(The internet went kablooey this morning – therefore there is no live stream to watch…. with apologies)
(You can still click HERE to donate to Lidgerwood Presbyterian Church though – with much thanks)
Mark Wheeler
Matthew 25:1-13
“Were You Ready for That?!”
11/08/2020
Lidgerwood Presbyterian Church
Welcome to Worship, Church!!! Simon says, “Don’t give up your hope!” (That was a throw-back to last week’s sermon – and to the crazy election ballot counting we’re still in the midst of!) May we model how to get along, listen and speak respectfully with people, with brothers and sisters in Christ, with whom we might disagree!
It is such an honor to be gathered in God’s name, or even on-line – during this Covid season! So it is with heartfelt gratitude that we are here (or “here”) this morning. We enter this time together from all sorts of our own worries and fears, pains and hurts, responsibilities and burdens, hopes and dreams; I invite you to be very present in this time of gathered worship and prayer – allow our Good Shepherd to share your yoke, and look to Him for strength and comfort. Welcome, Church!
May the Peace of Christ be with you!
If you haven’t had the chance to greet each other yet – let’s take a second right now, and those in the room, look at the camera and say HI to your friends who are at home.
Welcome to this “gathering” in God’s name. We are assembled in NorthEast Spokane, WA, along with people from all over the world. We are very glad you are “here” with us.
For those who made it into the building this morning – thank you for wearing your masks and following the seating and walking protocols. We do this not to protect ourselves from others, but to protect others from ourselves. Because we love each other, we wear masks and keep distance to keep each other safe from this “invisible potential enemy”. The COVID numbers are still peaking in the greater Spokane area – let’s not give them an opportunity to climb even higher. Our Elders are listening to CDC guidelines and deciding on what seems best practices for each others’ safety. We love you, and we want everyone to be and to stay well.
Be filled with God’s Holy Spirit presence and power, in your homes, through your phones and computers, in this building here, and in your lives. Feel free to laugh at our efforts … and pray with us … and hear and be transformed by God’s Word.
Listen now and join in as Deanna leads us in our Call to Worship, from Psalm 70 – listen carefully for how the Psalmist cries for God’s help! And pray with the Psalmist as you follow along.
Our song of praise today answers the Psalm 70 plea for help! – What If It Were Today? – led by Julie on the piano.
Through the Written Word,
And endorsed by our spoken word,
May we know Your Living Word,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
I had lunch on Thursday with a friend and colleague, a pastor whom I deeply respect and admire – and with whom I have nearly diametrically opposite opinions about things political…. So I asked him how he was going to preach on the Sunday following a very divisive election. He told me he was starting a series on the book of Revelation! Perfect! Right?!
I told him that we were continuing our series through Matthew, and this Sunday’s passage was about being ready … for anything!
2020 has been the year most of us wish we could forget! There have been good things – I count at least three great-grandchildren born this year to our congregation!! And there have been a few weddings!
But, boy-o-boy, the floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, and fires; the novel corona virus pandemic; the racial uproars over police brutality; and the politics … debates that turned shouting matches, name-calling, and what-not!
One thing that we hear over and over again these days is that it’s very important for us to be prepared in case of an emergency. Whether it’s natural disasters, human evils, or political fear-mongering – we better be ready! Who’s with me here?
I remember when I was in school, we used to have “disaster drills”. Sometimes it was a fire drill. They would ring the school bell three times. All of the students lined up and marched outside the school building to a safe place. When they were sure it was safe, they rang the bell two times and the students returned to their classrooms. Some of you maybe had tornado drills when the students lined up and marched to a safe room in the center of the building where they would “duck and cover.” The teachers always carried flashlights in case the lights went out. When it was safe, they rang the bell two times so the students could return to their classrooms. I went to school during the days of “the cold war” and threats of “nuclear bombs”, the bell would ring four times and each student would “duck and cover” under their desks, waiting until the all-clear two-bell alarm would ring.
