You’re invited to our Community Open House as we celebrate the completion of our Where Welcome Grows Sanctuary renovation! 

The Parable of the Sower is one of my favorite parables.

In fact, I asked it to be used for my grandfather’s funeral as he had grown up on a farm and always kept a large garden himself. If you garden, it is easy to understand that the character of the soil makes a difference and that there are many uncontrollable variables that affect the harvest. Too much rain – too little rain; other creatures – birds, bunnies, groundhogs, or deer; plants that limit sunlight to others or take away too much of the water. And yet, with some effort, the seeds can find just the right space and create an abundant harvest.

In this scripture, we also have the benefit of hearing Jesus explain this parable to the disciples, which is not usually the case. In studying parables, I have learned that they invite us to engage with them and study to understand them. They are designed to encourage us to look at the parts of ourselves we would rather ignore – places where we act like those who are wrong. They can take us out of our comfort zone, and we may choose a narrower interpretation to prevent their “sting.”

Parables are intended to remind, provoke, and disturb us, and they usually contain a “surprise” element for their 1st century readers. So looking at the original context and language is invaluable.

Let’s begin by looking at some other things we know about today’s scripture.

First, this is one of those rare scriptures that appears in all three of the Synoptic Gospels: Matthew 13:1-23; Mark 4:1-20; and Luke 8:4-15. This tells us it was an important story for the early church. Oftentimes, the lectionary skips Jesus’ answer to why he uses parables, but there is a challenge in these words.

In verse 12, Jesus implies that he shares to “nudge people along” the path of understanding – as he is doing with the disciples. Although in our simplistic, capitalistic minds, we hear that those who have will receive more and those with little will have what they have taken away. This is a great justification for increasing the wealth of the rich and depriving the poor of what they need. But this is NOT an economic statement but one about wisdom. Those who are wise and understand will be given more “insider information,” while those who don’t will not receive it.

In Matthew, this scripture comes between the Pharisees conspiring to destroy him (12:14) and the people of his hometown rejecting him (13:54–58). This may sound a bit harsh but it could be part of what is meant to be surprising.

God won’t spend extra time on those who aren’t trying.

How engaged with our faith might we be with God? In the other scriptures this summer, we considered what they told us about God. So, what do you think?

It doesn’t tell us God’s role in this, but the church has taught that God is the sower. How do you envision the Sower? I would say this is an extravagant farmer who sows with reckless abandon. God does not seem to care whether the seed falls on the path, in the rocky ground, among the thorns, or on good soil. God just sows – leaving the harvest up to chance! Is that how you understand God?

There is beauty in that God is willing to give everyone a chance! All are worthy! All are welcome!

This is what we say with our “inclusive refuge.” And what does it say about us? We are reminded to see and listen. It appears that is the way to become “good soil,” although that is not specifically named. The traditional interpretation of this parable is that we are to consider what type of soil we are.

In the Come Sunday, I invited us to wonder about what if we are the seeds that God sends to the many different places.

I know, Jesus’ explanation says that the seeds are “the word of the Kingdom.” However, I have also heard it said that we are the only “word” or “Bible” some people will ever read. So…how well do we represent “the word” of God in Jesus?

Said another way – How well do we live Jesus’ teachings?

And to push us a bit further, what if we are to become sower patterned after the one in the parable? Are we willing to be that generous with the gifts we have? Are we sharing the “the word” in all the places we can?

If we go back to verse 11, Jesus said this is about the secrets of the kingdom of heaven. What does this parable say about the kingdom? That some will know it and others will not? Or is it that some accept the invitation and thrive but others will not?

The “word” is given to all. Where are you?

May it be so. Amen.
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On Wednesday, I had to go out, but I had the privilege of deciding when I went.

So when I looked out, and it was raining, I decided to wait for the rain to pass. While I waited, I was thinking about the fact that not everyone has the privilege of making that choice. Those who are without shelter have limited choices. Those who use public transportation and are unprotected from the elements may not have this privilege.

