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Worship with Pastor Don Francis
Sermon theme for September 24-25
Christian Values: Mercy
Luke 16:19-31 Common English Bible
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I was so pleased to be part of this church on Rally Day. Yes, the activities of the day were inspiring, but an image that will stay with me for a long time is what happened when we were ready to leave. A man came in the front door asking for food. Tom, having just come up from cleaning up the kitchen, said, “I have food.” In 10 minutes he returned with a plate of food and a package of additional helpings and invited the guest to sit down and have his meal, which he did. Tom said to me on the side, “There is not much that separates us from him.” Asked where he lives, he mentioned North Ave. At that moment Dick came in after working all morning and said, “I can take him.” They packed up the man’s belongings and food, and took him home.
How different that is from the parable we will read on Sunday, about a rich man who does not even give the scraps under the table to the poor man, Lazarus, sitting at his gate. It makes me glad to be part of this church. Each month our mission teams support 6 food ministries in Milwaukee, and I learned the demand is increasing. It is an investment the church makes, and supports with its pumpkin sales and several Christmas offerings. In addition, we support a three-day food packing event with Feed My Starving Children, sending food to 70 nations. The need is constant.
When I sit down to a multi-colored salad luncheon with 10 healthy foods in the bowl, I marvel at the food God has provided. There is enough for everyone, even with the explosive population growth in our lifetimes. From the beginning God has called us to be stewards of the creation. Our challenge is earth care and food distribution. Our church family clearly stands ready, getting food to the last household, knowing many of us may have been close to the same point of need.
When we read the parable of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16, I will have us consider the value of mercy, suggesting as our church demonstrates mercy it makes a more merciful city, one closer to our image of what earth would be like if it was like heaven. As always, call or visit. Let’s meet for coffee. Or better yet, sign up with me for 2 hours of packing food at the end of the month for Feed My Starving Children.
Pastor Don
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