Remembering With Gratitude, with Rev. Dr. Steven Koski.

Remembering With Gratitude, with Rev. Dr. Steven Koski. Series: Love Takes Flight A Spacious Christianity, First Presbyterian Church of Bend, Oregon. Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1.1-2.

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At First Presbyterian, you will meet people at many different places theologically and spiritually. And we love it that way. We want to be a place where our diversity brings us together and where conversation takes us all deeper in our understanding of God.

We call this kind of faith “Spacious Christianity.” We don’t ask anyone to sign creeds or statements of belief. The life of faith is about a way of being in the world and a faith that shows itself in love.

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Keywords:

Fred Rogers, National Press Club, silence, gratitude, legacy, Tuesdays with Maury, ALS, love, faith, First Thessalonians, community of faith, adversity, cloud of witnesses, Barbara Brown Taylor, generosity., presbyterian, church, online worship, bend, oregon

Featuring:

Rev. Dr. Steven Koski, Rev. Sharon Edwards, Becca Ellis, Brave of Heart, Guests

Transcript

Whitney Higdon: 0:00

You Alpine Welcome to worship at First Presbyterian. We, at First Presbyterian practice a spacious Christianity, which means, no matter where you are in your faith journey, you belong and there is space for you at the table, there is space for your doubts and questions. We believe doubts and questions are a gift that invite us into deeper conversations and a more authentic faith. We believe diversity is a strength. Every story is sacred and everybody matters. We do our best to live the spacious and radical love of Jesus so that all might have a chance to flourish in this world. We are so glad to connect with you in this way. We would also love to worship with you in person if you're ever in the neighborhood on Sunday mornings at 830 or 10am and never hesitate to reach out to us to learn more about us or how we might support you. I hope you enjoy this worship service, welcome.

