KID’S CORNER
-tell me about a favourite
blanket or quilt; talk about quilts that are present
- many cultures – giving a
blanket symbol of hospitality, honour, respect, protection; warmth and
friendship;
- Black history month –
patterns as sign-posts for underground railroad. Who would you like to give a blanket to?
Last week we heard Matthew’s
introduction to Jesus’ ministry.
And also the introduction to
prepare those accompanying Jesus to hear the Sermon on the Mount; Jesus’
inaugural teaching.
Matthew clearly tells
readers:
1.
That Jesus’ ministry will fulfill scripture –
the Messiah will bring light to those in darkness.
2.
Calling the 4 fishermen before the teaching
highlights that the teaching is specifically for the disciples, although others
are present to hear it to.
3.
the Messiah’s ministry of healing is not as
important as Jesus’ teaching and preaching.
It is only in the Gospel of
Matthew that the Sermon on the Mount – the Beatitudes- as they are sometimes
referred to, are the main teaching to which all following teachings and actions
in the Gospel are connected. This teaching is Matthew’s thesis, pointedly
stated at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. As Douglas Hare states in the
Interpretation series commentary, “It presents Jesus as Israel’s ultimate, God-authorized
teacher and sternly warns the readers that believing in Jesus means doing what
Jesus says.” (pg33) The teaching is bookended with the Great Commission, to go “make
disciples of all nations… teaching them to obey everything I have commanded
you.”
Teaching - February is Black History Month.
This week I read about
African American quilting. Sewn into African American quilts – in vivid
colours, asymmetrical designs, large patterns – were stories, some biblical, others
lived truth, and messages to be passed from one generation to the next. The
quilts visually and texturally taught the complexity of life, pain, oppression,
freedom, and power, while uniquely displaying culture and identity. Quilts were
symbols of hope and agency. Black women made quilts – finding a creative way to
share legacy, wisdom, and teachings - in a time when it was illegal for them to
read and write.
For those reading on the
blog or joining us by Facebook from other parts of the world, I was reading
about quilts because it has been double-digit-minus-cold here. Much snow
clearing, led to mugs of warm liquid while wrapped in a favourite blanket or
quilt. Then I started work on today’s reflection. The Annual Meeting that is after
worship today was also on my mind.
The Sermon on the Mount is
like a quilt. There is a lot of teaching that sews the story and message
together. Some threads are eschatological and tell of the kindom to come.
Others are threads of obedience and required behaviour to participate in the
kindom, now. There is a sewing together of prophetic word, teachings on
accompanying Jesus, explanation of living the Commandments, words on being
righteousness in a faithless world, and shining a light for the nations. There
are large vibrant patterns overlapping, both abundant grace and implicit commands.
Each beatitude is a square
in the quilt. There is a square for: the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the
meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in
heart, the peacemakers, those persecuted for righteousness’ sake, and persecuted
prophets. That makes nine blocks – nine motifs – each pattern unique.
Consider that the quilt is both
ancient and new, continually being added to, refreshed, and patched.
In 2025 our words and deeds,
what was done, what was left undone, altered the quilt. The ministry we did and
did not do, sometimes wore out the stitching or tore the fabric, and at other
times ministry strengthened the stitching or added colourful fabric patches. As
we consider the annual report – when you read through the word and work of the
congregation – what areas of the quilt did we contribute to; how did we sew the
kindom into the patchwork of God’s creation?
How did we participate in God’s now and forever kindom?
When were we poor in spirit,
or attended to the poor in spirit?
When did we mourn, who did
we mourn with, how did we mourn?
Were we meek and/or attentive
to the meek?
Did we hunger and thirst
after righteousness? Was food provided to address this need?
Were words and actions and
relationships merciful – both in the giving and receiving?
How does the ministry of
2025 shape the pattern of being pure of heart, or add vivid expression of being
peacemakers?
Was the quilt designed to
encompass and protect the persecuted? To give hope and to be a beacon amid
storm?
The annual meeting, African American
quilts, scriptures are all pieces of God’s kindom quilt. All tell stories that
are full of wisdom, teaching, and experience. We are blessed to have the
freedom and time to look at the work that has been done; to sit together to
lament the tears we made and admire the patches we added; to cry at the stitches
that went sideways, the blood stains from poked fingers, and to laugh at the stories
of spilled coffee.
At the end of the year,
regardless of any failures, forgotten relationships, lack of energy, the
incompletion of tasks, we ended the year with a vividly coloured and patterned
quilt that shows a faithfulness to willingly participate in God’s kindom:
accompanying Jesus into the neighbourhood or wherever else Jesus leads; opening
our eyes and our ears and our hearts to Jesus’ teachings; and going to the
nations, teaching, preaching, and sharing the Gospel. We have a quilt that is sturdy,
part of a much larger quilt, and a quilt with which we can and do comfort and
embrace the world and its people with grace and with Gospel story – wisdom for
the ages.
Amen.
Opening Prayer – ACM
Quilted together by your love
O God,
we give thanks and rejoice
for the unique patterns and vibrant ministry of 2025,
for your threads of love and
grace that were sewn through us;
we are sorry and ask
forgiveness for holes in our ministry and places where we tore the fabric of
your kindom;
we turn to you master
quilter and ask that you connect our stitches, unifying us as we reflect on
ministry and focusing us on required tasks to support ministry in 2026.
We wrap ourselves with your
threads of love, and grace, and mercy, as we meet in your name. Amen.
Closing Prayer - ACM
Commitment prayer #1 on ELWB
pg 86.
Go in peace, quilting the
kindom of God by living out God’s grace and unconditional love. Thanks be to
God.
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