This year, as soon as the Pandemic news hit our ears, people ran out to the store to stock up on toilet paper – because God-forbid we might have to do more laundry!!
It’s important to be prepared when something unexpected happens. In our school, it was important for all of the students and teachers to know the warning signal, where to go, and the signal that told them it was safe to return to their classrooms. In a tornado drill, the teachers would have to make sure there were batteries in the flashlights and the flashlights were working properly. Being prepared can mean the difference between safe or sorry … so be prepared.
Jesus once told a parable to teach us the importance of being prepared. Listen here to the Word of God … Matthew 25:1-13 …. —- [The screen will show this passage.]
25 1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’
12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
In Jesus‘ story, ten bridesmaids took their oil lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Jesus said that five of them were foolish because they had their lamps, but they didn’t bring any extra oil to put in their lamps. When it was time to go out and meet the bridegroom, they were out of oil. The other five were very wise and well-prepared. They had brought plenty of oil for their lamps. When it was time to go out and meet the bridegroom, they were ready.
In this story, the bridegroom represents Jesus and you and I are represented by the bridesmaids. The preparation these bridesmaids make is not simply their oil supply, though. What are the bridesmaids doing in most of this parable? They are waiting! They’re waiting for the Bridegroom! So, while they’re waiting, this is also about focusing on time. How do we invest our time?
One day we’re going to meet Jesus and we must be prepared because we don’t know exactly when He’s coming. So, what are we doing while we’re waiting?!
You and I live today!!! We live in the muck and mire of 2020! We live in a day when our politics divide us! When our white skin separates us from those with more pigmentation in their skin. When disease, and the politics that surround disease, cause death and division. When we fear for riots from those across the aisle.
What do we do in this day – on these days – while we wait for that un-knowable day of Jesus’ return? How do we live our faith when we struggle to understand and to articulate what we believe about politicians and government actions? Why do we extend any energy on theology and ecclesiology, when we ache so badly from family turmoil and economic emptiness? Are we involved in eradicating systemic poverty? How are we helping to dismantle structural racism? When have we aided in building the culture-crossing Kingdom of God?
The Good News is – the Bridegroom is coming! And in some mystical way, the Bridegroom is already here – we are not alone – for God so loves the world he sent His Son – that we might have abundant life to the full!
The great news is, what we do to prepare is pretty simple. John’s Gospel says we get prepared by receiving and believing! Paul says we are prepared when we believe in our hearts that Jesus is Lord and confess with our lips that God raised Him from the dead! This is what it means to love the Lord our God with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength – and to love our neighbor as ourselves!
When we do that, we are ready. [This is where you get to imagine the preacher solo-singing his heart out…]
Give me oil for my lamp, keep me burning, burning, burning.
Give me oil for my lamp I pray.
Give me oil for my lamp, keep me burning, burning, burning.
Give me oil till the break of day.
And we will sing – Hosanna – sing Hosanna – sing Hosanna to the King of kings.
Sing Hosanna – sing Hosanna – sing Hosanna to the King!
Were you ready for that?
Dear Jesus, we know one day we’ll get to meet You face to face. Help us get ready for that wonderful day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Prayer Page – And now – call out a name, a place, a people, a situation, you are lifting to the Lord in prayer …. “Have mercy on us, O Lord.” [Lord’s Prayer] Amen.
– Offering (4449 N Nevada St, Spokane, 99207 ; or click HERE ) or text 833-976-1333, code “Lidgerwood”
Expedition Song – Jesus Is Coming Again! ….
Next Sunday, like we did today – please RSVP to us if you plan to attend so we can properly set up – and please CALL IN or email or text – so we can share with you what the plans will be – whether we will be allowed to continue to meet or not.
We close with this benediction. Repeat after me:
Grow in the grace and knowledge… Of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ… [repeat]
Empowered by His Holy Spirit… Be His people everywhere… [repeat]
And give Him the glory… Now and forever more…! [repeat] Amen
Resources:
https://sermons4kids.com/#sotw; “Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids”
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