What changes when we really believe that God is here?

Welcome to this weekly sermon from Trinity Episcopal Church in Vampieren, Arkansas.

Thank you for joining us.

Now let's listen to today's message.

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable to you, O Lord, who is our strength and our redeemer.

Yeah, the last few Sundays, it sure wasn't very good to be in Rome, according to Paul, right?

So thanks be to God.

Although I thought about getting a t-shirt I saw on the internet the other day that said our church was in Levin.

But not today, beloved.

Because the sermon titled this morning is quite clear.

God is here.

Every service that I've been to where Bishop Harmon is presiding, he begins with the following acclamation at the back, at the front of the church, excuse me.

God is here.

And the people are God.

And we are God's people.

Can we give that trouble?

God is here.

And we are speaking.

Yes, you are.

But when we discover the service acknowledging that God is here in this place, and let's be to know that we are God's people.

I kept reminding of this as I prepared the sermon for this week.

You know, Matthew's gospel from the 18th chapter has a lot to say about how we are to be God's people.

Why they ask?

Because we're human.

And Jesus knew that as humans, that when two or three were gathered, something happens.

And sometimes it's not nice.

We begin to transform from a solitary voice to a larger voice, a collective as it were.

And that voice has power.

That power to bless, and the power to hurt and to made.

We see this so often on cable news programs, right?

They have a panel of experts ever watched and meet the press every Sunday before church.

Maybe too much friend.

But they have the panel of experts to tell it like it is, right?

And sometimes it hurts.

We have a party.

And sometimes yet again we see a holy moment of healing.

We too, beloved, have that same power in the church.

We can bless, or we can hurt our fellow members of the body of Christ.

Far too often members of faith institutions have, as the prayer book says, in our thoughts, words, and deeds, in what we have knowingly done and what we have unknowingly done.

Beloved, that's what this passage says.

It says what to do in those cases.

When those things have transpired.

Now I can tell you growing up in a small Baptist church that they upheld this admonition from St.

Paul to the Romans, and there were times that the service, generally the Sunday night service, we would be there, and the deacons or a deacon would stand up, come forward, and call someone or someone's for a perceived offense against God or their neighbor.

And call them out, right to church, by name, in front of everyone.

It was hardly a well-empraced moment in the service.

And you definitely didn't want to be on the receiving end.

So, in true Paulinian tradition, I'm asking for volunteers to serve on the committee to begin this in our congregation to keep us upright and moral.

Any volunteers?

Yeah, I didn't think so.

But it is a part of our tradition, beloved.

Just slightly modified.

And in fact, the prayer book admonishes the priests of the church to actually deny communion to those who, as my papa would say, need to get right with God.

In my own ministry, I don't really see myself ever doing that.

Because holy communion for me, as understood from the church, is a means of grace, and a possible portal for some to get right with God.

I've seen it over and over again.

Maybe you have too.

Why?

Because God was there at the rail.

And they remember again, some of them for the first time, that God is there and that they are God's people.

Now, having spoken to the hurt and damage that can come in these groups, let's think for a moment about what can happen in the alternative.

In 1844, two to three people gathered in God's name and said metaphorically that God is here in Van Buren, Arkansas.

I don't even know if it was Van Buren, Arkansas yet.

And that we want to worship God and his holiness in the Episcopal tradition.

Why?

Because we are his people.

And that's what God's people do.

They worship when they realize who their God is.

In 1964, the people of Trinity reaffirm that proverbial statement made in 1844 here on the hill.

And in 2026, we continue to affirm that statement.

Because on September 6th at 10 a.m., that's today, two or three are gathered in God's name.

And God is here.

He's here all around us.

But he also is physically present with us in the Holy Eucharist.

How do we know that?

Well, if you look behind me, you'll see that there are two things in the wall.

A little wooden door.

No, it doesn't go to Narnia.

It's the Ombre or Tabernacle.

And next to it, a lamp that should be lit all the time, but didn't get lit out of this one.

And in it, and in that little door is Jesus.

In bread and wine.

Resident behind a door with a key because it's so sacred that it must be protected.

So beloved, God is here.

Some of you will be bold enough to remember that old Motel 6 commercial that said each time as it closed, we'll always leave the light on for you.

Some of you watch too much TV.

That eminition was a message to their patrons, that they were ready to receive their guests, and what?

That they were open for business.

Beloved, that's what that little lamp there symbolizes for me.

The light is on, welcoming all who will come, and that Christ is ready to receive them.

And thus, each time that door and the main door of the nave are open.

But it comes with an action that we need to do as well.

And that is if we open wide the doors of our heart and let Christ live and worship him.

You see, Bishop Harmon has an opening acclamation that he uses, and I do too.

Maybe you've missed it.

It always happens at the beginning of the service, right before we begin the opening hymn.

Does anyone know it?

Open wide the doors of your hearts, as we prepare to worship Christ anew in this place.

Perhaps the trials and temptations of this life are weighing you down, and you need to hear that for this hour, this moment in time, that it's truly safe for you to open wide the doors of your hearts.

Not just a sliver of safety, but wide enough to receive the abundance of God's immeasurable grace and mercy and love.

And for that great gift, we come here to worship.

Not to gossip, not to hone our music skills, not to pass recipes or anything else.

We come here to worship the living God and his son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

This is one of the things that I love most about Trinity is when we come here, we come to worship.

To worship who we understand as the living God for his most tender mercies that we are gifted each and every day.

This week I feel that as response to this worship, two or three have been gathering in God's name here and elsewhere.

Give me an idea what they've been doing.

Well, for one, two very wonderful people delivered to the vicarage some used furniture, and they were not the sole intended people to complete the task, but they are the ones who said yes and who had it done the next day.

Truly servant leaders.

Thank you, Eric, Stacy.

Wonder Woman and Superman.

Who can pick up a massive couch on their own and I don't even know?

Additionally, beloved, we were inspected for the opening of a food pantry, a new ministry for us here at Churchill.

And we passed.

And we look forward to an October opening.

So I just want to thank these people, the two or three gathered in God's name.

Rosie and Stacey and Kathy and Liz and Amber and Eric and Margaret and Dale for this amazing work and the power of the work that can be done when we truly believe that God is in the midst of our work.

These acts of service, these acts of service are the evidence of our acknowledgement of God being in our midst.

And because of that, we are called to worship.

Whether at the table, beside me, in this room, or anywhere.

But in every place.

So let us then, beloved, remember that God is.

We invite you to join us each and every Sunday and to follow the podcast so that you can stay connected with future messages.

And until next time, God bless.