How many of you almost decided to not come to church today? You wanted to sleep in or go to the Bluegrass Festival --or--? That’s what we’re told in seminary, you know, that most of you almost decided to do something else…

And yet, this church has been an active worship center for 135 years! Most of you know that because only recently we had a large celebration that honored that history. 135 years! Prescott United Methodist Church was the first Protestant church in the Arizona territory, with its roots in a time when statehood was not even a dream.

Recently a good number of us celebrated those years for four hours on a Saturday afternoon. We reflected on what Prescott was like at the time of our church’s beginning, sang the old hymns of those early days, and, through technology, heard the memories of some of today’s homebound members who were unable to attend. We heard the thoughts of former pastors and our District Superintendent, listened to the Mayor’s proclamation, and shared a special meal together. We gathered for a meaningful worship service to culminate the event and enjoyed ice cream together, as a final activity. That day we celebrated, as a church family, all that we are about—135 years of worship and ministry for this church body!

“From the past comes the future—For All God’s People” was the slogan on the program for the event! It’s an inclusive message, meant to reach out and welcome all who would enter our doors.

How important is it that we, as a church, welcome all? It’s easy to look back and see the needs in the past, the places where we have provided and continue to give a “cup of cold water.” There are really too many to list, but they include such things as Prescott’s Community Cupboard food bank, health ministries, child care, Prescott People Who Care, Open Door, Stephen Ministry, Food Club, the Granite Creek Meal, Compassionate Friends, spiritual growth classes for all ages, Angel Tree—a Prison Ministry Camp, various Mexico assistance projects, support groups—and much, much more! We’re either doing or preparing for ministry, for all ages, much of the time!

So many of these are “beyond the church,” but how do we do when new persons enter the doors of our church for the first time? As we say good-by to Pastors Tim and Sara, we are preparing to welcome Pastors George and Nancy and their daughters, Rachel and Sara, into our midst. How do we do this best?

I came across the results of a study on families just completed by the UCLA Center on Everyday Lives of Families, created to examine the intersection between family life and work. 32 Los Angeles families were observed over a four-year period, in a study of how working America somehow “gets it done” day after day. Digital video cameras recorded the families’ every move, with their behavior analyzed, frame by frame, back in the lab by researchers. The families’ belongings were studied by archaeologists, including the sock behind the dryer and the cans of tuna in the pantry. All but the dog spit into test tubes several times a day, to determine the rise and fall of stress hormones in their saliva.

There were more specific criteria for the families and all the data has not yet been examined, but several observations are very clear: Families are “insanely busy,” and “barely coping.” Both parents are working outside the home, so parents and children live virtually apart 5 days a week. Even when together, they tend to “stay in motion,” with lessons, classes, and games. Mothers still bear the key household and child-rearing responsibilities in their study, even while working full time. The researchers contend that “this appears to erode families from within, like a rusting minivan dropping parts as it clatters down the highway. What’s falling by the wayside? Playtime. Conversation. Courtesy. Intimacy. Everything is scheduled, and there is little room for spontaneity. We’re moving from a child-centered society to a child- dominated society. Parents don’t have a life after the children go to bed.” The study’s director, a linguistic anthropologist, describes the most worrisome trend as how indifferently people treat each other, especially when they reunite at the day’s end. In some of the families, the entire family was never in the same room all at one time. Few have any unstructured time. “Something has gone wrong in our families,” the study concludes.*

And yet our short scripture reading today from the Gospel of Matthew—it’s only three verses—is both a commandment and a description of how we should be. It’s a commandment because it’s the critically important message given to the disciples as to how they were to treat other people—especially since they were not being treated well themselves. As they went out in the world to spread the word, they encountered tremendous opposition, betrayal, and even death. But this edict reaffirmed the covenant of Abraham that they were to live out in their lives. Matthew lets them know that Jesus is the one through whom this covenant is fulfilled. In their welcome, they are to treat others as they would treat Jesus, and as Jesus would treat them.

The examples of the prophet and the righteous person are an instruction for all of us, as the ongoing disciples of Jesus Christ—for this comes to us from the disciples who have learned from the disciples, who have learned from the disciples, and so on, until that time in the past when Jesus gave his instruction. Friends, we learn here how to be with each other, and how to be with the new persons who enter our lives, whoever they might be. It’s a message for each of us, for our families, and for our churches.

It’s all that Jesus taught us through all those years when he was among those first disciples, the years that we read about in the scriptures, and that we must carry out now, as new disciples--a message of openness, welcome, acceptance, and great hospitality to those newly in our midst. His broad mention of “Whoever welcomes you,” and “me,” and a prophet and a righteous person, is an inclusive statement, meant to wrap each of us in his love, and to enable us to spread that love, as God’s grace is revealed through our lives. We are together in Christ.