God created all that exists – including the weather and in our intelligence and our arrogance, we have created the means by which to ignore God’s parameters. We created lights so we could stay awake at night, but then we decided that since we could stay awake, people should work during the night hours. And we created cars because they were more convenient than carriages, and they work in all temperatures and all weather. So we have to go to work in the rain and the snow in the frigid cold and brutal heat.

I just wonder if we have not done ourselves a disservice. And I wonder if we do a disservice to others by expecting others to work all sorts of hours to make our lives more…complete? So we can have what we want whenever we may want it? So we have the emergency care we need – yes. But have we bought the lie that we have to work on all days – in all conditions to make money for others?

As an older person, these are the things I’m beginning to think about. Who am I trying to please with my life?

Our scripture from Isaiah 40 is part of a poem of exilic hope written to the people of Judah during the Babylonian exile – People who felt hopeless and forgotten by God.

Here, the writer asserts that God is both creator and ruler of the world, who promised them a joyous return to their homeland & reminded them that they are not alone. God has not abandoned them, even if they were told this happened as a consequence of not following God’s laws. God was still active in the world and was with them – even if they don’t notice or feel God’s presence. Just as God is still active and present with us – even if we don’t notice or feel God’s presence.

In Matthew’s Gospel, John is criticizing those who are exploitative and self-serving. When the institution loses sight of the higher and greater good of all, we are in jeopardy. When we make money by causing another’s suffering, we have lost our way, and Matthew is very clear that there is a type of “hell” waiting for us whether it is described as “an unquenchable fire” or where there will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew uses that line six times in his gospel as he is clearly using fear and intimidation to encourage faithfulness. Personally, I am not fan!

BUT – When do we stop and consider how our living affects others? What have I done through my words? What have I done through my silence?

If I asked you right now to name a few people whom you see as exploitative and self-serving, you could at least give me your top three – if not many more! But as Matthew also says, “Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye but do not notice the log in your own eye? – Matthew 7:3

I don’t know about you, but those at the top of my list for exploitation and self-serving actions are hurting many more people than I think I do; however, this is a good reminder that I may not realize who all I affect by buying the cheapest items made in sweatshops by forced child labor. The reality is that we are terrified of not having enough power or enough money.

White Christian nationalism is about these trying to preserve these two things, and it will fail because God is about diversity.

Look at all that we have considered this summer there is diversity in everything God created!

So why do we think that only white men with money have the answers, especially while they try to hide their own sins! We are part of an ecosystem – and it only works when we all play by the rules.

And Jesus laid out the rules very simply: Love God – Love one another. Care about people other than yourself and your group!

When everything is shared, there is less poverty and crime because when everyone has what they need, there is less need to cheat and steal. We honor the natural and social world by caring for others and making sure others have what they need.

So, what do you want to be grain or chaff?

May it be so. Amen.
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In yesterday’s Come Sunday, I invited you to think of times when you experienced awe.

So I’m wondering what your thoughts are. What gave you a moment of awe? Psychologist Dacher Keltner writes. “Awe makes us curious rather than judgmental. It makes us collaborative. It makes us humble, sharing and altruistic. It quiets the ego so that you’re not thinking about yourself as much.” Keltner also names what he calls “The Eight Wonders of Life” which invoke awe:

• Moral beauty: Witnessing extraordinary kindness, courage, strength, or people overcoming great obstacles.
• Nature: Experiencing vast landscapes, towering trees, animals, or natural elements.
• Collective effervescence (collective movement): Feeling deep unity and shared rhythm with groups through dance, sports, or concerts.
• Music: Being moved by a favorite song, a live concert, or harmonious sounds.
• Visual design: Feeling stirred by human art, architecture, and creative structures like sculptures or vast buildings.
• Spirituality and religion: Encountering the sacred, mystical, or divine through meditation or faith.
• Life and death: Reflecting on the profound cycle of existence, from childbirth and new life to aging and loss.
• Epiphanies (big ideas): Having sudden intellectual breakthroughs, scientific realizations, or deep insights into life’s truths.

This is also the point of the Tikkun Olam story and our scriptures today.

