Sermon Recording:

Sermon for September 13, 2026  

Welcome.

Isn’t it perfect that the first word of our epistle lesson for this Homecoming Sunday is “welcome”? Many of us are returning to church after time away. Others have been here throughout the summer, but even given that, we are all returning to our beautiful Nave after a season of air conditioning, folding chairs, and coffee hours crammed into the hallway outside of the kitchen. So to all of us I say, welcome back!

If we understand Paul’s letter to the Romans correctly, the church at Rome wasn’t feeling the same kind of love. There was trouble in the Eternal City, and the reason we know about it is because Paul was writing about it. Even though the church at Rome was probably the only one he wrote to that he hadn’t actually founded or visited, Paul wasn’t known for addressing issues that didn’t exist—that’s not the way he did things. So if he was writing about people casting aspersions at one another about food, that’s because they were having a food fight. 

So how did this come about?

Not too much is known about the community of Jesus followers in Rome, but it was evidently there by the year 50, about 20 years after the time of Jesus. In the intervening time Emperor Claudius had come to power and expelled at least a good number of Jewish followers of The Way of Jesus due to disturbances over someone named “Chrestus” who some scholars believe was a misspelling of “Christus” or “Christ.” When Claudius was killed in 54 CE the Jewish followers of Jesus returned to Rome. 

Which is when the trouble started.

The Jewish followers of Christ weren’t the only followers of Christ in Rome; at the time when Paul was writing the church was comprised of Jews and Gentiles, each group with their own traditions, each group believing that their practices were faithful. 

More to the point, each group believed that their practices were more faithful than the other group’s. One group ate meat, the other didn’t. One group observed only the Sabbath, the other observed a variety of holy days. Paul’s letter refers to “weak” and “strong” believers. The way Paul seems to define these terms is counterintuitive. Supposedly “weak” followers were those who relied more strictly on requirements such as dietary expectations and a framework of observances, while the “strong” followers were supposedly more relaxed. In other words, “weak” meant needing more guidance and rules, which is why they outwardly seemed more pious, while “strong” meant being able to stand firmly in their faith without as many rules and expectations. Which to the “weak” seemed to be less faithful in their practices.

This is what Paul was up against, and he would have none of it. 

I do find it amusing that someone with the reputation that Paul had for being cranky—and he did; just ask his companions on his missionary journeys or read his scorching letter to the Galatians–It’s funny that as irascible as Paul was, he wrote completely consistently about the need for the community to love and care for one another. I guess it was equivalent to a parent’s “Don’t make me come down there!”

The basis for his argument was simple, really. 

“Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat; for God has welcomed them… those who eat, eat in honor of the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in honor of the Lord and give thanks to God.”

For God has welcomed them.

All are welcomed and loved by God. Even those who drive us bananas. All are forgiven by Jesus. Everything else is—and this is one of my favorite and most useful Greek words—adiaphora. Which means that in the overall scheme of things it just doesn’t matter. Which means that when you gather together and find that you do or see things differently, self-righteous judgment of the other is counter to your identity as a child of God. Be curious, ask questions. Get to know people. But don’t judge their level of faithfulness or holiness, don’t impose your practices on others, because it shows that you have forgotten who you are and whose you are.

If Paul were writing this today, he might say, 

Don’t be a jerk. 

Easier said than done, I know. Friction happens. Christian Century commenter Craig Kocher observes that fortunately God can still use these points of friction before they turn into painful blisters:

When I sin against a sister in Christ I have an opportunity to confess. When I am hurt by a brother in the faith I am given the opportunity to forgive. When I disagree with a member of the household of God I can be open to the Spirit’s working in new ways. The moment I start to feel a touch self-righteous is the time to pray all the more fervently for humility.

Living in community isn’t always easy. Paul spilled a great deal of ink addressing the human frailty of the young church, so it’s been going on for a long time. The key is to greet these moments with curiosity and humility; as opportunities to draw closer together rather than to fuel division, because God knows we have enough of that these days. 

For God has welcomed them.

On Homecoming Sunday we are mindful of welcoming one another back for a new program year, and I hope that we are also mindful of how we welcome and serve our fellow children of God who are outside of our walls—because after all–as we have often heard quoted from Archbishop William Temple–the Church is the only society that exists for the benefit of people who are not its members. So all of this welcoming is a perfect opportunity to engage our humility, our curiosity, and our generosity—all of which are identity markers of a community that reflects God’s image of loving relationship back into the world, which is what we are called to do. 

There are many ways to live this out, and we are constantly discerning what this can look like. One of the things we are doing is something that has been simmering for a while and is now being birthed: a new initiative called Foyer Gatherings. The concept actually isn’t so new–it originated at Coventry Cathedral in the 1960’s. You may remember that the Cathedral itself was destroyed in World War II and was pretty much literally resurrected from the ashes as a center for worldwide reconciliation and peace. Foyer Groups (as they were originally known) were part of that resurrection period; people recognized the importance of overcoming—actually not overcoming but welcoming– difference by building relationships.

So in this time of Homecoming and of transition as we search for a new rector, we have an opportunity to strengthen and build our community by getting to know each other better and building deeper connections through sharing food and conversation. The groups will be intentionally mixed so that you’ll be gathering with people who aren’t your pew neighbors or your coffee buddies after church. You’ll get to hone your curiosity and learn something new about your fellow parishioners. And perhaps, as time goes by, we will gain a new sense of our identity as a parish; who we are, what we envision, and how we might live into that vision. That’s not an immediate objective; the immediate objective is to enjoy each other’s company and some good food. The rest can arise organically as time goes by and with the Spirit’s guidance. So I encourage you to welcome this opportunity and sign up for the Gatherings in the coming days.

So welcome back. Welcome to this beautiful church on this day of Homecoming, and welcome once again to this Table. For all, all, all, are welcome at God’s Table; all who come to be fed by the One who is our Home.

Prayers of the People, 16 Pentecost, 13 September 2026

The response to the bidding, “Lord, in your mercy,” is “hear our prayer.”

Enlivening God, on this Homecoming Sunday, grant us wisdom in discerning your call to us, that we might be the beacon of hope you have intended us to be.

We pray for the welfare of the world; for those who are persecuted and cry for justice; for those who hunger and thirst for knowledge and freedom; for those who work for the common good. We remember those places where war, violence, injustice and natural disaster are causing great suffering, especially in those places we name.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

God of Justice, we are a nation that cries out to you for healing and peace. Bring us out of division and into relationship. Bless us with leaders who care deeply for the needs of all people and public servants who find joy in reconciliation and justice. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Abundant God, in this Season of Creation we pray for the world you have made, that we might be good stewards of your bounty, living in harmony with Mother Earth and reciprocating her generosity by protecting, preserving, and restoring what She has freely given us.     

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Healing God, we pray for our parish family: Bring your healing power to all who suffer in body, mind, or spirit, remembering especially, Sam, Katie, Brian, Brooke, Peter, John and those we name. 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Let your wisdom and grace rest upon those who celebrate birthdays this week, especially Marie Langlois, Dwight Phillips, Claire Kokoska, Lynne Burke, and David Ely. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for those we love but see no longer, especially Brooke Hammerle, formerly of this parish, and those we name. And we pray for all who grieve. 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Celebrant adds a concluding prayer.