I used the family as a specific example today, because Jesus and his disciples had functioned as a family when they were together, before they were sent out to disciple others. They ate together, traveled together, prayed together, healed together and actually shared and lived their lives together. They had all left their homes to be a part of this new family under God.

Friends, in the same way, we, as a church, are family. We have come together to share, to eat together, to worship and have fellowship together, to learn, grow and serve together, as did those early disciples. As did those first disciples, we, as new disciples, are here to welcome still others into our midst, accepting them without judgment as they are, into a fellowship that shares, grows, heals and serves together. We are to love as Christ first loved us.

We have but to reflect on the ways we have been graciously and lovingly touched by disciples of Jesus Christ, to know how we must be to those we encounter. Hebrews 13:2 called it “entertaining strangers,” and that hospitality is one of the most important messages of the scriptures, to simply “do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” with the love of Christ in your heart.

Can we all extend the ultimate welcome and hospitality to the Cushman family when they come? Can we extend it to our own families? Can we be open and accepting, gracious and non-judgmental, helpful and healing, forgiving and loving? Can we be kind and instructive, gentle and humble, understanding and faithful in our differences? Yes, with the help of God. We are family.

We have some quilts displayed in front of you today, and you saw a couple as you came in, if you came in the main sanctuary door. These large quilts in front and the smaller ones as you entered belong to our sister, Jo Bradley, who is sharing her talents with us today. Jean Phillips assisted with the display. One of the reasons I asked for these quilts to be brought in is because quilts are a link with our past and our people. They are a wonderful faith symbol, and they are a part of our future.

On the table, you see the prayer quilts that are usually displayed in the Good Shepherd Reception Center. They were made by the ladies in the Prayer Quilters group (which, by the way, needs more people to help—and they will teach you). Each of these has a name on it of a person to be prayed for, and those persons will receive their quilts soon. There’s still one more quilt out, a “touch” quilt for a small child, Annika Strain, that is still on the table in the reception center.

If you have quilts in your family, you know what great meaning they can have for you. Each stitch is a labor of love. The knots that we tie on the prayer quilts, as we pray, represent the healing power of God’s grace that has come through us. This is one way we take care of our family members and friends.

If you look closely at the large quilts in front of you, you can see some patterns you may not have realized were there, and possibly some messages for us. First, the large, all white quilt, represents purity and beauty, even perfection. In the middle there is a large flower, a burst of energy and joy, and symbols of eternal love all over the edge of the quilt. We can see it as representing God and Jesus Christ, reminding us of the love that surrounds us, now and forever. It is prophetic.

The quilt on your left, with the flowers and bright colors, represents God working within our lives. It is God with us, and has many hearts to represent God’s love for us. It is righteousness, as that love is manifest in beautiful and good ways.

The quilt on your right is named “Around the World.” If you look closely, you will see a cross in the middle of the quilt. With the cross in the center, it represents the mission field—all over the world—and the work that we all must do, as disciples who love and welcome Christ.

Let’s look for God all around us and be sure to see Jesus in others. Let’s do it in our own families, as we take time to listen, share and just enjoy each other. Let’s look closely at the people in our church family, to see what we have not yet seen. Now, I’ve asked some assistants to each invite some people to the front and to stand there with them. If they invite you, and you are able, would you please stand on the steps in front of the table, in a close group, and face the congregation? I promise there will be no public speaking!

Now, would everyone please look closely at this group and see what a great pattern they make, what a lovely and interesting human quilt! Do you see beauty, and hospitality and an important part of your church family? Do you see gifts you did not see before? Knowing there are gifts you cannot see… Do you see God—and Christ—and the Holy Spirit--in their midst? Think how together they can help, and heal… Jesus has been in our past and he is here today… It’s the Family of God quilt.

Let’s all stand, and join together now for the Response of the Family that is printed in the bulletin (big screen), reflecting on the ways these sisters and brothers can and will bring Christ to their families, our church family, and the family of God in the world. May we all do the same!

Now, as our brothers and sisters return to their seats, will you please join together for the last hymn (#432, “Jesu, Jesu.”) See yourselves as a living quilt, with each piece unique, but a piece of beauty, with Christ in your midst. Know that you, too, may go out to help, to heal, and to welcome, wherever you are, remembering that family here and throughout the world—the Family of God.

And as you leave here today, look closely at the pictures displayed in the narthex, and you will see others, like yourself, who have done the same. To God be the glory!

Amen.

*Science and Theology News, May 2005

Sermon delived by Carol Mumford on June 26, 2005.