Heaven Is Our Heritage; 1 Kings 21:1-8

 

Rev. George Miller

June 30, 2024

1 Kings 21:1-8

 

“La ciel est notre heritage.”

(La see-el  ehh  note ear rit aahg)

 

“El Cielo es nuestra herencia.”

 

Heaven IS our heritage.

 

Here we are- the last sermon to be shared by me at this pulpit, preaching from a scripture that was selected by someone 1-2 years ago for Stump The Pastor Sunday.

 

When reading this passage, the initial reaction was “What?  No way.  We’re not, going out on that!”

 

But as we have learned, we are often at our best when we face the unfaceable and find Christ’s comfort in the uncomfortable.

 

There is a lot of comfort to find in this reading, as it is an allusion to Heaven, God’s Heaven.

 

How Heaven is our inheritance, and it is not for sale no matter how much the world tries to take it, steal it, or make us think otherwise.

 

God’s Heaven is for ALL people.

 

It is beautiful when we realize Heaven is our inheritance, our herencia, and we live as if that is so.

 

The topic of Heaven has a personal back story.

 

One day, Ari asked a question.

 

“Pastor, I notice you don’t preach about Heaven; is there a reason?”

 

Anyone who’s been here for some time knows the answer-

 

I don’t so much see Heaven as a place we go after we die; I see Heaven as the presence of God in the here and now.

 

My belief is that we experience heaven, here, on earth any time we humbly follow the way of Jesus do justice, love kindness.

 

But for Ari there is no doubt that Heaven is also a holy destination we arrive at after the end of days.

 

Ari’s question has forever shaped my ministry, liturgy, and writing of the weekly message.

 

And Ari’s question has made me a better pastor, preacher, teacher.

 

So, it is fitting, that today’s reading is about Heaven, and a person who refuses to give up his Heavenly inheritance.

 

Today’s story is set in a warm vacation town.  It’s the place King Ahab likes to go when things get chilly. 

 

Next to King Ahab’s winter home is the vineyard of Naboth.

 

It’s a family vineyard, a plot of rich land and ripe grapes that has belonged to Naboth’s ancestors since they arrived in Israel.

 

Back then, people understood that the land was a gift from God and that their job was to care for it, respect it, nurture it.

 

But the King forgets this part of his faith.  He forgets that this land is Naboth’s legacy.

 

The King does not care that these grapes are Naboth’s inheritance, planted by his mother, his abuela, his tios, and great-grandfathers.

 

The king does not care about Naboth’s vineyard. 

 

All he cares about is a chance to grow himself a garden.

 

He wants to take Naboth’s inheritance so he can grow lettuce and radishes, things that are fast and easy to grow.

 

But Naboth says “No.”, because he understands.

 

“Nope, nunca, non.  This piece of land has been trusted to my family; God forbid we sell it.”

 

Naboth says to King Ahab “This land is our Heavenly Inheritance, belonging to God…

 

and Heaven is not for sale, and you cannot take my joy.”

 

This is a testimony that even when the world wants to take away what God has given,

 

we have the right to say “No” to them, and “Yes” to God.

 

This is a reminder that the Inheritance of Heaven is not to be easily destroyed, given up, and turned into easy avenues.

 

What an absolutely beautiful, powerful message to share today.

 

Here at Emmanuel we have worked so hard and faithfully to honor our heavenly inheritance.

 

We have co-created a vineyard with God that makes Heaven known right here, right now on earth.

 

The vineyard we have here at Emmanuel is spectacular.

 

The grapes we’ve grown together are unique and delicious.

 

The vineyard of our Bible Studies where you have watered and enriched the soil of every, single thing that has been preached, taught, and done.

 

Heaven.

 

The vineyard of our Missions, which took years to plan, plant, water, grow, with pruning, staking, reimagining.

 

How The Shepherd’s Pantry took root and produced grapes, growing to be a vineyard that includes Boys and Girls Club, and so many others.

 

Heaven.

 

The vineyard of our music program, always evolving- 

 

Handbells, organ, violin, solos, drums, choir, songs specifically written for us, songs in English, Spanish, French, Creole.

 

Heaven.

 

The vineyard of our presence.  Emmanuel’s vines have shown up, spoke out, be present, partner, hold vigils, peace walks and memorials, traveling down to Biloxi and reaching out across the ocean to Cuba, Haiti, and Somalia.

 

Heaven.

