Affirmation of Faith

We are not alone,
we live in God’s world.
We believe in God:
who has created and is creating,
who has come in Jesus,
the Word made flesh,
to reconcile and make new,
who works in us and others
by the Spirit.
We trust in God.
We are called to be the Church:
to celebrate God’s presence,
to live with respect in Creation,
to love and serve others,
to seek justice and resist evil,
to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,
our judge and our hope.
In life, in death, in life beyond death,
God is with us.
We are not alone.
Thanks be to God.

Prayer Concerns
Anna Criswell and Family,
Cindy Shores,
Homebound and Nursing Home members,
Charles Findlay,
Sara Haraway,
Linda Dickinson,
Deborah Durham,
Douglas Latham,
Doris Lewis,
Ron McLaughlin,
Mr, Mounton,
Lynn Mote,
Mary Ann Wood,
Diane Caffee,
Kathy Starr,
Tommy Brooker,
Winnie Maddox,
Kate Powell,
Nelson McDaniel,
Dot Deason,
Juanice Hathcock,
John Morris,
Meagan Wicker.

“Room at the Table”
I. Have you ever messed up when you were trying to do the right thing?
A. My roommate in seminary was a man from South Mississippi named Sessions Polk. He told me this story.
1. He had a roommate from Argentina.
2. One night Sessions cooked up a delicious meal in his cast iron skillet.
3. Then he went off to a 3 hour night class.
4. He returned home to discover that his South American roommate had spent the entire time cleaning his cast iron skillet with an SOS pad.
B. Months later, Sessions was still grieving the loss of his skillet.
C. But, he knew his roommate was just trying to help. He was trying to do the right thing.

II. Just like the disciples were trying to do the right thing!
A. Women and children had no right to barge in on the men!
1. In the first century, these women and children had no legal standing.
2. Fathers could sell them,
3. Arrange their marriages,
4. Punish them,
5. Kill them.
B. In the first century, they weren’t considered as important as men, and they certainly were rude to intrude on this group.
C. The disciples were doing what was expected! They actually thought they were doing the right thing!

III. Once again, Jesus pulls the rug out from under them. Jesus completely disrupts their world view.
A. Mark record this story immediately before the story of the Rich Young Ruler which we looked at last week.
1. Last week we learned that being rich doesn’t make you special.
2. Now, Jesus says that children are important.
3. There’s no telling who Jesus will include next!
B. “Let the little children come to me.”
C. Jesus brings an end to the old order and announces a new one in which all are welcome!

IV. It’s easy to be like the disciples.
A. It’s easy for us to pick and choose who gets to come to the table.
B. We can keep things neat and orderly.
C. We can guarantee that we don’t have to eat with THOSE people.

V. But, we don’t follow the disciples. We follow Christ.
A. He alone invites people to this table.
B. The empty chair reminds us that there are still others who belong at the table.
1. It might be a friend or family member.
2. Or, it may be someone I wouldn’t invite, or you wouldn’t invite.
3. But, it’s not our party!
C. Make room at the table for all those whom Christ loves!

As we gather for Communion, I invite you to love someone new. Take the risk to love someone that before you would have pushed away.

Go forth into the world in peace.
Be of good courage.
Hold fast to that which is true.
Render to no one evil for evil.
Strengthen the faint-hearted.
Support the weak.
Help the afflicted.
Honor all people.
Love and serve the lord rejoicing in the power of the holy spirit.
And the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
The love of God the Father
And the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
Be with you all.