What Are You Wearing?

 (The following was produced for a video recorded service to be presented on Sunday, August 16, 2020, during the time of coronavirus epidemic. On-Site worship at Trinity UMC-Lenoir City was suspended as of March 16, 2020 and is scheduled to resume, September 13, 2020. The link is https://youtu.be/41w70wKCI_c)

Introduction:

By now, you may be wondering why I showed up to lead worship in my housecoat, or as may grandmother would have called it, my duster. Well, if I was sitting at home watching this service on YouTube, as you are doing, this might be how I would be dressed. And I might have a cup of coffee at hand. Maybe I would have recently come in from the garden and be in my grubby garden clothes with a cold glass of iced tea. Later in the service, I want to talk to you on the topic “What are you wearing.”

But now, let me call us to Worship.

Call to worship:

Our call to worship this morning is a call to unity from Psalm 133, Common English Bible

1 Look at how good and pleasing it is when families live together as one! 2 It is like expensive oil poured over the head, running down onto the beard— Aaron's beard!— which extended over the collar of his robes. 3 It is like the dew on Mount Hermon streaming down onto the mountains of Zion, because it is there that the LORD has commanded the blessing: everlasting life. AMEN

Morning Prayer:

This Psalm is a song of praise for the blessings of families living together in unity. We extend that to our church family as we lift up one another in prayer. During our time of prayer, this morning, I ask that you spend a few minutes reflecting on those people and situations which have touched your heart this week, and think on those moments that have brought you joy. You may want to pause the recording here and take as much time as you like for reflection.

Together, we certainly want to remember Pastor Kristie as she recovers and regains her strength and Eric who is tasked with caring for her. Let us also remember Sarah Smith and others who are dealing with illness or recovery. Judy Smith has suffered a fall and we pray for her rapid recovery from spinal compression fractures. Mrs. Florence Evans passed away peacefully Thursday night. Her grandsons were with her. She was a cradle roll member of Trinity and was a faithful member for her entire life – 101 years! Thanks be to God!

Our students and teachers have been in school for a week now, and we pray for their safety. We hope that when the situation permits, we might organize a cookie day for our teachers to let them know how much we appreciate them.

Let us pray:

Gracious God, maker of heaven and earth, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, bring us together in the unity of your inclusive love, even as we worship and pray physically separated from one another. You know that we long for the communion of kindred spirits that we find when we come together in one accord to worship you. We miss the little things, like hugs and handshakes, like the bulletin with our order of worship and scripture reference and prayer list. We miss singing together...our greatest of joys! And we miss the glory of the organ and piano and choir lifting our hearts and souls to you. But yet, here we are, each in our own way, offering you praise and thanksgiving for the mighty blessings we have received. We thank you for your faithful presence in our lives, giving comfort when we grieve and hope when we suffer. We especially lift to you our own Pastor Kristie, that she may quickly heal and return to us; Sarah, Judy and others who need your healing touch today; the Harris family, the family of Mrs. Florence and all those that we have each individually named in our heart's prayer.

Even in this time of trial, there is much to be thankful for. We are surrounded by nature's beauty and bounty. We have enough to eat, and more. We have secure shelter from the heat and rain. We have friends and family to love. We have a church community that cares. Lord, we ask protection and provision for those who don't have the blessing of these basic provisions.

We pray also, Gracious Lord, for wisdom in our community, as our leaders, from local to state to national cope with this awful illness that has crippled our economy and caused so much hardship, suffering, and even death. Grant us the courage to always do the right thing, that is the thing that promotes unity and love among our neighbors. And as we pray the prayer the Jesus taught us, may we remember that we are asking that your kingdom come on earth, as it is in heaven, a kingdom in which love rules. Please pray with me:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. An lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever, AMEN.

Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:1-17

Therefore, if you were raised with Christ, look for the things that are above where Christ is sitting at God's right side. Think about the things above and not things on earth. You died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory. So put to death the parts of your life that belong to the earth, such as sexual immorality, moral corruption, lust, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). The wrath of God is coming upon disobedient people because of these things. You used to live this way, when you were alive to these things. But now set aside these things, such as anger, rage, malice, slander, and obscene language. Don't lie to each other. Take off the old human nature with its practices and put on the new nature, which is renewed in knowledge by conforming to the image of the one who created it. In this image there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all things and in all people. Therefore, as God's choice, holy and loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Be tolerant with each other and, if someone has a complaint against anyone, forgive each other. As the Lord forgave you, so also forgive each other. And over all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. The peace of Christ must control your hearts—a peace into which you were called in one body. And be thankful people. The word of Christ must live in you richly. Teach and warn each other with all wisdom by singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing to God with gratitude in your hearts. Whatever you do, whether in speech or action, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus and give thanks to God the Father through him.

Morning Message: “What are you wearing?”

Do I look more appropriate for church now? I have to confess, when Pastor Kristie informed me several weeks ago about her possible surgery that would require her to be out for a couple of weeks, my first thought was not “what will I say.” My first thought was “what will I wear!” By yesterday, I still hadn't decided. That's pretty superficial, I admit. But maybe you understand my reaction. What we wear tells a non-verbal story about us, before we say a word. It is the outer covering that reveals something about our inner state of being. Like those people who show up at Walmart in their pajamas, or less. What are they thinking? If you are a Facebooker, you've seen the pictures, mocking and shaming “those people.” Or the old Saturday Night Live bits about the “Church Lady.” A central part of the gag was the way the “Church Lady” dressed, with her prim hat and handbag clutched in the crook of her arm. If in Walmart you should see a man dressed in a suit and tie, or a woman in spike heels, you would assume them to be running an errand on their lunch hour or after work. The man wearing jeans and a not-so-clean t-shirt might be a laborer. We make all sorts of judgements based on nothing more than the clothes a person is wearing or how they are wearing them.