 

The Garden of Hope vineyard, rooting a relationship with Ridge Area ARC in which people living with developmental disabilities are seen and respected.

 

Heaven.

 

The vineyard of Emmanuel UCC has found a way to intertwine with the vineyard of Ridge Area SDA in Avon Park.

 

A church started in part by my best friend’s mother, Ruby, blessed by Carnide’s presence,

 

How Ridge has welcomed me, us, worshipped with us, sung with us, influenced us with Sabbath rest and healthy living.

 

Heaven.

 

The vineyard of Emmanuel UCC is vast and fruitful, life giving and with great meaning.

 

The vineyard of Emmanuel is diverse with grapes that are white and black, grapes of other varieties, identities, orientations. 

 

How is it that this vineyard of Emmanuel has been able to contain Grapes that are local, northern, and foreign, grapes that speak French, Spanish, Filipino, Dutch, English?

 

It's because that’s what holding onto Heaven’s Inheritance does.

 

The vineyard of Emmanuel UCC, planted in 1990, is indeed Heaven here on Earth, from our Hospitality to our meals.

 

How our kitchen and Fellowship Hall is used to not only feed us, but to serve the hungry and those seeking human connection.

 

Like Naboth, we say to the world that our Heavenly Inheritance is not to be randomly given away.

 

Our vineyard, God’s vineyard, is to be cared for, tended to, shared, following the ways of Jesus and watered by the Holy Spirit.

 

There is no doubt, no doubt at all that here at Emmanuel, a piece of Heaven is right here, right now.

 

It is our inheritance.  We are so fortunate to have played a part.

 

We are so fortunate to be amongst the vines, the grapes,

 

the blessings, the time,

 

the ancestors,

 

and all those yet to be.

 

“La ciel est notre heritage.”

(La see-el  ehh  note ear rit aahg)

 

“El Cielo es nuestra herencia.”

 

Heaven IS our heritage.

 

Emmanuel UCC is our heritage.

 

For that, let us say “Amen.”

Seeing the Unexpected; Ruth 2:8-13

 

Rev. George Miller

June 23, 2024

Ruth 2:8-13

 

The story of American music is one that is rooted in adventure and new beginnings.

 

The story of American music is rooted in tragedy and drudgery, slavery and brutality.

 

American music came from people who left their homes, were pushed out of their homes, and stolen from their homes.

 

American music is the very essence of what it means to be a traveler, a survivor, and an over-comer of great odds.

 

No wonder the world has been in love with American music for so long, for the sounds of the USA are the sounds of the people.

 

A brief bit of musicology- the music that’s enriched America is from three groups of folk- the Irish immigrants, the enslaved Yoruba people, and the original inhabitants of the land.

 

In the 1600’s enslaved people from Africa were forced to work the tobacco fields in Virginia.

 

A century later, a wave of Irish immigrants arrived, making their way to the Appalacha Mountains.

 

Those from Africa and Ireland lived in close proximity to one another, along with the Indigenous people of America.

 

 A unique blending of these three “tribes” occurred.

 

They began gathering after work, under the moon and stars. 

 

They began to play their songs; they began to share the music from their ancestors.

 

The Irish brought their fiddles and their jigs, those from Africa brought their banjos and backbeats, the Indigenous had their percussion and patterns.

 

Together, they would play, and sing, dance and sob, and share. 

 

Overtime those from Cuba, Haiti, Brazil would become part of this complex community and there was the additions of rhythms, patterns, punctuated equilibrium.

 

There, in the mountains of Appalachia, this mix of Latin, European, African, Caribbean, Native American would play what their hearts felt, using drums, rattles, wood scraped over the jaw of a dead horse.

 

A symbiosis of sounds and stories, sadness and joy, strength and spirituality composed by people for which the notion of “home” was very complex.

 

From the Native American, African, and Irish came the roots of rock and roll, country, gospel, bluegrass, Elvis, Mahalia, “Amazing Grace,” Beyonce.

 

Over time the British brought the Beatles, the Philippines brought Bruno Mars, Cuba brought Celia Cruz, Haiti brought The Fugees,

 

and the world can’t get enough of what was started by a group of folk who simply began by sitting at the fire and playing music.

 

As Emmanuel UCC, we are musical children of those Appalachia ancestors, as almost every song, every beat, every note, can be traced back to them.

 

We share this because today is our Percussive Worship service.

