Wisdom of Poppa Paul; Philippians 4:1-9

 

Rev. George Miller

June 29, 2025

Philippians 4:1-9

 

What a month!  What a month we’ve had-

Pass the Brick Lego Work Day

Pentecost; Ministry Fair

Mission Trip Shares

Juneteenth; Pet Blessing

68^th Anniversary of the UCC

LGBTQ PRIDE.

 

All I can say is- Poor Dads.

 

All the men of St. Lucas who get one day in the year to celebrate Fatherhood and you can’t really get a full Sunday to celebrate it because of so many other events.

 

Somewhere on this planet a church held a “Happy Father’s Juneteeth Gay Pride UCC Day” worship service; be we weren’t the one.

 

Bless our Dads, and all the men who have done the best they can do; and may we gracefully mourn those who did not or could not…

 

In some ways, today we can celebrate all these things, as we dwell with Paul inside his home, and hear his words of freedom, rejoice, and unity.

 

Paul is not just our Brother in Christ, but he is also one of the Fathers of our faith, establishing many churches along his journeys.

 

So let us take a moment to learn about what’s going on.

 

After his tearful goodbye to the elders in Asia Minor, Paul is in Rome under house arrest for 2 years, awaiting trial.

 

We can only imagine what it’s like for Paul, limited to the walls of his home and property line.  Part of the time he is chained to a Roman soldier. 

 

Though under house arrest, he can have guests, preach, teach, write and receive letters.

 

He experiences the mild weather of Fall and Winter with cloudy skies, damp stone buildings that call for a light cloak at night.

 

And the long, dry warm-to-hot days of Spring and Summer, with sunny skies and a breeze from the Tiber River, waters he can sense but cannot go to.

 

One day a package arrives from Philippi; in it a gift- something sweet-smelling that lifts his day.  Perhaps a candle from the Flower Patch, or essential oil from Kirkwood Farmers Market.

 

Whatever it is prompts Paul to write this letter of thanks and guidance to those in Philippi.

 

Philippi has the most special place in Paul’s heart.  It’s where he met Lydia, a businesswoman who became the 1^st convert in Europe. 

 

Her home becomes the 1^st European church, known for their generosity and care. 

 

Over the decade Paul and the people of Philippi maintain a close, supportive relationship.

 

Even when Paul was a continent away, they sent money to support him.  Even when he’s under Roman arrest, they do not neglect him.

 

Though other churches seem to fail Paul, even when other Christ followers have forgotten about him, those in Philippi do not.

 

They send him a sweet-smelling gift.  Though he’s under arrest, though they’ll never see each other again, he has joy in remembering them.

 

There is another part to this letter.  Paul has gotten word that in this thriving, generous community, some infighting has taken place.

 

2 of the women, Euodia and Syntyche just can’t seem to get along, and it’s hurting the community.  It baffles Paul.

 

He knows these women; he knows their heart.  They have worked side by side, as equals.  They have been strong, solid leaders and co-ministers.

 

Now there’s confusion.

 

So Paul, filled with wisdom that comes from age and lived experience, writes this letter to not only thank folks for their gift, but to bring a sense of harmony into the church.

 

Paul does it so beautifully, so honestly.  He grounds everything in grace and Christ’s humility.

 

Paul gives thanks for them, how they hold him in their heart.  He prays that their love for the Gospel grows and overflows.

 

He reflects upon his life. 

 

He looks ahead, knowing soon he will die. He looks back, over his life, with no regrets, seeing how everything came together and glorified God.

 

In a moment of theological clarity he says “In no way have I reached the goal, but I press on, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.”

 

He reminds the church that they should have the same mind and love.  To look towards Christ who poured himself out.

 

Like a loving Dad, he warns them of what to watch out for.

 

Like a Big Poppa, he encourages the feuding siblings to work things out.

 

Then, from his reality of house arrest, possibly chained to a Roman guard, Paul writes-

 

“Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is pure, pleasing, worthy of praise think about them.  Keep doing what you’re doing and all you learned.”

 

Last week we witnessed Paul’s tearful goodbye to the elders as he prepared to board a boat to Jerusalem.  Today, we hear his words to a church that is a world away. 

