Heritage Sunday, tradtionally celebrated on the third Sunday in May, is a time when United Methodists honor their past and envision their future. The General Commission on Archives and History, in partnership with Discipleship Ministries, has created resources for church leaders to use on this special Sunday, including scripture recommendations, sermon notes, liturgy and hymn suggestions.
Scripture
So then, remember that at one time you gentiles by birth, called “the uncircumcision” by those who are called “the circumcision”—a circumcision made in the flesh by human hands—remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us, abolishing the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, 1nd might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then, you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone; in him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place foro God.
Ephesians 2:11-22 NRSVUE
Preaching Notes
What does the creed say? I believe in “the holy catholic Church.” Ah, the church. That explains it. Doesn’t it? Since church is about change. Church is about building, isn’t it? Not a building but “building”—the verb not the noun. Not everyone would agree. Especially on the change issue. Some folks want to focus on the stability, on the constancy of church. We want something to count on being the same, now and always. It was good when I was kid, why should it change now? Let’s just let things be, some would argue. Why stir it all up?
What is the church for? Stability or change? Constancy or growth? Holding fast or building up?
Our text from Ephesians says that the near and the far (Jews and Gentiles, insiders and outsiders, however you want to imagine it)
“have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us.” Ephesians 2:13-14
And then it says:
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God. Ephesians 2:19-22
Truth be told, it is hard to find a text about the church that isn’t about building, about change. That is what the New Testament presents. The church is not designed to be a place to go and hide or go and sit. The church is not a refuge from the world, a bolt hole to go wait out the changes out there. It is a place of transformation. It is a place of healing, but not for healing’s sake. You are healed so that you can continue the mission of the church. It is a place of learning and growing, of serving and building.
Paul writes (yes, there is some debate in biblical scholarship circles whether Paul actually wrote Ephesians - but let’s just skip over that discussion for now) that the church is about demolition and construction. Doesn’t sound very complacent.
The first order of business is tearing down the walls that divide us. True, according to verse 14, Christ is the one who tore down the wall. And that is certainly true. That which divides us, that which makes one better than another, that which singles out for inclusion or exclusion was destroyed by the life and death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. The paradox is that though those walls were torn down, we keep putting them back up. Yes, we can and should claim the freedom in Christ to see all people as part of the family—beloved as we are. But we would have to be blind to not see that those dividing walls of hostility are still there.
Which means that the body of Christ must be in the demolition business. We’ve got to stand alongside Christ to tear those walls down again. And again. And again. It is a never-ending task, to be honest. It is also a sobering one when we realize that some of those walls have our fingerprints on them. Some of those walls exist within us as we seek to identify those who we would include and those we would exclude from our own circles. So, a part of what has to change is our own propensity to erect walls of division.
If we’ve learned anything it is that deconstruction without construction is a fruitless exercise. Something will come along to fill the hole we have created, and it just might be worse. That is what is wrong with “just say no” programs. Saying no is great as long as there is something to say yes to. So, if the church is about tearing down walls, we also need to be about building something up.
Ephesians says that we are the building materials. The vision is Christ’s. And we learn to trust in that vision, and those who lead us in it. Even when we can’t see it. We are being built into the structure that is the temple, the dwelling place of God. We are being built into the facility that will allow anyone and everyone to see—not us—but the God who uses us as building materials. We set our prejudices, we set our preferences aside for the larger vision of the church. We are in process.
We claim our heritage as a way of reclaiming the task of continuing to build. Of being built. We’ve got to do something about the church. Roll up your sleeves.
Preaching Notes written by Rev. Dr. Derek Weber, Director of Preaching Ministries, Discipleship Ministries, May 2023.
Liturgical Resources
Call to Worship
On this Heritage Sunday, we gather to remember who we are.
We are the story of God’s grace in this place.
From Aldersgate Street to [fill in intersection where your church is located], God’s grace flows among us, guiding us to notice and participate in God’s unfolding story of love in our midst.
We are the story of God’s grace in this place.
We have seen troubles, conflict, and fear within and outside these walls, yet God remains as our faithful guide.
We are the story of God’s grace in this place.
We have been part of spreading God’s love in this community, rejoicing when we witness lives transformed, families nurtured, and neighbors caring for one another.
We are the story of God’s grace in this place.
Today may we celebrate all that God has done and continues to do in our midst as we remember and renew our commitment to take part in God’s story in this place.
We joyfully answer the call to live out God’s story of grace in this place! Amen.
Collect
Gracious God, you met John Wesley’s uncertainty with divine assurance and you called him to declare your salvation in the fields, streets, and prisons where people were desperate for good news. Inspire us today to carry the stories of all you have done among us beyond the doors of this building, that we may grow as your church in the world, a living temple that brings your love and grace to the corners of our communities that most need your good news. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.
Prayer for the Day
Almighty God, on whom we build all our hopes,
we come this Heritage Sunday to remember our story as your people
in this time and place, and to rededicate ourselves as your church
built upon the foundation of the word of God declared by the apostles and prophets
with Christ Jesus as the Cornerstone.
May our hearts be joined together into a living temple,
a church that grows and expands beyond the walls of this building
into the community where you have planted us.
Help us be a sanctuary for those in trouble,
a meeting place for the searching,
a loving home for the brokenhearted,
and a haven of peace for the distressed
as we bear the glad tidings of your salvation to the world.
Amen.
Benediction
Beloved children of God, you are a living temple. May God bless you today as you go forth to worship God by living out the story of God’s grace that saves us from sin, secures us on Christ our Cornerstone, and matures us in love of God and neighbor. Amen.
Liturgical Resources written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Director of Worship Arts, Discipleship Ministries, May 2023
Hymn Suggestions
“For the Beauty of the Earth,” UMH 92
“The Church’s One Foundation,” UMH 545
“And Are We Yet Alive,” UMH 553*
“Come Let Us Use the Grace Divine,” UMH 606*
“Together We Serve,” TFWS 2175
“We Are God’s People,” TFWS 2220
“O Look and Wonder/Miren Que Bueno!” TFWS 2231
“Welcome,” W&S 3152
“Cornerstone,” Hillsong Worship, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izrk-erhDdk
*Written by Charles Wesley