 

We share this because today we celebrate Juneteenth, when all the enslaved people were set free.

 

Today we have a cornerstone story about the roots and seeds of our faith.

 

It is the story of Ruth; the great-grandmother of King David, and one of the five women mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus.

 

It is also the story of an immigrant; it is the story of the unexpected and overlooked.

 

A perfect story for us as we prepare to have our narratives changed with my wandering to Missouri, and your search for your next shepherd.

 

There are lessons to hear and to gather from Ruth, such as

 

-you never know who God is going to send your way,

 

-how God is going to work, or

 

-how situations of strife can sometimes be that which brings about success and salvation.

 

We also learn the importance of seeing what is unseen.

 

Today’s scripture takes place in Bethlehem.  Ruth is a widow.  She has lost both her husband, her father-in-law and brother-in-law, and she has no son.

 

She has decisided to travel to Bethlehem to be with her mother-in-law, Naomi.

 

Currently, Ruth is vulnerable.  No man, no job, no guarantee. 

 

Like many immigrants, she first turns to physical labor.

 

She goes out to the fields, she’s in the hot sun, she’s in threat of danger and abuse.

 

She is a foreigner, which in Hebrew, has its roots it the word “to take notice and to recognize.” 

 

But to be a foreigner means the opposite- it means you are not recognizable you are not known.

 

Which in a small town can mean two things-

 

That you are both ignored while also standing out as not being “one of us.”

 

But something happens. 

 

Though Ruth is among the immigrant people who are deemed “unrecognizable,” she indeed ends up being “seen.”

 

The man who “sees” her is a man named Boaz. 

 

He is a man of righteousness and understanding, a person who understands the true nature of God’s law.

 

He reaches out to her.  He offers her an opportunity, he extends to her safety and security, he provides for her basic needs.

 

He does something else.  He engages her in conversation.

 

At a time when society considered women as “less than,” he treated her as worthy of conversation.

 

At a time when strangers were to be silent, he invited her voice.

 

At a moment when foreign folk were categorized as unrecognizable, not only did he see her…

 

…but it turns out that he had heard all about her.

 

Boaz says to Ruth, a non-jew, with no man, no son, no property, no job, no record deal-

 

“I have heard about you; WE have all heard about you. 

 

How you somehow, someway left everything you had behind, and how you have been just, kind, and humble in regard to Naomi.”

 

Then Boaz says to this non-Jew,  non-native woman with nothing to her name-

 

 “May the Lord of Israel reward you and cover you with God’s wings of refuge.”

 

And Ruth, being the bad mamajamma she is says-

 

“May I continue to find favor in you.  You have spoken to me as if you see me, know me and care about me.”

 

As a result, Ruth becomes a vital part of the religious community and brings forth new life into the Family of God.

 

In other words, Ruth brings her own melody, her own instrument.

 

Ruth brings her own rhythm, her own song into the people of God.

 

And the music of Israel will never be the same.

 

People of Emmanuel, today is a reminder that we are more than just our individual selves.

 

We are more than our own experience, our own story, our own likes.

 

We, as Emmanuel, exist because we are a people who have come from all places, all backgrounds,

 

all stories, all adventures, all heart breaks, all triumphs, to make up who we are.

 

We are more than the Pastor, we are more than the Moderator,

 

we are more than musicians, we are more than then the kitchen, we are more than the property, we are more than the missions.

 

We are made up of all these things, and so much much more.

 

We never know who is going to come our way, we never know who is going to bless us.

 

We never know who we are going to see or who we are going to engage with.

 

As we embark on this chapter in our story, lets us continue to keep an open eye, an open ear, an open heart to who God is leading our way.

 

For there is no doubt that God is with us.  There is no doubt that God is directing us. 

 

There is no doubt that there are going to be many more songs to sing and fields to glean and orchards to plant.

 

May we, as children of God, continue to see as God sees,

 

to walk as Jesus walked

 

and to welcome the Spirit like a guiding drum.

 

Amen and amen.

God's Armor; Christ's Strength- Sermon on Ephesians 6:12-17

 

Rev. George Miller

June 16, 2024

Ephesians 6:12-17

 

We continue studying Scriptures that folk submitted for previous Stump The Pastor Sundays.

 

Whoever suggested this one- bravo- this is a scripture that I’ve purposely avoided because of a memory from Michigan.

