100,000 Ways to Say Welcome
Epiphany 3C
Luke 4:14-21
1/24/10
Lorraine Ljunggren
(At both services lay delegates reported prior to clergy comments.)

10:30 – Personally, and on behalf of all of you, I want to thank Elizabeth Maull and Betty Jo Jacobs for their reports and for serving along with Joan Ellen Deck and Alice Bonnen, as delegates to the 194th Convention of the Diocese of North Carolina. My thanks to Joan Ellen for her report to our 8:30 congregation. And to Caroline Anders who served as a page and acolyte!

        This was a very meaningful and mission-centered convention, especially in light of today's Gospel reading in which Jesus reads from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, saying, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. [The Lord] has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” (Lk. 4:18-19) And in light of the letter to the church in Corinth which says, “If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.” (1 Cor. 12:26)

        The President of Episcopal Relief and Development, Rob Radtke, was the keynote speaker at convention. He gave us a report on the work of this important relief arm of our church. Episcopal Relief and Development uses the Millennium Development Goals as the benchmark for their work. We reach some 2.5 million people in 40 countries! It's about our church's compassionate response to suffering. Right now this is one of the best ways of responding to the disastrous earthquake in Haiti – Episcopal Relief and Development was on the ground when the quake happened and will be there for the long haul.

        In his address to convention, Bishop Michael Curry, talked about how the first disciples of Jesus organized and oriented their lives around Jesus, particularly in providing relief to the poor. The Bishop said the first disciples of Jesus followed in Jesus' footsteps becoming passionate about abolishing poverty. Bp. Curry said the disciples made an incredible difference in their time without great resources – without the advantages so many of us have. All because the disciples were empowered to do so by the Holy Spirit.

        That same Holy Spirit has been given to us – which means the power of the Spirit is with us – giving us the power to heal – to reconcile – to liberate – to welcome. Bp. Curry wants all of us in this Diocese to realize the Gospel way of welcome is at the heart of what Jesus meant for us.

        We spend a fair amount of time talking about being a welcoming church – about opening the doors of St. Mark's to all who would enter. The Bishop, in his sermon at the convention Eucharist, talked about 'branding' in the sense that advertising agencies use it. He said, “Branding is life and death in business – it's how you're recognized and received.” Bishop Curry wants us to leave church every Sunday committed to the branding of the Episcopal Church. Like the signs so common outside our churches which say, 'The Episcopal Church Welcomes You.' 'The Episcopal Church Welcomes You!' The Bishop wants us to name it, claim it, proclaim it, and live it!

        Being a welcoming church may not be new news to most of us. But, sometimes news we're used to hearing becomes tarnished by time or gathers dust when other events compete for our attention. But, I'm with the Bishop on this, particularly about our naming, claiming, proclaiming, and living the Gospel imperative of welcome.

        And, as the bishop pointed out, there is risk involved in being welcoming. Not everyone wants churches to be open to one and all. Not everyone truly believes Jesus would want us to welcome everyone. But, I'm with Jesus on our being in the business of welcoming and I trust you are, too.

        One of the most moving aspects of convention was to witness volunteers of many ages working in a room adjacent to our meeting room: working in teams, in mini-assembly lines, and, in around 24 hours, packaging 100,500 meals for Stop Hunger Now. It was amazing. It gave me more of my trademark chills and tears! And does right now tell you about it. It was a humbling and an empowering experience at the same time. It demonstrates the potential we have to do remarkable things when we set our hearts, minds, and spirits to it.

        My hope is renewed whenever I hear stories of the ways in which people of faith use their creative wits to do what Jesus in the Gospel calls us to do as his followers. We are to bring good news to the poor – we are to proclaim release to the captives – we are to let the oppressed go free. We are to address human need by living the Gospel of Jesus the Christ.

        Whether it is helping Episcopal Relief and Development with the three R's of responding to disasters: Rescue – Relief – Recovery, or supporting ministries like the Episcopal Farm Workers Ministry, or reaching out to build houses or helping women transition from prison…. You know how the long list of human need is. The Good News is that the Spirit of the Living Christ is within and among us, giving us the will and the means to do things others think cannot be done.

        So, when we leave here today, let's name, claim, proclaim and live the Gospel way of Welcome! Amen.


Post Script: Our delegates reported on resolutions adopted at convention and also on the moving presentation of the Bishop's Medal to the Episcopal Farmworkers' Ministry in Newton-Grove, NC. It was another example of following in Jesus' call to welcome those deemed to be the least of our sisters and brothers.


©2010 Lorraine Ljunggren