – so he decided to run away. He was sure he could do better by himself. So he put some clothes in a little bag, a couple packages of Twinkies and a six-pack of Root Beer – and left home. He walked for quite a long time. He began to feel tired so he sat down on the end of a park bench.

Martha (age unknown) was not happy. Her heart was sad. Her husband had just died and because of financial constraints, she needed to sell her home of many years and move in with her son and daughter-in-law. Although they were very good to her, she missed her own home – her independence. She was depressed this morning and decided to go for a long walk. After a while, she got tired and sat down on the end of a park bench. She noticed a little boy on the other end – and smiled at him – and he smiled back.

Jason felt hungry so he opened his bag and took out a package of Twinkies and began to eat one. Then he thought about the older lady sitting with him; she might be hungry, too. So he offered her a Twinkie. She took it – smiled at him – and began to eat it. So they sat there – together – eating Twinkies and every now and then, they would smile at each other. But they didn’t say anything.

Jason soon felt thirsty so he took out a can of Root Beer and began to drink it. Suddenly, he thought about his friend at the end of the bench. So he got out another Root Beer and gave it to her. She took it – smiled at him – and began to drink it. So they sat there – eating Twinkies and drinking Root Beer. And every now and then they would smile at each other. But they didn’t say anything.

It was getting late in the day and Jason thought this idea of running away from home was not a good one. So he packed up the left over Twinkies and Root Beer, got up – smiled one last time at the woman, and she returned the smile. Then he went home. When he entered the house, his Mother noticed he wasn’t grumpy and irritable as when he had left – so she asked him: “What have you been doing today?”, and Jason replied, “I’ve been eating Twinkies and drinking Root Beer in the park with God!” His Mother started to correct him, but Jason continued, “And you know, she’s a lot older than I thought!”

A short time after Jason left the park bench, Martha got up and also went home. As she entered the house, her daughter-in-law noticed she was not as sad-looking and depressed as when she left, so she asked: “What have you been doing today, Mom?”, and Martha replied, “I’ve been eating Twinkies and drinking Root Beer in the park with God!” The daughter-in-law was startled by the response and thinking her mother-in-law might be a little confused or mixed up, began to correct her, but Martha continued, “And you know, he’s a lot younger than I thought!”

So…….
what does this little story say to you?
what, for you, is the meaning of this little story?
why do you think I told this story?

Jason and Martha had an experience of ____________________?

Jason and Martha had an experience of God!

In our first scripture reading today from Acts 1, Jesus reminds his followers they are to be ‘His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth!”

I’m sure there are multiple meanings of that statement, but I think one might be that we are to help other people have an experience of God ……just like Jason and Martha had in the park on the bench.

Jesus is asking us to help people ‘connect with God’ – and begin (or continue) a journey of faith together with God…..a life-long journey.

Notice, however, what Jesus said:
You shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth!

While serving in the Philippines, I participated in a large convoca-
tion at one of our church colleges. The wife of the President of that College, Gloria Santos, led in morning devotions on this text from Acts 1. It was un-forgettable!

You shall be my witnesses in:

Jerusalem: that’s our home base….that’s our family…that’s among our relatives….among our closest friends. Jerusalem is where we are known the best. That’s where Jesus asks us to be his witnesses – first in Jerusalem – our home base! It is there we are asked to help people have an experience with God.

Now I don’t know about you, but for me…sometimes the hardest place to witness is among those who know/knew me best – family and close friends. I don’t mean wife and children….but among brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews….these are the one who know/knew me best…and sometimes it is/was the hardest for me to witness there. But Jesus insists…you shall be my witnesses in Jereusalem…..our home base: your home base….my home base…where people know us the best.

you shall be me witnesses in Judea….that’s the surrounding area…where we are still known….but not as well: where we work…where we shop…among neighbors….people we play golf or tennis with…go to the gym with…go to parties with….that’s our Judea…there, too, we are to help people have an experience with God….to connect with God and begin (or continue) a journey of faith…..a life-long journey of faith.

you shall be my witnesses in Samaria….what’s Samaria?....where’s Samaria? Samaria is the place the Jews did not want to go to. Samaritans are people the Jews did not want to have anything to do with. Jews would add miles to their journey just to avoid passing through the region of Samaria. Where’s our Samaria….your Samaria…my Samaria?

Where are the places to which we do not want to go?
What/who are the places/people we try to avoid?
Who are the people we do not want to have anything to do with?
Who are the people we do not like……
who do not like us?

That’s our Samaria……..and Jesus says to us: go there and be my witnesses; go there and help those folk have an experience with God….and begin (or continue) a life-long journey of faith.

you shall be my witnesses to the ends of the earth: We may not go there but through our prayers……..our gifts………our ‘special day’ offerings………we are able to be Christ’s witnesses………and fund and support ministries and programs that help people – the world over – to have an experience with God.
….our younger daughter and her son just returned from a
mission work project in Guatamala…working at an
orphanage…
…one of our granddaughters traveled to Turkey in mid-
winter…
…another of our granddaughters is teaching in the ‘Teach
for America’ program in a depressed locale just
outside Baton Rouge, LA

all opportunities to help folk have an experience
with God………and begin (or continue) a journey of faith.

There are myriad of ways we can affect the lives of others…..
even to the end of the earth…
………..and you can add your own list of ways in which we
can be witnesses to the ends of the earth.

Let’s remember the story of Jason and Martha – Twinkies and Root Beer – and a park bench….and use our day to day encounters with people – those we know well; those we know a bit; those we would rather avoid; and those we may never meet………..
and seek to be witnesses to our faith….and enable folk to have
an experience with God.

St. Francis of Asissi said it well:
Preach the Gospel constantly;
occasionally use words!

This morning – as we begin a journey together – we are not in a park on a park bench. We are here! In the Sanctuary! The Holy Meal is before us and we are invited to come!

As we eat the bread and drink from the cup, we too can have a ‘lunch in the park’ experience; we, too, can have ‘an experience with God’, a brief, power-filled moment with the Divine.

And as we take the bread and cup, they, also, speak no words…but for us, truly, the gospel is preached!

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest.”

‘Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint!

Let us sing the hymn as a vehicle of preparation for this Holy
Meal…………this encounter with God!

Let us – in this moment – open ourselves for an experience of
God – as we, here together, begin a journey of faith and ministry!