“Like a Child At Home”  Psalm 84; Isaiah 43:1-9, 11-13, 18-19  11/4/07 32^nd Anniversary- “Kirkin of the Tartans”

                Today’s worship focuses on the theme of homecoming and family.  I want to begin with a family story that involves both. There is an old story of my great, great, great grandfather coming home from the civil war.  He was wounded in his leg, and he was walking and hitching rides from Richmond to Walhalla, South Carolina.  It took him about three months to go that distance mainly by foot.  He struggled and struggled, literally dragging himself home, and he made it all the way to the front porch of the house, and he died there- before he could ever get inside, in the arms of his loved ones.

                I say this story to illustrate how very, very powerful the yearn to come home is.  We feel a yearning for home especially around the holidays- “I’ll be home for Christmas, if only in my dreams.”   Thanksgiving also is a time in which people gather around and want the family there.  We are sensitive to those who cannot be there because of distance or death.  Many a college student, many a young person who has moved away will sacrifice their time and money just to get home.  The longest lines at the airports happens during the holidays.  There is something inside of us that drives us to be with family- almost like the salmon that go to spawn in the rivers, or the purple martins that migrate to bomb island.  There is also a sense in which we year for our spiritual home.  As Augustine said, “Our hearts are restless til they find their rest in Thee.”  The Psalmist said, “Even the sparrow has found a home- a place in your house, O Lord.”

                I visited the Presbyterian churches in Taiwan several years ago, and one of the things I’ll not forget about that trip was watching the changing of the guard at Chiang Kai Chek’s tomb.  There were live rounds in their rifles- somber looks on their faces, and I knew that they were guarding something sacred to them.  The changing of the guard meant that one guard passed on the responsibility to another.  They were different people guarding what to them was a sacred trust- worth dying for.  Lake Murray Presbyterian Church has been here 32 years.  Most of our charter members are gone, and we have had a plethora of new members come into our church.  But what we consider sacred still remains.  What we guard as sacred is not just from our church, but has been passed onto us through the centuries. 

                The communion of the saints is what we celebrate today.  Communion means being with someone- “com” is the word “with” and union refers to the idea of being one.   It reminds us that we are treading where the saints have trod—and we want to remain on the same path- the narrow way to heaven.   We are standing on the shoulders of the Carl Ewans, the Joe Wylys, the Michael Jarretts who started the organ fund.  We celebrate those who have been faithful before us- the parents who raised their children here, the children who grew up here and continue to keep the faith, the ministers, educators and staff who have labored in this field.   We have had a “hero” theme here this year in our community and church.  On this “All Saints Sunday” we recognize those who have worked and given heroically and sacrificially for our church.  We hope to continue to carry that torch.  There is a sense in which we are one with those who have gone before- how?

I. WE ARE WITH EACH OTHER IN SPIRIT- Primarily there is a spiritual bond that unites one Christian to another.  It is a mysterious, yet evident relationship.  It transcends clans, tartans, nations, and races.  It goes beyond denominations.  It crosses the border of education, or whether we are beautiful or ugly, republican or democrat- voting yes or voting no.  Some who have a discerning spirit can see a person’s relationship with Christ right away.  I have sat next to another on a plane and could just sense they were a believer. 

II. WE ARE WITH EACH OTHER IN LOVE- We all have the same commandment to love each other.  The communion of the saints means we are in this place because others have loved God here.  Maybe you’ve heard someone say, “Anyone who is a friend of Joe is a friend of mine.”  In a sense we are here because we share the same Father, and have the same friend in Jesus Christ and the Spirit.  That doesn’t mean we will not have disagreements.  Any family will have disagreements! But it does mean that this tie of love binds us to each other.   There is a sense in which we are one with the angels and archangels and saints who have gone before- worshipintg the same God- because we are in love with God in our heart, soul, mind, and strength

III. WE ARE WITH EACH OTHER IN PURPOSE-

Our purpose is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.  Most tickets you will get to an event will say, “Void if detached.”  The ticket must remain part of the ticket book or stub until it’s time to go through the gate.  The Christian also is called to be part of the body of Christ- and not an isolate member.  Just as several logs together make a brighter flame than individual logs apart, so we are called to be lights together.

                Isaac Watts, the writer of our next hymn was called “The Father of English hymnody.”  His father was a reformed dissenting minister in England- which meant that he spent a good time in jail for not using the English prayer book.  Isaac Watts complained to his father about the poor state of the music of his day.  His father said, “If you don’t like it, then you write something better!”  Watts began to write, in fact, he wrote a new hymn every Sunday for two years.   He has written over 600 most popular hymns including, “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”, “O God Our Help in Ages Past”, and “Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun” and “Joy to the World”.  Watts most often took psalms and turned them into hymns.  One of his favorite hymns was Psalm 23.  This tune is said to come from Scottish roots.   Watts lived until he was 74, but he had ill health his whole life.  I think this hymn is most fitting, for this Psalm. 

                I remember going on a trip once, and our children were young.  They didn’t rest well until they got in their own beds with their own pillows and blankets around them- and then they sank into a deep, deep sleep.  One of the lines of this hymn that haunts me, is the last one, “No more a stranger, or a guest, but like a child at home.”  I hope you will always consider Lake Murray Presbyterian Church your church home.  It is a place that you can call you own.  It is a place where others may come and go, but you remain.  The Psalmist says, “Even a sparrow has found a home, a place to lay her young.”  We welcome all of you home today.  Amen