 

He says “I rejoice in God that you care about me.  I’m content.  I’ve had little, I’ve had a lot.  I know what it’s like to be well-fed and what it’s like to go to bed hungry.”

 

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

 

What Paul writes is soulful; his expression of faith; his strength in Jesus.

 

The freedom he finds, even when in chains, even if he is sad or melancholy.

 

From the damp cold of winter to the heat of summer, Paul finds a stability in Christ and a reason for his life.

 

In response to their sweet smelling gift and the issues they face, Paul uses this time to remind them, reassure them, and to celebrate them.

 

They are saints, they are siblings, they are generous, they are joy…as are we.

 

So in Christ, we keep on keeping on,

Brick by brick,

in freedom and in pride, blessings and mission, knowing that although perfection will never be reached, Jesus Christ has already made us his own.

 

For that we can say “Amen.”

Sacredness of Sadness & Acceptance; Acts 20:1-24

 

Rev. George Miller

June 22, 2025

Acts 20:1-24

 

Last Fall, we shared a new tradition- Stump the Pastor Sunday.  Y’all embraced it, submitting scriptures to prod my spiritual neurons.

 

This Summer we’ll hear some of the texts you suggested, getting to learn and grow together.

 

Together, because that is such a beautiful way to be, especially knowing that life can feel so confusing, so alone, so melancholy at times.

 

Confusing and melancholy are not words we often associate with worship.  They are often what we want to ignore and not feel.

 

Yet they are emotions that all people of our faith family have experienced, from Abraham on that starry night, to Mary at the garden tomb.

 

Just as God’s love is limitless, there is space in our sanctuary to welcome and honor these emotions.  This sacred moment we experience together is one in which our joy and praise is welcomed AND so is our melancholy and loneliness.

 

There is sacredness to our sadness and our struggles.  There is a sacredness in accepting things that we cannot change or avoid.

 

So into this time, surrounded by history and stories of those who came before, we step into our scripture to hear what Paul has to say. 

 

The church in Jerusalem has been bustling.  Paul has been hustling, going all over the globe. 

 

He’s enjoyed the culinary tastes of lentil stew in Asia, bread broken in Galatia, and hopefully he got to have a horn of honey mead.

 

Paul has accomplished much, being a part of new beginnings and transformed lives.  He’s had successes and celebrations, monumental failures and epic uproars.

 

He reached out to the disciples in hopes of going back to Jerusalem by Passover, but plans change when word get out that people are threatening to hurt him.

 

Paul takes a detour.  But 5  days becomes 12 days then weeks.  Paul is anxious, hoping that he can at least make it back by Pentecost.

 

There is such a relatable-ness to this story- Paul just wants to make it back home; he wants to be amongst his spiritual, emotional core where he has roots and understands the ways of the city.  But situations are preventing him from getting there.

 

How many of us have had that experience- of being away from family/ friends, not being there for an important moment?

 

That sad ache that comes from not being where you want to be?

 

Paul does, and it’s not because he lacks faith, but because he is human and he can feel.

 

A second factor of Paul’s journey emerges- his own mortality.  He is aware that when he arrives in Jerusalem, he could die.

 

This is not Paul being chaotic or dramatic.  This is Paul well aware of what’s unfolding around him. 

 

In this scripture we witness things that are so personally sacred- a person trying to make it back and one who is facing their own death.

 

The sadness of deferred plans and missed gatherings.  The sadness of facing life’s changes and our mortality.

 

We experience the way Paul lives with these realities; the sacredness of his acceptance.

 

Though not in control of what may happen, Paul chooses how he responds.

 

He gathers the elders, shares his story, lifts up how they served the Lord, changed lives, helped others.

 

Although Paul just wanted to go back and celebrate the holiday, he uses this moment to display such a raw and faithful way to embody divine acceptance and be at peace.

 

He says to the elders “Held by the Spirit, with no idea what will happen next, I am on my way.  I know it won’t be easy.  I hope that at the end, I can finish knowing I accomplished what Jesus asked me to do and testified to the Good News of God’s grace.”

 

After he speaks, they kneel, pray, embrace, kiss, grieve … and then they escort him to the ship that will take him away.

