"Remember when you could greet someone at the gate?"

Psalm 107:1-7
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress; he led them by a straight way, until they reached an inhabited town. Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind.

This month we begin a sermon series on Baggage and Checkpoints. The baggage we carry around as we travel on the journey.  And the checkpoints we are forced to endure along the way. We will also spend some time at checkpoints we know we should stop at and deal with... our historical past and how it affects us even now. More of a gut check perhaps than a check point.

On Tuesday, Todd and I flew back from a six-day stay in NYC.  It was a great trip and so wonderful to spend a few days with Jake.  The travel days, however, are never that much fun.  LaGuardia Airport yesterday was pretty crowded and overwhelming as we sat waiting for our flight at Gate B4.

It made me think,though, about those good old days when you could actually have potentially had even MORE people waiting at this gate. Because remember when you could greet someone at the gate? You didn't have to have a plane ticket and an ID to go to a gate and see someone just as soon as they got off the plane. Anyone younger than 20, of course, probably does not remember this world, but many of us do.  

There was something so appealing about being able to be right at the gate as someone arrived home. And, in theological terms, that moment of welcoming someone at the gate would be a heaven. And heaven is a return to the embrace of the one who loves you. Heaven is your return to a place you feel most welcome.

This week's Psalm 107 speaks of God leading those who are distressed out of their time of trial and into the warmth of an inhabited town.  What ways do we do the same in our deep and abiding relationships with family and with friends?  How do we create Heaven on Earth, the reign of God here and now in the ways we choose to include and embrace those who have been away from love, from home, from a sense of wholeness?

This is All Saints' Sunday. A time when we remember those who have gone before us. We will pause to spend some time lifting up the names of the cloud of witnesses, the saints, who have gone before us and who have led the way to the Gate we will all one day walk through.  Come prepared to say aloud the names of those you would like to honor this All Saints' Sunday.

Thoughts? Comments? Email me or comment below.

"... your work produced by faith."

We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.


Last week we shared in the absolute joy of having our children guide and lead us in worship. It was wonderful to see the Spirit come alive in their beautiful faces. Thank you so much to the children and youth for leading us. 

This week we will have one of our Rocky Mountain Conference district superintendents preaching in our worship service. Rev. Deb Olenyik, supeintendent of the the Wyoming district, will be our honored guest preacher.

Rev. Olenyik will be preaching from the text in 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 in which Paul is writing to the people of Thessolonica and reminding them of the importance of their work done THROUGh FAITH.  We will be in prayer for her this week as she prepares to be in the midst of our NUMC family and share the Word of God with us.

Maybe praying in community for the Spirit to move among us would be a good way to prepare for this Sunday.  I spent this morning  adapting into a prayer the words of Psalm 99 as written in The Message.  Let us pray this communally this week as we remember the work of faith in this congregation and the labor of love and the steadfastness of hope we all share in the global church community.

O God, you are our ruler. We take notice of you as you reign from on high, as you tower in splendor over every living thing.  We praise your greatness. You are holy, yes holy.

O God, lover of justice, you laid things out fair and square, you set down the foundations of justice and righteousness. We worship you. You are holy, yes holy.

O God, your priests who have come before us, Moses and Aaron and Samuel… they all prayed to you and you answered them. You spoke to them from the pillar of cloud and they kept your law.  We lift you high, O God, we still worship at your mountain. You are holy, yes holy.  Amen.

"Life Stories" (Children and Youth Worship)

This week we will go an adventure that will be filled with smiles and fun as our children and youth lead worship. They have already helped to write the prayers and one of the songs that we will use this week. Their words are poignant, fun and true.

Also, three of our teenagers have written snapshots of their lives right now.  We will be happy to hear their words which are also poignant, fun and true.

The scriptures are Exodus 14:13-22 and Luke 10:25-37. It will be fun to see how they are expressed this week.

I feel sure you will be as blessed by this service as I have been in helping to prepare for it.


Matthew 19 says "Let the little children come to me and do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the Kingdom of Heaven belongs."  Indeed. And thanks be to God.

See you Sunday.