1Peter 3:8-11

 Barack Obama gave a speech in Wisconsin last week and spoke about the effects of violence. He compared our attempts to build families and communities to a man painstakingly and sometimes clumsily wrapping his loved ones in a cloth. And how violence tears at that cloth and removes its protection.

 I liked that image of building families and churches as wrapping people together in a cloth. A wonderful passage in Colossians tells people to cloth themselves with kindness, humility and love.

 The weather is so wonderful today that we don’t need the comforting winter weights of wool and synthetic. But is anything more comforting on a cold winter morning than to feel the thickness of your coat protecting you even though a bitter wind is blowing?

 We are speaking in this series of three Sundays about the basics of a new spiritual start – a daily time of prayer and Bible study last week. Next Sunday, we will focus on spiritual gifts. Today we are going to speak about the church. The church is given to multiply our strength, to maintain our most noble commitments, and to surround us with love and self esteem. The Bible refers to the church as the family of God. Jesus is told that his mother and brothers look for him. He replies that he is already with his family by gathering with those who believe in him.

 After the message today, I will invite visitors to join Community Church. The process is so simple. I will ask people to come forward and you answer questions to proclaim your trust in God and your promise to help build this local church to minister to others with your presence, prayers, Gifts, and service. If you are looking for ways this Spring to kick start your spiritual life, then I encourage you to listen for God’s voice today. And I pray that you will find Community Church to be a place of warmth, comfort, and protection as you work on your spiritual journey.

The tragedy of this past week is a different metaphor for life in the 21^st century, a picture of violence and non meaning. It is one of those harsh moments where our moral and political beliefs meet at a crossroad. I believe that loose gun laws lead to violence. When it happens, our country steps back in horror and asks how this can happen. It seems like we are both fascinated by a culture of death and reluctant to reduce it even as it scares us.

 The war in Iraq similarly horrifies us, but not enough. We can even see that our children and Social Security cuts will pay for it, but the replacement of violence with peace in our lives is one of the hardest challenges for a person, even for a Christian. 

 And the church is not completely immune. This is not a perfect church. I got two calls last night from Cambodia and the pain of pastors there in response to some church policies is very painful to me. I went to sleep last night, asking God to give me a renewed sense of how much God loves me.

 The beauty of Community Church is not that we are perfect but that we are going in a good direction. Peter’s words are very important.’3:8Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers and sisters, be compassionate and humble. 9Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.’

Matthew Henry adds, ‘Though Christians cannot be exactly of the same mind, yet they should have compassion one for another, and love as brethren; they ought not to persecute or hate one another, but love one another with more than common affection; they should love as brethren. 3. Christianity requires pity to the distressed, and civility to all’

 My vision for Community Church in Jackson Heights is a place where people go for safety and comfort, whether to bring a child for education or to visit the prayer garden in need. I want members to be proud of our church and inviting friends to try it at least once a quarter. The story of hope in Christ will start with your hope.

 I want the congregation to have more and more fun. I’m grateful that United Methodist Women have got this dinner started and I hope you are at the Prayer Garden Tea. A healthy church enjoys being together. That’s part of loving with more than common affection as Matthew Henry says it.

 My vision is that our church is focused on peace. So much of the Christian church is at war over homosexuality and abortion. I could speak all day and it would still be impossible to bring us all to one mind. What we are doing is forming a church where people have the freedom to keep some things in discussion. I know that I am more liberal than some of you in my understanding of Biblical passages. Matthew Henry noted a century ago that Christians cannot always be exactly of the same mind. But what we are doing is respecting each other and building a church that is welcoming and encourages people to find Jesus Christ.

 My work as pastor is to push you to find your spiritual gift and then work to build the garment that holds us together, make it stronger, make it more beautiful, make it larger. An invitation to church membership is an invitation to sacrifice. The community of 1^st Peter had faced suffering. I hope that Community Church is a challenge to all members to sacrificial generosity and to mission. What we are doing is not just a casual volunteering effort.

 My nephew, Souen, called last night from Cambodia. Some of you remember that his brother was murdered in Phnom Penh in the year 2000. In the frantic moments that followed, I was able to speak with the missionary there, our friend, Rev. Chan Chhleav . I realize that sometimes we sacrifice to weave something bigger or make the cloth more beautiful, only to discover that we are weaving a cloak for our own use.

 Church membership is an important tool for spiritual growth. It’s a way to get a new beginning. The garment of Community Church is a century old, has a few worn spots, but keeps getting renewed by new weavings. I hope that this is your morning to add to its warmth and beauty.