Steven: 4:48

Fred Rogers, you know Mr. Rogers of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood? Well, Fred Rogers was speaking at a National Press Club luncheon, and the room was filled with with the best reporters, news anchors. These TV personalities, I mean, the best in the nation, men and women who had achieved great success and lots of accolades. And Mr. Rogers stood at the podium. Began his speech by taking out a pocket watch and announcing that he was going to keep two minutes of silence. And he invited everybody in the room to remember people in their past, parents, teachers, coaches, pastors, mentors, friends and others, people who had made it possible for them to accomplish so much. And then Mr. Rogers stood there looking at his watch, saying nothing. The room grew quiet, and as the seconds ticked away, one could hear all around the room, people sniffling as they were moved by the memories and feelings of gratitude for those who had loved them, encouraged them, supported them, and made sacrifices on their behalf. Think about it for a moment. How do you want to be remembered if people actually took a moment to to reflect, to reflect about the impact that that you have made in their lives and on the lives of others, what would you most like people to remember about you now? Imagine your family is thinking about you, your friends, your neighbors, your your co workers, your church family, maybe someone in need, in the community or in the world that you have served. Imagine they are reflecting about what they most appreciate about you, what what they're most grateful for about your life. They're reflecting on the the generosity of your life and and the impact your life has had on them and others. I mean, take a moment. What are three or four words that capture how you would want to be remembered, and the impact the generosity of your life and love has had. Okay. Now ask yourself, are you living your life today in the way that you want to be remembered tomorrow? Let me repeat that. Are you living your life today in the way you want to be remembered tomorrow? One of my absolute favorite books is called Tuesdays with Maury, describing a friendship between Mitch album, a Detroit sports writer and professor, Maury Schwartz, who was suffering from ALS Mitch would visit Maury every Tuesday, and the book actually describes those visits. Mitch said people would come visit Maury, and they'd be hoping to cheer Maury up, but Maury would always end up cheering them, cheering them up, because he'd ask about their lives, he would actually listen and care about their problems. Mitch wrote in the book, you know, I watched this happen so many times that finally I said to Maury, I don't get it. Maury, I don't get it. You're the one dying from ALS, this awful, debilitating disease, if anyone's earned the right to say, Yeah, let's not talk about your problems. Let's talk about my problems. It would be you. And Maury said, why would I want to talk like that? I don't want to be a taker. I don't want to be remembered for what I what I took from others. I want to be remembered for what I was willing to give more. He smiled and said, giving makes my heart glad. People die. Love doesn't die, and I want to be remembered for the love I left behind. I love that line. I want to be remembered for the love I left behind. Today's Bible reading is from First Thessalonians, chapter one, verses one to two. You know, our faith today can actually be, can be traced back to this, this small, fragile community in Thessalonica, which was located in what, what is now modern day Greece. Of all the writings in the New Testament, First Thessalonians. This is actually the earliest writing. You know, for example, if the books and the letters of the New Testament were placed in in chronological order, the the New Testament would would not begin with Matthew. It would actually begin with First Thessalonians. This is the first the first gospel message. Now for this Thessalonians, for this community of faith, the very act of gathering together, the very act of gathering together and sharing the sacrament of of welcoming men and women, slave and free, Jew and Gentile, clean and unclean, to the same table, the very act of welcoming the stranger, caring for widows, orphans, of actually trying to live the spacious and radical love of Jesus, doing all of that was incredibly bold and courageous. They would gather as a community of faith. They would gather at the risk of their own lives. They practiced their faith in the face of extraordinary adversity and challenge. So this is what Paul wrote to them to encourage them, and it's regarded actually as the earliest writing of our faith. This is what Paul wrote We give thanks to God, always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before God our Father, remembering your work of faith and labor of Love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. So Paul is expressing gratitude for the witness of this remarkable community and the way in which they live their faith in adversity, in really trying times. And Paul specifically gives thanks to God for the work of their faith, their labor of love, and the steadfastness of their hope. And the very first Christian writings, there's a theme, you know faith, faith is work. It's a it's a labor of love that requires us steadfast hope. Faith is expressed in the choices we make, especially in the face of adversity, Faith Paul's what Paul's trying to say here is that faith is is a practice of making choices that shape who we are today and how we will be remembered tomorrow, how we choose To live and and love in the face of adversity is actually our witness to future generations. Our faith has roots. The history of our faith traces back to that community in Thessalonica. The history of our faith traces back to to their resilience, their courage, their their generosity, their label, labor of love, their their faithfulness in the face of adversity. Really makes me wonder, how will we be remembered? How will we be remembered for the way in which we meet this moment in time? What will people be saying about us years and years and years from now about the way we have responded to the challenges of our day. What will be our witness to future generations? I mean, will future generations be taking the time to reflect and remember us and taking the time to give thanks for for the work of our faith, you know, for the labor of our love, for the steadfastness of our hope. I absolutely love the image from the 12th Chapter of the book of Hebrews that says, seeing that we are surrounded. Made by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and run with perseverance the race that is marked out for us. What a beautiful image a great cloud of witnesses, cheering us on, encouraging us as we run our leg of the race called life. Barbara brown Taylor calls them the balcony people, you know, the people who have gone before us, who are there, up there in the balcony, cheering us on, encouraging us to live today and the way we want to be remembered tomorrow. I mean, we each have our own our own witnesses in the balcony. I mean, grandparents, parents, teachers, aunts, uncles, mentors, friends. You know those people who believed in us, those people who who stood beside us, those people who loved us, who is that person who has impacted your life and faith the most take a moment to remember. Allow yourself to feel gratitude for this person and the difference they have made in your life now, as you continue to run the race of your life, imagine that person, even now, cheering you on, whispering in your ear that you are loved, that they believe in you. What would you love to hear them say to you today. You know, First Presbyterian has a cloud of witnesses, an incredible cloud of witnesses over span, over 125 years. I mean, balcony people, saints, what a remarkable legacy of blessings that have been passed along to us. I mean, imagine for a moment all who have sat in the pews over the years, those who have served and sacrificed and and loved. Call to mind all throughout the years, who have taught and loved our children, mentored our youth, you know, taught in Sunday school. You know, think of the men and the women who have tirelessly, tirelessly fed the hungry, cared for the sick, comforted the grieving, worked for justice. Men and women who who have cooked meals, cared for our buildings, sung in the choir, men and women who have modeled a Christ like life and the importance of love, kindness, generosity, sacrifice. You know, I have the privilege of this platform, the sheer gift of being able to speak to you simply because of the work of faith, the labor of love and the steadfast hope of the faithful and generous souls who paved the way before me. I don't know all their names, but I stand on their shoulders, just with an incredible, immense sense of gratitude. Now the baton of faith, of hope, of love, it's now in our hands. When it comes to that day, who will we pass the baton to? Will there be a generation of the faithful, 2050, 100 years from now, remembering expressing gratitude for the work of our faith, the labor of our love, the blessings that we have handed to them. That probably depends on how we choose to respond to this moment in time. How will you be remembered? What will be the joy of your legacy? Take a moment again. Take a moment to take a moment to remember that person who loved you, who believed in you, who impacted your life, let your. Heart fill with gratitude. Give thanks to God for the gift of their life and how they impacted your life now again, imagine someone taking a moment, perhaps years from now, to reflect on your life, taking a moment to express gratitude, gratitude for the impact your life has had on them, the labor of your love. How do you want to be remembered? My prayer for you, my prayer for all of us in these challenging days, is that God will grace you with everything you need to be the presence of Love you desire to be and to live today in the way you want to be remembered tomorrow. May it be so. And I offer you this prayer, holy one, as we pause to reflect on the profound impact of love and generosity that that shapes our lives. We give thanks for the countless individuals who have walked alongside us, those people who have poured kindness, encouragement and love into our lives so generously, help us to honor their legacy by choosing to live lives marked by faith, by love and steadfast hope. Inspire us to be givers, just as they were reflecting your love and leaving the legacy of our love behind, grant us the courage to serve selflessly, to care for those in need, and to spread spread kindness and goodness in our communities. Lit our lives be a witness to your love in these challenging days, we ask for your guidance in our choices, that each step we take may resonate with purpose, generosity and compassion. May we be a source of joy, hope, strength for those around us, just as so friends go seeking to live in the spirit of peace, love and generosity of Jesus and May god grace you with everything you need to live your life today and the way you want to be remembered tomorrow, leaving a legacy of love behind. May it be so.

Whitney Higdon: 28:44

Thank you so much for joining us, and we hope you enjoyed this worship service. If you would like to make a donation helping make these podcasts possible or support the many ways, first, Presbyterian seeks to serve our community, you can make a financial gift online@bendfp.org every week we hear from someone thanking us for the gift of these broadcasts, and what a difference they make. Your support makes that possible. Our church is committed to reach beyond our walls, bringing hope where there is despair and love where it is needed the most. Your generous support helps us to be generous in love, go to our website, bend fp.org, and click on the link. Give online. Your support is really appreciated and makes a difference in people's lives. Thanks again. I hope to see you next week. You you.