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“GRATITUDE FOR THOSE WHO LOVE & SUPPORT US” (11/14/10)

SCRIPTURES: Acts 9:19b-31 & Luke 1:36-45, 56
KEY THEMES: As we continue our worship theme, of “expressing our gratitude” we thank
God for those who love & support us – especially our educators, mentors & encouragers.
OPENING QUOTE:
“We Need One Another” by George E. Odell
We need one another when we mourn & would be comforted.
We need one another when we are in trouble & afraid.
We need one another when we are in despair, in temptation & need to be recalled to
our best selves again.
We need one another when we would accomplish some great purpose & cannot do it
alone.
We need one another in the hour of success, when we look for someone to share our
triumphs.
We need one another in the hour of defeat, when with encouragement we might
endure & stand again.
We need one another when we come to die & would have gentle hands prepare us for
the journey.
All our lives we are in need AND others are in need of us.
This morning we express gratitude for all who have loved & supported us. This morning we
still need each other & others need us through all the seasons of our lives. Today, we will
turn our attention toward not only those educators, teachers & mentors that have positively
impacted & changed our lives, but we will also note the encouragement & mentoring in
today’s Scriptures. As we continue in worship…
WILL YOU PRAY WITH ME? PRAYER:
GOSPEL READING – LUKE 1:36-45, 56:
Today’s Gospel reading offers a loving glimpse into the first human being to offer
encouragement to Mary, the mother of Jesus. Mary has just been told she would give birth to
Jesus & as the news sunk in, she was also informed that her aged cousin, Elizabeth was 6
months pregnant. As Mary accepted her role as the biological mother of Jesus, she also
decided to visit Elizabeth & Zachariah’s home, where she was received warmly. She
remained with them for about 3 months before returning home.
What I find fascinating about today’s reading is how two women who were not “supposed” to
be pregnant were “with child”. And in the midst of these unexpected pregnancies, they found
a way to love & support each other AND their unborn children in a time when both women &
children were not valued. Truly God’s Spirit must have been involved in both of their lives.
CONTEMPORARY APPLICATION:
The relationship between Elizabeth & Mary is a wonderful example to us in the 21st century
as to the valuable of female mentoring & support. I believe some of our most ardent
supporters can be found in our own families of origin. The women were first cousins, which
meant that John & Jesus were second cousins & probably grew up together. I’m sure
Elizabeth had a lot going on in her life getting ready for the arrival of her child. And yet, she
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made the time for her younger cousin, Mary: to be there for her, to love & reassure her & to
offer wisdom & insights for life.
The need for older women to mentor younger women has never been greater. In addition to
our biological mothers, women – of all ages – can benefit from the positive influences of other
women who have incredible wisdom & life experiences. For those of you who are here this
morning who are not only educators, but also mentors, we thank you! Thank you for
investing in our future – in our children, in our young adult women & in each other!
ONLINE READING: According to a November 2000 magazine article, entitled “Women
Mentoring Women”, Margaret Schlegel stated that female graduate students are encouraged
to seek out a mentor because “mentors differ from advisers in that they provide both
psychosocial functions, such as role modeling, acceptance & affirmation, as well as career
functions, such as sponsorship, coaching & networking.”
NEW TESTAMENT READING – ACTS 9: 19B-31:
And lest we need an example of male bonding & support in Scripture, we need only to look a
few books over from Luke to find an example. In Acts, chapter 9, we read an amazing
account of networking & relational support between the newly transformed Paul & one of the
strongest encouragers of the early Christian church – Barnabas.
Since Paul had a personal history of being a huge persecutor (Acts 8:1, 9:1-ff) of followers of
Jesus, people were naturally skeptical of him. Some followers of the Way thought Paul’s
desire to be “in their group” might be a ploy to find out who they were so he could arrest &
persecute them. And even though Paul had genuinely encountered Christ on the road to
Damascus (Acts 9:2-19); he was still an outsider in the early Church.
Enter Barnabas. Earlier in the book of Acts (4: 36-37), we learn that Barnabas was a Levite;
a native of Cyprus whose original name had been Joseph. However, the apostles renamed
him Barnabas, which meant “son of encouragement.” Barnabas was such an encourager
that it actually warranted a name change!
His encouragement – in today’s reading – came in the form of putting his reputation on the
line for a former enemy of the Church. Barnabas vouched for Paul & Paul was accepted. I
believe without Barnabas’ support Paul could NOT have become the leader of the 1st century
Church that he did! Barnabas’ commitment to encourage, vouch for & support Paul literally
changed the face of Christianity & the early Church. AND I believe that Barnabas was able
to encourage & support Paul because Barnabas was secure in himself. He believed in a God
that included all types of people – regardless of where they came from or what they’d done.
CONTEMPORARY APPLICATION:
So, what about us today? How are we like Barnabas? Quietly encouraging, building bridges
for other people to walk across? Sometimes wondering if we’re making any difference at all?
Today, I remind you – to keep the faith & to know that you ARE absolutely making a positive
difference in the lives of others. Don’t give up…because our children & the world need you!
AND how might some of us be like Paul? Maybe we have a past that people won’t let us
forget? Maybe we’ve made some positive changes, but people still won’t give us a chance?
Maybe we’ve got great potential, but can’t seem to break into our next place of service?
CLOSING:
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And that’s why we all need encouragers in our lives. And that’s why we all need to remember
to encourage others in their lives!
During this month of November, when our thoughts more naturally turn toward gratitude &
thanksgiving, I invite you to make the time to say “thank you” to those who have encouraged
& supported you during your life. And especially on this day, here at Our Hope MCC, as we
appreciate our teachers, educators & mentors, take a moment to say thank you, to send a
note/card to a teacher who helped make you who you are today. And if nothing else, at least
say a genuine prayer of gratitude, asking God to bless those educators who have blessed
you!
As we close, may we all remember just how wonderfully blessed we are because of the
people in our lives who have felt called to be the following: Academic advisors,
administrators, assistant principals, bus drivers, classroom teachers, coaches, crossing
guards, curriculum writers, dieticians, educators, guidance counselors, librarians, lunchroom
workers, office staff, paraprofessionals, principals, professors, teachers’ assistants, teachers
of teachers & superintendents. And may we give thanks for every educator that God has
used to influence our lives on this earth. Amen.

Sources Consulted in order of usage:

Opening Quote:
Odell, George E. “We Need One Another (#468).” in Singing the Living Tradition. Boston:
Unitarian Universalist Association, 1993.
Regarding John the Baptizer:
John the Baptist. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Baptist (accessed November 12,
2010).
Regarding Female Mentors:
Schlegel, Margaret. “Women Mentoring Women.” Monitor on Psychology, 31, no. 10 (Nov.
2000). http://www.apa.org/monitor/nov00/mentoring.aspx (accessed November 12, 2010).
Regarding Biblical information (John & Acts):
Coogan, Michael D., ed. The New Oxford Annotated Bible, 3rd edition. Oxford: University
Press, 2007. New Testament, 97, 202.