Sunday, August 4, 2013 Denver, CO Pastor Dena Williams 11th Sunday after Pentecost Propers 13 Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14;

2:18-23 Psalm 49:1-11 Colossians 3:1-11 Luke 12:13-21 The Holy Gospel according to the community of St. Luke in the 12th Chapter Glory to you, O Lord

Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me." But Jesus said to him, "Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?" And he said to them, "Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions." Then Jesus told them a parable: "The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And the rich man thought to himself, 'What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?' Then he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said to him, 'You fool!

This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God." A Tale of Two Churches Whenever I go to San Francisco, and its been several years since I was there, but whenever I go, I like to walk along OFarrell Street. Even on a Sunday morning, a walk along, or rather up and down OFarrell is an adventure. The diversity of people, the shops, the smells of the city and of the ocean, the street cars, and, of course, the hills of that city. Just six blocks from the downtown Hilton, I find St. Marks Lutheran Church. St. Marks is a 160 year old congregation. It is housed in a 115 year old building that is showing its age. Its ancient red brick exterior contrasts sharply with two newer buildings on this inner-city block known as St. Marks Square. This small congregation built a high rise for the elderly some years ago. They built an Urban Outreach Center that houses numerous social ministry agencies. St. Marks makes major financial and spiritual commitments to its OFarrell Street community. The congregation lives out the Gospel of Jesus in their neighborhood and beyond. Hear the Gospel: Life does not consist in the abundance of possessions: store up riches toward God. Just a block away from St. Marks, high on a hill and casting its huge shadow over St. Marks, is the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption.

According to Roman Catholic tradition, Mary, the mother of Jesus did not die, but was assumed into Heaven. Thus, the name of this Cathedral, St. Mary of the Assumption. An architectural extravaganza, the cathedral was built in 1971 of massive blocks of white marble. Four enormous, twisted pillars of marble, rise to a vaulted ceiling, resplendent with wood, stained glass and a magnificent, radiantly lighted metallic sculpture. Visitors gasp in wonder as they enter the brightness of the Cathedral. They whisper their amazement; it is not a place where loud voices seem appropriate. The grandeur of the Bishops chair, the amazingly beautiful life size statuary in lighted niches surrounding the sanctuary tell a dozen Bible stories in white marble. The Cathedral and its beautiful grounds occupy several city blocks. Hear the rich fool: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones and there will I store all my goods. The last time I was at St. Marks Lutheran in 1996 there was a large crack in the ceiling, directly over the altar, a reminder of the devastating power of nature, a remnant of the 1989 San Francisco earthquake. The cracks at St. Marks are high and visible signs of the power of Gods earth. A seismic study revealed damage to the foundation of the church building. St. Marks little congregation raised funds from across the country to repair the foundation. Then, through a combination of pledges from the people and loans, the congregation took on the complete restoration of this historic building. In 2006, ten years later, the restoration was complete. Hear the Gospel: Life does not consist in the abundance of possessions: store up riches toward God.

St. Marks Sunday bulletin is filled with opportunities to serve in the community. St. Marks is a Reconciling in Christ congregation, offering support to a large gay/lesbian community and outreach to those with AIDS. Outreach programs to families and children living in poverty in this inner city neighborhood flourish because of the support of this congregation. St. Marks shares Gods love with all people including those who are most vulnerable in our society: those who are elderly, young, sick, poor. Hear the Gospel: Life does not consist in the abundance of possessions: store up riches toward God. St. Marks stands in the shadow of the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption. St. Marks stands in the shadow, casting its light, the light of Christ. Where does our congregation stand? What is our vision of where God is calling us to stand? Our congregation casts light in several dark corners: on the families of our Child Care Center, on seniors who come for lunch, on immigrants who want to study English, on those who need help with groceries from Community Ministries. Just this week our light shone brightly on fifty children gathered here to learn about Jesus, to grow in faith. We look after one another and our home bound friends as well. We reach out to the world through World hunger and our gifts to the greater church. In these ways, we respond to the Gospel: Life does not consist in the abundance of possessions: store up riches toward God. I heard the story of Valentine the Clown who keeps looking for his lost house key under the street light. Valentines friend, noting that the key is actually lying by the trash can over in the dark, asks Valentine,

Why dont you look for the key by the trash can? Valentine replies, Because the street light isnt over there! Where will we look for more opportunities to share Gods love? Will we look high on the hill in the light of The Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption? as did the farmer who built bigger barns? as did Valentine the Clown? Or will we look in the shadow, near St. Marks, where Jesus, our salvation, casts light in the darkness, light that makes a difference in the lives of all Gods people, as they give and receive Gods love. God be with us as we seek a vision of the future to which God calls us. Amen