Pastor Dan’s Drift ... July/August 2008
"Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing?
And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’”
Matt 25:34-40
Seeing the black construction paper chain that circles our social hall and the “ONE Lutheran Congregation” banner, encourages you to remember “ONE Sunday,” that day when 80 of us signed the ONE Declaration, adding our voices to millions of others, calling our nation’s leaders and legislators to remember United Nations Millennium Development Goals and provide an additional 1% of our nation’s budget to the cause on behalf of “the least of these,” Jesus’ family, throughout the world. Jesus has heard us speak for his family, and so speak for Him. Washington has heard and has listened, but there yet exists many in our own nation whom our nation’s leaders in Washington, D.C. have forgotten–especially along the gulf coast. As flood waters ravage Missouri and Illinois, again Washington says it will remember them as they did others: others they have quickly forgotten. Therefore, there remains much suffering and pain and helplessness, and there remains much to do, much for us to do on behalf of the “least of these” who matter to Jesus. What we do affects them and Jesus.
We again have an opportunity to respond to the cries of Jesus’ family, in fact 2 opportunities, a trip to Biloxi and Poverty Sunday, wherein what we do for the “least of these” we do for Jesus.
First, St. Matthew Lutheran Church in York is gathering folks to make their fifth trip to Camp Biloxi. Sue and I committed last night to join them, and are extending their invitation to you. The timing was not right for Sue and I to join those of you who had gone in 2006. Now the timing is right. We went to Oregon already, and the Synod Assembly is past. Plus, we recently got a check from Washington, the “Stimulus Check,”and a timely email from St. Matthew about a trip which will cost Sue and I the exact amount of the check– for us it’s a great way to remember the forgotten in Mississippi. You can join us also. $600 per person covers the cost of the October 4-10 trip. Call the church and/or email me to get more info. Do so quickly, for there are only a few plane seats left. Another option is to join those who are driving. There will be more in our Sunday bulletins. We must complete paperwork by the next meeting at St. Matthews, York, which is July 24th at 7pm.
Second, we can join other congregations and faith-based groups across our country by participating in “Poverty Sunday,” September 21st, a day to learn more about “the least of these,” and again remind our President, Congress, Senate, and candidates, that poverty is a top concern for those of us as we vote in November. No matter one’s party or choice of candidate, we can join together with Christian people across our nation to send a non-partisan, ecumenical message to Washington that, as followers of Jesus, “the least of these who are members of [Jesus’] family” matter to Jesus, and so to us, that cutting the poverty rate in half over the next ten years matters to Jesus and so to us, and that working to achieve the Millennium Development Goals matters to Jesus and so to us. Therefore, we do not forget, “‘ . . . just as you did it to one of the least of these
who are members of my family, you did it to me.’”
Pastor Dan