 

Years ago, I was at a Christian store.  Amongst the books and Bibles, was a children’s display based on Ephesians, with plastic shoes and shields to dress up in.

 

There was a parent with a very young son putting each of these items on him, narrating-

 

“This is the breast plate of righteous; this is the helmet of salvation,” as they attached each piece upon him.

 

“This is the sword of the Spirit,” they said, placing a golden weapon within the child’s hand.

 

For me, it felt icky. 

 

Though the parent thought they were inspiring, kids usually think concretely, so it’s likely their son did not get the symbolism.

 

Was this a moment of a pure soul being turned into someone who could be a violent threat in the name of Jesus?

 

Is there a chance this child grew up thinking their Christian duty is to attack anyone they see as evil, unholy, or of the devil?

 

That’s the complexity of Scripture.  Sometimes what the author intends is not what we interpret or want to hear.

 

What can be uncomfortable for one can be inspiring for another; what seems foreign to me could be completely natural to you.

 

And, depending on the situation, being able to adorn oneself with a sword may be the difference between life and death.

 

So let’s discern this together. 

 

This is a letter attributed to Paul at a time when he was incarcerated, unable to meet with folk.

 

The author crafts a letter meant to show how God is bringing us together via Christ.

 

This letter is set at a time when the faith is still new, the memory of the Crucifixion is fresh, and Roman soldiers march along the streets on a daily basis.

 

So for those receiving this letter, they don’t need to go to a store to try on plastic swords and shields, these things are very real.

 

They live at a time in which their faith is misunderstood, maligned, and they truly are the minority.

 

It makes sense that the author wants to empower them to gird up their strength.

 

This is not faith in a vacuum. 

 

It is faith situated in herstory and history, when the devil could be in the form of local authorities, folks claiming they are holier-than-thou, who do wish harm.

 

Like Paul in Acts 27, when folks were sure the ship was about to sink, the author is saying “Don’t stop, don’t quit, don’t give up.”

 

This is the author saying “God’s got you so keep up your courage-

 

God’s armor covers you.  Fasten your belt, slip on your shoes so you can face what needs to be faced and you can walk the walk that Jesus talked.”

 

There are many ways this reading can and has been used.

 

We can think of when local leaders used their swords to judge, cut, threaten, and shame.

 

There was a guest preacher in Sebring a few months ago who is known for preaching death to certain people.

 

We cringe to hear how he’d give today’s message and who he’d define as unholy or of the devil.

 

We can think of Haiti, ravaged by gang members who worship dark spirits and use their faith to harm and hurt.

 

It’s possible that for our Christian Sisters and Brothers in Haiti, the call to take up heavenly armor to withstand evil is not an esoteric exercise, but a very real thing.

 

For some in Haiti, standing firm, fastening belts in preparation for a fight, slipping on shoes to speak on salvation is not an exercise in evangelism, but real.

 

There may be some in which the sword they hold is not plastic, or imitation gold, but a weapon they will use to protect their family.

 

So Ephesians 6 could be the very thing that is giving them strength, comfort and assurance.

 

We can think of us, Emmanuel UCC, doing what others said should not be done.

 

Calling a female pastor.  Having worship in three languages.  Becoming Open and Affirming. 

 

Standing in solidarity with the Students of Parkland, feeding people regardless if they are citizen or immigrant, legal or refugee, in need or just greedy.

 

What we do, what we have done, has not always been easy, otherwise we would not have been among the few doing it.

 

What we do and what we will do, has required courage, planning, and determination.

 

We have indeed been adorned in the breastplate of righteousness.

 

We have been dressed in shoes taking us from the sanctuary to the streets, from the parking lot to the food market.

 

We have had a sword, based in the Word of God, the words of Micah, and affirmed by the teachings of Jesus Christ.

 

Instead of using that sword to harm and hurt, we’ve used it to care and speak up for others,

 

to cut through things that have held people back and hurt them.

 

In the past this scripture has been an ick factor for me, but today it is a testimony that we are way stronger than we realize and more with God than we imagine.

 

Jesus calls us to be strong and find strength in his power. 

 

Today’s reading says to stand against that which is not heavenly.

 

For our struggles are often against that which seems dark, that which seems scary.

 

So keep up your courage.  Prepare for whatever is ahead.

 

Know that when we are scared, when we are confused, when we feel helpless or hopeless,

 

the word of God can give us strength, give us light, and give us hope.

 

For that, let us say “Amen.”