 

Wow…This moment from 2,000 years ago is so real that it feels as if it is happening right now, and we are there.

 

Paul is so aware of what may happen next.  No one changes the subject, ignores it, or tries to make people laugh.

 

They allow this moment to be.  They allow the sacredness of sadness.  They honor the holiness of Paul’s acceptance.

 

It is so beautiful.

 

Many of us know what it is like to have those moments; when things don’t go as planned.

 

What it’s like to miss home; wanting to go back but there is an issue beyond your control.

 

We know what it is like to battle with acceptance of things that we do not want or feel so unfair.

 

The acceptance that the job you dreamt of said “No.”  The acceptance of aging; that now you need glasses to read, a cane to walk.

 

Acceptance of when it is time to move from your house or move into a facility.

 

Paul could have run away from what awaited him; but running would have only added time and anxiety.

 

Instead, he accepted the journey he was on.  He stepped forward onto that boat. 

 

In his bravery, Paul was not alone.  The elders were there.  With tears in their eyes and prayer in their hearts.

 

In his bravery, Paul was not alone.  The might of Moses and Miriam were there as were the voices of Esther and Isaiah.

 

In his bravery, Paul was not alone.  The resurrected Christ was there, surrounding him with comfort and grace.

 

Sometimes life can feel so confusing, so melancholy, feelings we don’t often want to feel, and may try to ignore.

 

Yet they are worthy of being recognized.  These feelings can be sacred and are holy.

 

That’s why it is so good that we can gather, either online or in this space and be together.

 

Together, we get to be honest, we get to be strong.

 

We get to say that even when we feel melancholy, confused, or facing a reality we just don’t want to face, those feelings are sacred.

 

God is in the space with us.  The Holy Spirit is giving us the strength to face what is next. 

 

Jesus is reminding us that a life lived in him can never be a life that is without meaning.

 

For that, let us say “Amen.”

Divided Tongues; Different Voices; Acts 2:1-4

 

Rev. George Miller

June 8, 2025

Acts 2:1-4

 

Do you recall when we were in the original Garden, with God walking with us in the cool breeze of the afternoon?

 

Do you recall the evening we were with Abraham?  A lonely night under the stars when God offered this promise-

 

You will have a family, you will have land, and your family will bless all the families of the world.

 

Today, that promise is fulfilled.  After the experience of Christ, the Holy Spirit comes down upon the people.

 

Not only does this life-giving, transformational breath of God pour down, it pours upon all,

 

igniting an indescribable, magical experience in which numerous languages are spoken, and all voices heard.

 

The voices of scholars and vendors, disciples and the mission-doers, the new-to-town and the 8^th generation.

 

With fire, they speak and share and conversate, inspiring Peter to stand and give a sermon so enthusiastic, so alive.

 

Just as we celebrated our Graduates this morning, this moment is important.

 

It’s the birth of the church.

 

God’s promise to Abraham has come true this morning- all the families of the world are blessed through Abraham’s.

Now everyone- Greek, Celtic Gaul, Roman, Jew, Gentile, immigrants, women, warriors have access to that Heavenly Lego Set called “The Kingdom Of God.”

 

Heaven on Earth is here- and everyone has access to it.

 

Good, great news!  Right?

 

Right???

Maybe not. 

 

Because now, now the language one speaks, the language one ministers in, is no longer just one, but many.

 

Now the traditions, the way things have been done, what was acceptable, has changed-,

 

who now gets to be in leadership, who gets to make decisions, who gets to have a 3-year term has now changed.

 

Though history, tradition, and culture are to still be honored, it is no longer the history, tradition, or culture of the Jews, but all people.

 

The Gauls who worship by water.  The Greeks who eat cheese and exercise.  Romans who have a romance with war.

 

The descendants of Sarah and Abraham who see Sabbath, circumcision, and staying away from pork as sacred.

 

Sure- the Holy Spirit fell upon the people as divided tongues, as of fire, but now that every voice is heard, every voice gets to speak, everyone is included…Those divided tongues can cause….division.

 

We’ve been studying the letter to the Galatians, and heard firsthand how differences were causing division.

