Can you imagine it if we, the Bethany United Church Family went to some pizza place?.....owww, how many voices would ring in the background! Yet, those voices are so important to be heard. In some cases, we do not hear enough of those voices.

Yet, everyday, in our church, we have competing voices that yell to be heard. In the church, decisions have to be made everyday and always there are voices who will share that they do not like what is being done. And those voices hat are shared, are they raising concerns about what is essential or not.

What does the bible say respective to making decisions. Well, our reading from Revelation gives some guidance. Jesus confronts the church at Thyatira with a huge concern. He lifts up the unfaithful leadership of one whom is called a Jezebel, reminiscent of Jezebel of 2 Kings who was a queen with Balaam, who weaken the Jewish faith by allowing everything in the culture of the time, including worship of Idols, eating of unclean food and immoral sexual practices. That first Jezebel lived about 800–900 years before the birth of Jesus. This second Jezebel was a leader in the early Christian Church who was allowing any and all practices into the church and so the words of Revelation was meant to confront the church leaders and remind them that there were some things that belonged in the church and some things that did not. That message was relevant 2000 years ago and it is also pertinent to us. But was is the essential. Is it what has always been done? No, that can’t be our guide. We have only to look at the history of the church and see that many bad things were done and not changed until people see that they were wrong. Slavery was an institution that the early church thought was okay. So, history and tradition can not be what guides us ultimately to what is faithful and what we do in church. What about relying on what others are doing? Well, churches make mistakes, so that would be wrong. What will be our guide, if it not be traditions, history, what others are doing? Maybe, our reading gives us direction:....yes, hear: You have ears, listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Yes, indeed, the Spirit comes to correct and guide the church. But surely, there must be something basic, essential........ and again, the scripture lights up the answer: These are the words of the Son of God whose eyes are like a flame of fire and whose feet are like brilliant metal. So, the Son of God and the Word are the essential parts of our church. It is The Word and the example of Christ that comes to claim central importance in all that we do. SO, how does that inform us as a church and impact us at Bethany.

First, we acknowledge that there is one trust that we all stand by: That the gift of God’s Word and the powerful example of Christ will be the single thing that will guide us. Christ is the crust of our pizza - without the bread as a base, the church, the pizza will not be able to stand. If we hear of those who say- do not talk about God or who would like the voice of Christ as found in the Word silenced because it might hit home at some of their practices or habits, then that voice of Christ must be lifted higher instead. Heaven forbid we should silence Christ’s voice in us for it might offend someone from inappro-priate habits, attitudes or behaviors. The words of Christ might not always be fashionable for those who wish to continue habits that hurt, but we would be remiss if we let Christ voice be limited because we were made less bold. For the words and attitudes of Christ are always in fashion - are never out of style in this world that needs the light and love of God.

But, please let not our attitudes of what we did in the church be confused with being faithful. There will be the need for change in the church, in how we reach out ot others, how we speak of the love of God.Years ago, the idea of a piano in the church would have been an insult - for the organ was the only instrument to have been suitable. But years later, we known that what makes something suitable is not what it is, but rather what it is used for.

We need to continue to seek greater faith and courage to allow our cherished habits and traditions to be placed alongside the powerful and refining Spirit of God to see if those traditions still hold power for us in Christ’s mission..... and daring to see if those traditions hold power to those for whom we try and are responsible to reach out to in the name of Christ.

I believe that everyone of us here wants what is best for our church and more importantly, wants it to be doing that which is entrusted to it - the mission to serve Christ in the Carbonear area and beyond. And in our humanity, we might, as we hold onto to habits and traditions that have helped us, forget to look and see if those traditions still are working. If not, we are called and invited to journey with the Spirit of God on a new path pressing on towards the same goal that has not changed - following Jesus and serving God.

YOU, WE, ARE INVITED BY GOD TO JOURNEY ON. YES, HOLD TO THE ESSENTIAL OF FAITH and BE OPEN TO THE AWESOME LEADING OF GOD. AMEN!!!

A couple of weeks ago, I was out to a pizza place ay, gee, ginger ale, couldn’t we have Mountain Dew?

Can you imagine it if we, the Bethany

Yet, everyday, in our church, we have competing

Well, our reading from Revelation gives some guidance. Jesus confronts the church at Thyatira

a Jezebel, reminiscent of Jezebel of 2 Kings... That first Jezebel lived about 800–900 years before the birth of Jesus. This second Jezebel was a leader in the

That message was relevant 2000 years ago and it is also pertinent to us. But was is the essential.

So, history and tradition can not be what guides us ultimately to what is faithful and what we do in church.

Maybe, our reading gives us direction:....yes, hear: You have ears, listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Yes, indeed, the Spirit comes to correct and guide the church. But surely, there must be something basic, essential........and again, the scripture lights up the answer: These are the words of the Son of God whose eyes are like a flame of fire and whose feet are like brilliant metal. So, the Son of God and the Word are the essential parts of our church.

First, we acknowledge that there is one trust that we all stand by: That the gift of God’s Word and the powerful example of Christ will be the single thing that will guide us. It is the crust of our pizza - without the bread as a base, the church, the pizza will not be able to stand. I

But, please let not our attitudes of what we did in the church be confused with being faithful. There will be the need for change

And in our humanity, we might, as we hold onto to habits and traditions that have helped us, forget to look and see if those traditions still are working. If not, we are called and invited to journey with the Spirit of God on a new path pressing on towards the same goal that has not changed - following Jesus and serving God. YOU, WE, ARE INVITED BY GOD TO JOURNEY ON. YES, HOLD TO THE ESSENTIAL OF FAITH and BE OPEN TO THE AWESOME LEADING OF GOD. AMEN!!!