Life Together in Grace

This is the message preached for the 25th anniversary celebration. To hear the sermon (which is different than reading the manuscript), watch the video, starting with the gospel reading, the children’s message (This is the Church), and the sermon: Worship 9/15/2024

The church is the people.

Did you hear that at the end of the story?

It's such a profound statement — because often, when we are coming to Grace —or another community of faith — for worship, fellowship, Bible studies or Christian education, or to serve in a ministry like the Garden of Grace, we say, "I'm going to church."

And it is true that a church is a building, a place for our shared life together in Christ as God's people.

Church is where we come to hear God's promises, to experience God's forgiveness and mercy. To receive the bread and wine of Holy Communion. To pray, to worship, to share the joys and challenges of our lives with each other. To encounter Christ's presence.

Like it says over the door to our sanctuary "Wherever 2 or 3 are gathered in my name, there I am among you."

And, as we heard in the story, the church truly is the people — the assembly of believers — all of you who are and who have been gathered here in this place — to be the church together.

Today, as we celebrate 25 years since the signing of the charter that recognized Grace Lutheran Church as a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, it is so good and fitting to remember and reflect on the story of Grace.

How God called forth a new thing here in Adel through beloved people who wondered and imagined and listened. AND how God continues to sow seeds here, bringing new growth.

I've heard some of the stories — I do love to hear about the early days of Grace.

Those first few years... even before the charter was signed.

The doors knocked. The invitations extended to neighbors and strangers, friends and family. Pastor Lesher and his witness to everyone he met, including an encounter with a golden retriever, so that people would know about — and feel welcome at — Grace.

The land purchased. In 1997, in a photo dated October 26, members are planting a sign on this site — during a snowstorm no less. Pastor Lesher said that "all 30 present chose to face the elements to share this joyful moment of new beginnings."

The early years of being a church on the move, literally, because everything was in a trailer and needed to be transported, setup, taken down, and stored again for every worship service.  Funny thing is ... it sounds like so much work, and yet people share those memories with such fondness and love of how everyone came together to serve and grow as Grace.

Beloved people who are the church.

And still, God continued to call forth a new thing.

After meeting in a bar, the community room, and the high school, the people of Grace dreamed of their own sacred space to share the faith, where all would be welcome to learn and grow. And in 2005, built this beautiful building.

God kept sowing seeds.

And people showed up. And some didn't. Some folks have been here since the first idea of Grace. Some were with Grace for a season or more, and have moved on.  Some are new today. And some are beloved saints who now rest in the peace of God.

We love to share and hear all your stories of the people who have been part of Grace over the years. Like the messages we received and the letter from Pastor Ronald Myers — examples of seed scattering and gospel sowing!

Of how Grace became, AND how Grace is still becoming.

Still becoming.

So ... while we can celebrate and rejoice in the past 25 years, we can't rest there.

Because God keeps doing what God does.

Sowing the seeds of God's love, mercy, compassion, forgiveness, and grace, AND Bringing forth new life.

In the reading today from Isaiah (43:16-21), God says, "I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?"

God keeps calling us to imagine and discover together the new things God is doing here — in and through and for Grace — and in the world, and in us.

God invites us to use all our gifts, with our hands and feet, and our eyes, ears, minds, and hearts open, so that we and all people can hear and know of God's abundant, irrepressible, extravagant love in Christ Jesus for all.

And yet .... sometimes it is hard for us to do that.

To hear God's word, to trust God's love, and then to share it with others.

Like in the parable... and the soils (Mark 4:1-10, 13-20), which could describe the different times and situations we experience in our lives.

All of us — all people — experience challenges, hardships, temptation, or just getting "life'ed" — when the unpredictable and random stuff of life — happens to us.

Times in our lives when the journey feels hard — like the path — and we feel open, exposed, and vulnerable.

Times that are rocky, where there are obstacles at every turn, or our reserves are shallow or depleted.

Difficult and thorny times when we are overwhelmed with the busyness or troubles of life and can't seem to catch our breath.

And there are times when we are full of joy and hope and growth.

That's just part of being human. And being the church.

Sometimes we show up. And sometimes we don't. Sometimes life and other stuff gets in the way. And that's okay.

And still God keeps doing what God does.

Because no matter how "life'd" we get — no matter where we are or who we are —God the sower comes to us again and again and again, sowing the seeds of God's words, God's infinite grace and love and new life in Christ.

As God's beloved people, as the body of Christ, and as the church, we keep hearing and receiving and sharing with each other — and all the people — the love and grace of God that is for you and for all.

And I am ever so grateful to be here serving among you and alongside you in our shared life together in Christ. To hear and share our stories. To see and experience and wonder and imagine and dream where God is calling us to next.

To be this church who is the people of Grace. Thanks be to God!