 

We experienced Paul trying his best to address those issues, bringing it all back to grace-  Through Jesus Christ we have been gifted grace.

 

How we respond to that grace and how we treat one another makes all the difference.

 

Sister and Brothers of St. Lucas, founded 145 years ago when we were very much a rural community-

 

isn’t it interesting and encouraging to know that the issues we have faced over time are similar to what the first church experienced?

 

Since we are a congregation with many people, voices, and many ideas, we are not a stagnant, mass-produced body.

 

We are a living, breathing body of Christ made up of many different members who speak/hear differently, bring their own unique passions, skills, and thoughts.

 

We could be another kind of church.  A church that teaches one way and one way only.

 

Or a place where folk are denied the holiest of meals.

 

Or Bible Studies about what you must believe instead of what God is still speaking.

 

Pentecost morning was about God’s blessed spirit falling upon everyone, regardless if they were devout or full of debauchery, if they were from Eastern Europe or West Asia.

 

Pentecost is God’s nighttime promise made to one man being known to all women and men in the light of day.

 

What this means is that any church, any body of Christ, any committee, or team of 2 and more will have different voices, different ideas, different ways of doing things.

 

And it all comes down to how we deal with it.

 

Do we create space for honest voices to say honest things?

 

Do we welcome previously unheard voices to speak up and be heard?

 

Do we honor those who disagree? 

 

Do we realize that decisions made to honor the majority may make some unhappy?

 

Do we accept that any time there is a new voice, a new idea, a new cultural insight-

 

there will be time, trial, and error involved?  And can we honor the process?

 

As recipients of grace, can we bestow grace and second chances to those who make very human mistakes?

 

Can we bestow grace upon ourselves, as it is often through honest mistakes and big swings that we learn our lessons?

 

Today is Pentecost.  It is great and it is wonderful; it is also messy, and loud, and different, and often difficult.

 

That is when we recall our traditions and remember who we are- the ancestors of Eve and Adam, who walked with God is the garden breeze.

 

We are children of Sarah and Abraham who were given the promise of family, land, and worldwide blessing.

 

We are the co-disciples of Mary Magdelene and Peter who served alongside Jesus.

 

We are recipients of Paul’s emotional letters, reminding us repeatedly of the grace given through Jesus.

 

Let’s embrace our different voices, embrace our sacred past, and embrace the global grace that God has given.

 

For that, let us say “Amen.”

LEGOS and Grace; Galatians 3:1-9

 

Rev. George Miller

June 1, 2025

Galatians 3:1-9

 

Today, we continue our study of Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia.  This is the letter that features the poetic lines-

 

“There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male or female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)

 

Why did Paul write this?  What was happening in Galatia and who were the people he was writing too?

 

But first, let us utilize our imagination- Imagine that during our Lego Workday extravaganza, someone comes in offering you a beautiful masterpiece of a fully constructed Lego Set titled “Heaven On Earth.”

 

This set has everything- flower beds of tulips, rolling hills of trees, bird feeders with robins.

 

There’s a miniature version of Federhofer’s with its iconic sign, a teeny tiny Kendrick’s Meat Market, and Bagel Boys.

 

A green field of folk holding flags and a Victory Garden filled with produce.

 

Imagine being given this free, fully constructed, ready to enjoy Lego set...and someone comes up and says-

 

“Nope, nunca, nein.  You can’t have this.  If you want this Lego set you must assemble it yourself, following directions exactly as written.”

 

“You must also cut off a part of your skin and from now on, no more pork steak at Helen Fitzgerald’s or shrimp scampi at Sunset Country Club.”

 

That’s why Paul is writing this letter.  The Galatian church is being held captive by a fraction of people who are saying “If you want to follow Christ you must work for it.”

 

Paul’s response is “Work for it?  You don’t even follow the basic instructions!  Why are you denying people the gift of God’s grace?”

 

Galatia was an agricultural community on a trade route that ran east to west, with many markets, places of worship, and mix of cultures.

 

It is a Greek speaking city with a Roman presence.  Some citizens are Jewish families displaced during the Diaspora.  Others are Greek settlers known for trade and art.

 

Many are Celtic mercenaries of German, Belgium, British Isles, and French descent with a deep mysticism and fierce loyalty to family and tribe.

