11/16/2025 ~ Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost ~ Proper 28 ~ Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ Isaiah 65:17-25; Isaiah 12; Malachi 4:1-2a; Psalm 98; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13; Luke 21:5-19 ~ Note: used Luke 21:1-4.
EKC VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvR4SmJRmUU
HARPSWELL TV VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25QCXvsF99E

Gifts for the Temple

“Jesus said, ‘All of them have contributed out of their abundance, out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty, out of her want, has put in what she could not afford, every penny she had to live on.’” — Luke 21:4-5.

I cannot count the number of times my wife, Bonnie, has said to someone, “When I got married I didn’t know I was marrying a pastor.” And that is true. I started on the journey to seminary and ordination just after our third anniversary.

On the other hand, when I got married to Bonnie I did not know she was marrying a pastor. It was a surprise to both of us. So how did that happen?

This is the short version. When I joined First Parish in Brunswick a Bangor Seminary poster was hanging on the wall near the pastor’s office with postcards you could rip off and send to the seminary to get information. I do not know what possessed me but I did that— ripped off a card and sent it to the seminary.

Two weeks later a catalogue from Bangor arrived in the mail. I threw it on the coffee table. The next day Bonnie had to be out for a couple hours. I was alone, perhaps a little bored so I picked it up. I turned to the section with course descriptions— boring course descriptions. I sat there reading the course descriptions. Then I started to cry.

I suddenly remembered I’d asked an Episcopal Priest friend what a call to ministry felt like. This was the response: “When I heard the call it felt terrible. I cried for hours.”

And there I was, reading boring course descriptions in a seminary catalogue and I was crying. I said to myself, “Uh, oh!” And that… is how the journey to seminary and ordained ministry began. (Slight pause.)

These words are in Luke. “Jesus said ‘All of them have contributed out of their abundance, out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty, out of her want, has put in what she could not afford, every penny she had to live on.’” (Slight pause.)

When the seminary journey started reality should have told us you’re both too old— over the age of 40— seminary— a bad, financially unstable idea. Being a pastor— a bad, financially unstable career. (Slight pause.)

Have things worked out? Well, I’ve been in a pulpit more than thirty years now. But let me offer this anecdote as an example of real world truths. Remember when COVID happened and people got money, a pay out from the Federal Government?

I was already retired but when that check arrived we paid off the end of my student loans from seminary with it. That payout was exactly what we still owed. (Slight pause.)

So what has kept us going on this journey over time? We trusted God and trusted our neighbors, the people at First Parish who first supported us and the churches I’ve served who walked with us on the journey. It was a journey of faith and trust. (Long pause.)

Jesus sees an impoverished woman, a widow, putting coins in a collection box. Those descriptions— a woman, a widow, impoverished— make her unacceptable, an outcast in that era. But she put coins in a treasury box.

Where does that money go when it gets to the Temple treasury? The Hebrew Scriptures are clear. Money given to the Temple should go to orphans, widows, the outcast. But is that where those coins are really headed?

We don’t know. The text does not tell us. And the widow does not know either. She just dropped coins in a box. So the point being made by Jesus is not about the generosity of this impoverished widow nor is it about money.

I hope this is obvious— the woman trusts God. She trusts her neighbors who are stewards of the Temple treasury that they will give to the widows, to orphans, to the outcast. And she also trusts her neighbors with whom she interacts day by day by day, trusts they will have compassion when she needs help.

So the tale of this widow is not about money. This is about a faith journey called trust— trusting God and trusting neighbors. And make no mistake about it— trusting God and trusting neighbors is not a destination. It’s a journey… of faith. (Slight pause.)

Among the myriad of events next week is the stewardship breakfast and then the Kellogg Church will embark on a journey. The journey is not about money. Anyone who claims this journey is about money is not paying attention to the witness of Scripture.

The journey is about faith and trust. Do you trust God? Do you trust your neighbors, the people sitting next to you in these pews? This journey is about trusting God and trusting neighbors.

Do me a favor— look around this Meetinghouse. Look at each other. These are your friends and neighbors, the people in whom you need to place your trust on this faith journey. I’ll pause for a couple of moments to let that happen. Go ahead— look around. (Long pause.)

In Congregationalism members have voice and vote. But the Congregational tradition also operates as a representative democracy. People are chosen to fill different roles— Moderators, Deacons, etc., etc. Trust is placed in people to fulfill those roles.

So the question is do you trust the people you have assigned to help on this faith journey? Again, the journey has not been, is not and will not be about money or even about what rules to follow. This journey is about trust and faith. (Slight pause.)

A long time ago, in what feels like a galaxy far, far away I sat alone in my living room with tears running down my face. Why? I think it was the realization that I needed to trust God. And on that journey it would be imperative that I trust my neighbors.

The tears? I think they happened because I knew the journey was scary. I knew the journey was hard. (Slight pause.)

Back when Bonnie and I wound up in Bangor we took a risk. But we listened for the call of God.

When we left Maine— and we left much to our consternation and moved to a place where we knew no one except the members of the Search Committee at the church to which we felt called— when we left Maine we took a risk. Over time we have taken multiple risks on this journey of listening for and responding to the call of God.

A church which is not willing to take risks— multiple risks— in responding to the call of God is not a church. It’s just a social club. (Slight pause.)

So what is next week about? Some may think next week is about stewardship or financial plans— no and no.

Next week is about trusting God. Next week is about trusting your neighbors who are sitting next to you in these pews. Next week is about listening for the call of God for this church. Next week is about faithfulness. Next week is about being church.

If no one has ever said this to you before let me be the first. Listening for and to the call of God is not an easy task. It can be scary. There may be times tears will run down your face. But I believe listening for and to the call of God is the calling of this church. I believe this church is called to faithfulness. What say you? Amen.

11/16/2025
Elijah Kellogg Church, Harpswell, Maine

ENDPIECE: It is the practice of the Pastor to speak after the Closing Hymn, but before the Choral Response and Benediction. This is a précis of what was said: “At this time of year the lectionary readings are often what you heard today or similar ones. And you have probably heard this or similar readings applied to stewardship. I am practical. Stewardship matters. But what is stewardship really about? It’s about the faithful practice of listening to the call of God. Hence, stewardship is not about money. Stewardship is about faithful listening as you try to discern the place to which God calls this church.”

BENEDICTION: A kind and just God sends us out into the world as bearers of truth, a truth which surpasses our understanding, that the love of God knows no bounds or boundaries. Indeed, God watches over those who respond in love. So, let us love God so much that we love nothing else too much. Let us be so in awe of God that we are in awe of noone else and nothing else. Amen.