As we celebrate 100 years...we’re about to share a sacred meal…a meal shared for two thousand years at Jesus’ invitation… a meal which brings us together as his body… and connects us with is followers… from the Sudan to Siberia. A sacred meal…
a great sacrifice of praise by the children of God…
on behalf of all creation… as it groans and waits for God’s promised future… already begun in Jesus. We praise because we’re a people whose future is shaped by hope for that future.
Today we already confessed... how often we fail to follow Jesus’...in our faithfulness to God, in loving one another, and bringing hope to our community. But like Peter...the disciple who betrayed Jesus… we the forgiven… pick ourselves up… and dust ourselves off… and…set off again to follow our Saviour… determined to bring healing and forgiveness and hope to the world.
Our obedience is crucial… because for many people today …hope is in short supply…This week up north… hundreds of forestry workers… lost their jobs …not because they were unproductive… or lazy…but because as economic units… they no longer fit the plans... of people whose faces they’ve never seen…
And after the market meltdown of the past few weeks…
Some people’s life savings...their future security...is in jeopardy... because of the unrestrained greed of others …the billions of dollars spent on bailing out banks
in the US and Europe… is enough to raise the world’s poor out of poverty... for two years...and save seven million people... in the horn of Africa from starvation.
Yet...my friends... some of the bleakest places…most lacking in hope… aren’t impoverished communities … but those where there’s too much money…too much of everything… except faith hope and love.
Even in paradise …even in Wanaka… Hawea… Tarras and Luggate . Where families are torn apart by lust and violence. Where the only hope against the pain... is oblivion through drugs and alcohol or sex.
A sense of injustice hangs over us …a sense of quiet anger that something’s gone wrong…in the dark people ask‘is this all there is?’ Human society shouldn’t work like this … Questions need to be asked. [pause] In times like this... part of the task of the church...is to ‘take up this sense of hopelessness and injustice...and put it into words. Not just in worship and in prayer...but in public … proclaiming the hope… in Jesus teaching… of peace with justice compassion and mercy
Public words... to campaign and cajole the government and local councils… to protect our lakes and mountains from greed … to allow equal access... to natural and material resources ....and affordable housing.
As my favourite Biblical scholar, Tom Wright reminds us ‘The calling of the church... is to foster healing and hope... in the hearts of people... at any and every level...in our community.’
When people ask ‘is that all there is?’…the church must say no! And for everyone who finds themselves... battered by circumstances beyond their control…however poor … however wealthy...the good news must be on our lips…the scandalous risky...subversive hope… of Jesus life…death and resurrection…
When ever the church becomes preoccupied with its own survival or buildings or style or form…we risk losing our sense of purpose as the healed and forgiven children of God…sent to carry on Jesus work.
Today it’s been clear ...from the skits we’ve seen and the history we’ve heard… that the church is not a building …but a community of Jesus followers…forgiven sinners… called to celebrate God’s love... together in worship…and sent out... to speak words of hope...and perform works of hope... where ever we go…
A people in relationship with Jesus… the crucified and risen one… who invites us... to share this sacred meal once more…in remembrance of him...as God works to draw all creation... into Communion.
As we celebrate 100 years...we’re about to share a sacred meal…a meal shared for two thousand years at Jesus’ invitation… a meal which brings us together as his body… and connects us with is followers… from the Sudan to Siberia. 