 

Imagine what this town and people looked like.

 

Romans soldiers with wavy or straight black/brown hair, olive or light brown skin, deep set almond eyes, jawlines that cut glass, standing about 5 foot 6 with clean shaven faces.

 

Jewish citizens with similar skin tone, thicker hair.  Five foot 5, with beards of all styles and full eyebrows.

 

Greeks with wavey, curly hair, light olive/tan skin, hazel or brown eyes, with lean builds and short, manicured beards.

 

Gauls with fair skin; eyes that are blue, gray, green, hazel, and brown; hair that’s blonde and auburn; rugged beards,  broad shoulders , muscular frames;  5 foot 8.

 

Imagine the food.  Romans, reclining on couches, eating porridge with roasted pork, olives, and fermented fish.

 

Greeks, sitting around  low tables, sipping watered down wine, eating flatbread with grilled fish, fresh figs, and cheese.

 

Their Jewish neighbors, sitting cross-legged on mats, having matzah served with a lamb-stew filled with lentils.

 

The Gauls on wooden stools and benches, with an iron cauldron of boiled pork and cabbage, enjoying horns of ale and honey mead.

 

Imagine what a potluck in this Galatian church looked like!

 

Imagine all the gods and places of worship.

 

The Romans worshipped Mars, Minerva, and the Emperor.  The Greeks had temples and gymnasiums to worship Zeus and Aphrodite.

 

The Gauls met in groves, by rivers, with animal sacrifices to Epona and Belisma.

 

The Jewish people are in synagogues, worshipping Yahweh- the God of Israel, who delivered their ancestors from oppression and injustice, in which meals were sacred.

 

In other words, no matter what Lego you liked best, there was a set for you in Galatia. 

 

These people of diverse backgrounds are coming together in house churches to have a meal, sing songs, praise God, share their experiences of Christ, break bread and have Communion.

 

But here is the conundrum- how do all these people come together and be a unified body that follows Jesus Christ, sharing the message of grace, and transforming lives?

 

What part of their selves and family tradition do they give up?  What do they hold onto? 

 

What are the rules?  What are the steps?  What are the foods they can or can’t enjoy?

 

Do they all need to stop working on Saturday?  Be lobster free?  Have their sons circumcised?

 

Can the Romans continue to recline on the couch enjoying fermented fish?  Can the Greeks sit at their low tables having meat and cheese? 

 

Can the Gauls still gather around the cauldron to enjoy pork with a large side of ale?

 

How can the Jews enjoy trivia night if they can’t eat White Castle cheeseburgers and pork filled toasted ravioli?

 

To which Paul says “Guess what- you can have your “jamon” and your Jesus too.  You can have your gizzards and still receive grace.”

 

In this Galatian church filled with folks who are 5’4” to 5”9”, with eyes blue to brown, hair red to wavy black, and bodies that run from slender to brickhouse, Paul says-

 

“Everyone is worthy of receiving the Spirit.  All of you are justified through faith in Jesus Christ.”

 

“You don’t have to turn your back on your heritage or work tirelessly doing many tasks.”

 

“You only need a heart that’s ready to receive this Lego Set that Jesus is gifting you.”

 

Paul is saying  “If you choose to be Kosher or circumcised, do it because it’s your choice.  Don’t take Lego sets from others, telling them to assemble it with instructions you don’t even follow.”

 

Knowing the history of the Galatian church, we appreciate it more when Paul writes-

 

“There is no longer Jew or Greek, no longer slave or free, no longer male or female; for all of you are one in Christ.”

 

This was the reality in which the Galatian town lived, and people experienced daily.

 

What all of this means is this-

 

No matter who we are, where we are from, or how we lived, Jesus is standing beside each of us, offering a fully formed, already assembled Lego set.

 

Christ is right beside us, knowing our ancestry, knowing the traditions we come from, the foods we like, the rules we set for ourselves.

 

And Christ is saying “Here, this is for you.  Accept this fully assembled “Heaven On Earth” LEGO set and enjoy it.”

 

Are you ready to receive it?  And are you generous enough to let others accept it too?

 

With these questions, we say “Amen.”