They invite us to consider nature and all its beauty, but also the mystical nature of the universe. Consider what you know about the moon. As we have been to it, we know that it cannot easily sustain life on it.

Our scripture reminds us that the Jewish feast days are based on the lunar calendar, as is our Easter. We know the effect of the moon on the tides, and if you’ve ever been in the ER on a full moon, you know how much it affects people. Teachers can also attest to the effect of a full moon on the children.

This being said, have you ever taken time to look for the moon – to notice the different colors it can be or the size of it. The ancient people were just in awe of these things. They did not know what we do about the atmosphere. And the stars – they did not have the light pollution we have – so they could see so much more of them.

As the psalmist wrote, “I lift up my eyes to the hills—from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” – 121:1-2. They knew that sometimes you had to look higher and further to see the works of God.

And at the root of the Tikkun Olam story is the idea that God broke God’s self to create the world and we are called to be healing the world by recognizing the sacredness of all.

But we want a world that is predictable and ordered. We don’t like chaos, even though it is through chaos that everything was made. But we want control to prevent the chaos which we perceive as evil. When in reality, by resisting the chaos, we also limit our vulnerability. And by limiting our vulnerability, we also limit our joy.

Do you know what to do if a riptide takes you? Surrender – surrender and let it take its course and it will bring you back to the shore. So right now, I invite you to risk a bit of vulnerability with me and take off your shoes to feel the floor.

The energy of creation – of the earth – can come through the flooring. So give yourself some time to become grounded and listen to a story about awe. Imagine being at the beach. Imagine the feel of the cool, damp sand under your feet. See in your mind’s eye, the ocean with the tide coming roaring in and then quietly leaving again. Ahead of you on the beach, where the water has just been, is a toddler with very unsteady legs and a wet, sagging diaper, looking at the ocean, waiting for it to come back. The child’s parent is sitting some distance away, watching but trying not to interfere with the child’s experience.

As the next wave comes, the child runs towards the water but only deep enough to be above their knees. From the child’s perspective, these small waves are big things. The child knows they are with something VERY BIG. He turns and walks out of the water while it disappears back from where it came. And then he turns and runs again as if to meet the next wave. Notice how the child is feeling.

 Finally, the child flings their arms out and shouts at the ocean; an unintelligible but eloquent speech to the water, to the gulls, to the sand, to the world. Can you feel the nature of his awe? Can you join child in their pleasure? Can you live as wholehearted as the child?

May it be so. Amen.
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As we grow older, many of us will experience changes in mobility, vision, hearing, strength, or endurance.

A person who once moved through a building without thinking about it may eventually use a cane, walker, wheelchair, or other mobility aid. Others may find that stairs, long distances, difficult-to-read signs, or noisy spaces create barriers they never noticed before.

Disability isn’t always something we’re born with. Accessibility can become important to any of us as we move through different stages of life.

That gives us an opportunity to think differently about accessibility. It isn’t only about ramps, elevators, or automatic doors. It is also about communication, comfort, independence, and whether people can participate fully in the life of their community.

We can ask ourselves:

• Is information easy to read and understand?
• Are directions and signs clear?
• Is there accessible seating where people need it?
• Can someone move through our spaces comfortably and independently?
• Are there different ways to receive important information?
• What barriers might we overlook simply because we don’t experience them ourselves?

At Church of the Apostles, accessibility is part of creating a community where people can continue worshipping, serving, learning, and building relationships throughout every stage of life. Our wheelchair-accessible building, accessible parking, power-assisted bathroom doors, Sanctuary seating and audio devices, and other accommodations help make participation easier for people with a range of needs.

But accessibility is not a finished project. As our community changes, we can continue looking at our spaces and practices with fresh eyes. Sometimes a small change can make a significant difference in whether someone feels independent, comfortable, and included.

Thinking about accessibility also asks us to think beyond the present. If our own needs changed tomorrow, would we still be able to participate fully in the community we call home?

And if the answer isn’t yes for everyone, what could we change today to help make sure it is?