Another way we express this idea is to talk about the various “hats” that we wear. My favorite is the “Nana” hat. I used to wear the “teacher” hat. That one had a particular dress code, too. We put on our professional clothes, our casual clothes (retired casual I now call it), our work-around-the-house clothes, our going-to-the-lake clothes, our church clothes. I would never dream of wearing my gardening hat to church, no matter how casual the event might be. And most importantly, we put on our “game-day” clothes, whether we are going to the game or not. That signifies your allegiance to the team. And the team players, no matter which sport, all wear the team uniform. What we show to the world says something about who we are and where our allegiance lies.

Paul's words to the early Christians, of course, had nothing to do with garments. He was reminding them of the characteristics that they put on to show themselves to be followers of Christ – on the team, if you will.

He reminds them, and us, that when we put on the mantle of Christianity, when we become a follower of Jesus, our standard of behavior has changed. We have left behind earthy vices such as lust and greed. He reminds us to “set aside things such as anger, rage, malice, slander and obscene language. Don't lie,” he says. I'm sure he is not suggesting that we should merely hide or cover up these things, or put them in closet somewhere, bring them out only among family or in private. His message is much deeper. We are to “take off the old human nature with its practices;” to completely let go of them; to “put to death” those negativities that separate us from God's love.

Taking off negative practices, thoughts and actions, is NOT as easy as changing clothes. But it is not impossible. Behavioral science tells us that we CAN change the way we feel by changing our behavior. Changing behavior is much more straight forward than changing deep seated feelings or attitudes. Changing behavior starts with recognizing and owning up to negative practices. Again, not easy, but not impossible. Acknowledging what needs to change is always step one in bringing about change.

Sometimes we hold on to negative practices because we don't know what the alternative is, or we Know but haven't placed a high value the alternative. Our next step is to define the new actions that will replace the old. Paul does that for us. He clearly defines the new nature of a Jesus-follower. “Therefore, as God's chosen, holy and loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Paul certainly did not intend “put on” in the sense of putting on a false front, putting on a good face etc. In my grandmothers lexicon, to “put on” was to be phony or inauthentic. I am no scholar of Greek, but I'm sure he did not intend to suggest that we put on a counterfeit form of holiness, or simply comply with external rules. He encourages us to “put on” the characteristics, that is to appropriate and incorporate them to ourselves, not for show, but to reflect our new nature as a Jesus-follower.

These are characteristics that we choose because we have chosen to be a Jesus-followers. These characteristics are the “team colors” of true Christian living: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” We choose them, present tense, because it is not a one and done thing. We must keep choosing every day. Paul goes on to say “Be tolerant with each other; forgive each other as we have been forgiven,” echoing the words of our Lord's Prayer.

Now much of our competitive American culture would lead us to believe that these are characteristics of weakness. That compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, tolerance and forgiveness won't help us get ahead in our world. But I say that Jesus turned upside-down that way of thinking. These characteristics represent the “new nature” in which Love and Unity rein. “And over all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.” Love is the overcoat, which bonds and binds us together. Better yet, love is the blanket that we wrap our our collective body. Love is also the motivator that will enable us to do the hard work, to take off the old clothes, the old nature of negativity, and put on the new clothes, the new nature in Christ.

If we make being a Jesus-follower the top priority in our life, then this new nature will seem natural. It doesn't happen instantly, but begins as we open our hearts to the possibility It develops as we grow in knowledge and spirit. It happens as we acknowledge all people as our kinfolks, our brothers and sisters in God's eye. It happens when Love is uppermost. The greatest commandment, Jesus affirmed, is to Love God and Love others as we love ourselves.

In one way or another, our inner being shows through on the outside. Some are better at hiding it or putting on a good face than others, but in the end, it shows. We all wear our heart on our sleeve as the expression goes. What is your heart? What do other people seeing on your sleeve? I pray that it is God's Love shining through with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Before I finish the theme of “What are you wearing” I want talk about our new and necessary apparel accessory – the face mask. Wearing a mask in public is important for my health and yours. Wearing a mask lets others know that you care about their well-being as much as your own, that you are willing to suffer a minor inconvenience for the greater good. It is an act consistent with our new nature in Christ. A mask cannot guarantee your protection from illness, but it surely can reduce your odds of getting sick, and even more-so, it greatly reduces the chance that you might unintentionally spread illness to someone who is very vulnerable and will suffer serious consequences. If possible, use a multi-layer cloth mask for maximum effect and to reduce the waste of disposables. We hope and pray that we will be able to gather in person for worship on September 13. On that day we will all wear masks while on the premises to protect one another. Without that protection, we can't safely gather. In the meantime, wear your masks, look out for one another and wear your Love on your sleeve for all to see.

Sisters and Brothers, Go now in peace, to love and serve, as Jesus would have you do, wearing his Love for all to see. AMEN.