Welcome.
Just another name for love, another name for Jesus, another name for compassion.
And as such, welcome is the cornerstone of our practice of living the way of love, the way of Jesus, the way of compassion. In this Sunday’s Gospel Jesus continues to give instructions, to offer ways to live and love, to all those who have ears to hear.

The song from my youth group days goes this way … you will know we are Christians by our love, by our love, yes you know we are Christians by our love.

SO then it follows that you will know we are Christians by our welcome …
 
Except, we in the church or even we as human beings, are not so great with our welcoming. We generally like folks to do things, to do life, our way. Well that’s okay beloved, but is that the way of following Jesus?

And if I were to choose a bit of scripture that says that, I choose these words from the very last verses of the 10 th chapter of Matthew:
Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.’ 

What do we gain in welcoming? The twist of Gospel living is that the welcome is never only for the ones we welcome, the welcome is for us. We are enlarged, we are deepened, we are changed in the welcome of the other, in the welcome of the little ones. In this case, it really is all about us and our ability to ask God to direct us in all our doings; i.e., to welcome, to love, to companion in suffering. 
 
In Matthew’s Gospel Jesus gives loads of instruction about how to spread the kingdom; where to go, what to do, what not to say, and then what happens as a result of going and saying and doing. Remember that from last week; the division that results from that darn sword of righteousness.

I hear the imperative to welcome knowing that division is sown whenever and wherever the reign of God comes near. The rejoinder to welcome is the answer, the response to sowing seeds of love, to healing, to witnessing God’s love come close. However beloved there is a clear warning, the effect can be when we love, people are threatened. When we ask for love, when we witness love, people are threatened. 

Who are these little ones we are to welcome in the name of God, in the name of love, in the name of compassion?
There are so many little ones – often while wearing the disguise of the most powerful or important. Let’s commit to spend some time this week asking God to show us the little ones in our lives. And then listen to know better how are we to welcome even these. Not because they, the little ones, are diminutive or less than or incapable on the contrary– we listen because we need to see who we make small for our purposes of control and power.

I remember leading workshops here 5 years ago on extravagant hospitality. In one of several exercises we did together each of us were asked to remember a time you were welcomed and a time you were not. Our answers where not fancy or anything near extravagant; a smile, a kind word, an invitation, someone noticing, someone recognizing you, someone saying hello. It was indeed the simple ways we greet those in our midst. Basic manners really, yet we struggle. Me too. And each of us has experienced that same feeling of unwelcome; being ignored, looked over, not being included in conversations, not receiving an invitation.
 
Now in a time when Iain is on his way to California, to new opportunities among new people I am a bit nostalgic recalling his time here with us at Christ Church. Finding his voice at the altar, in the pulpit, as a teacher and a leader. Welcoming Iain into this community of faith was a showing forth of love, a rare thing. I pray we will remember all we have learned about him and we have learned about ourselves in his welcome here.  

Jesus knew that the hardest things we will face are our own biases, our own preferences, our own limitations. This is how glorious and gracious God is; welcoming, inviting, encouraging EVERYONE OF US. Remember beloved, we are welcomed, loved and companied, not as end unto itself --no rather we are welcomed, loved and companioned by God so that we can welcome.


Join us on Sunday at 2 pm for our "Mask-Parade" to celebrate and send forth Iain+. All are welcome to decorate your mask and your car and let’s celebrate pandemic style! Christ Church parking lot [lower level] then drive to the upper parking lot to say thank you and Godspeed - repeat as wanted!  See more details below.

Rev. Alison
More Details On The Goodbye "Mask-Parade" for Iain
Sunday, June 28 at 2-3 pm in the Upper Parking Lot!!
  1. Get ready for the parade: Decorate your mask, make a cardboard sign with a loving message, buy a bottle of bubbles to blow, and/or decorate your car! If you can, go to the church office at the Lower Parking Lot during open hours to sign the picture of Christ Church and to pick up a mask to decorate. (You can do this on Sunday also).
  2. In the small parking area near the red front door, you can pick up a cupcake and lemonade! Cards for Iain can be dropped off at this table.
  3. At the Lower Parking Lot, follow the easel signs to drive around the lot, wave your sign and wave to Iain!! You can drive through several times if you like!!
  4. We look forward to a wonderful turnout!!
1060 Chandler Road, PO Box 447, Lake Oswego, OR 97034
503-636-5618