View today's sermon on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7zHdxFu2ik.

Luke 7:36-50 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

³⁶ One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and when he went into the Pharisee’s house he reclined to dine. ³⁷ And a woman in the city who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. ³⁸ She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair, kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment. ³⁹ Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.” ⁴⁰ Jesus spoke up and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Teacher,” he replied, “speak.” ⁴¹ “A certain moneylender had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. ⁴² When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?” ⁴³ Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt.” And Jesus said to him, “You have judged rightly.” ⁴⁴ Then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. ⁴⁵ You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. ⁴⁶ You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. ⁴⁷ Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven loves little.” ⁴⁸ Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” ⁴⁹ But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” ⁵⁰ But he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Matthew 25:35-40 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

³⁵ for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, ³⁶ I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ ³⁷ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food or thirsty and gave you something to drink? ³⁸ And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you or naked and gave you clothing? ³⁹ And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ ⁴⁰ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.’

[This may seem a bit disjointed because there wasn't much written down this morning for our sermon time.]

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This morning our sermon time will be different than usual – because our world is different. 

Our scriptures, as always, are our guides. Our prophets – past and present are our guides. And we, one another, through the work of the Holy Spirit will find our way forward, together. 

These responses are from a survey/questionnaire distributed before worship this morning. Apologies for not getting it distributed to those on-line prior to the service. 

If you wish, share your fears for yourself, our elders, our youth, and our next generations.

• We are living through a time of chaos and damage to all that we hold dear. Our elders have seen this before. Our young people did not expect this. Our next generations will know what, how, and why this has happened. 

• I fear we have, as a country forgotten who we are – what we believe. 

• Unrestricted AI. The current political climate. 

• I am trying to not dwell on fear so this question would take me more time that I have now. 

• The ache lives besides joy - - It’s there but hope is my lifeline.

• Aging

• Came this morning to be in a place where people might be praying about the war.

• Insufficient water for drinking. Lack of compassion. 

• Safe place for infirm elderly to live.

• Climate change. Political division. 

• I feel that the world is descending into flaming chaos which will alter all life for the worse. 

• Lack of long term care options for people who lack resources or family to help them out. Too much reliance on on-line social groups to tell people what to think. 

• That we will despair without hope – that we will fear there is nothing on the other side of all that is ending. That we will stop reaching out to one another. 

• Going blind. Being alone – isolated/isolating from other people. Opening up – need more of it. Concerns for veterans – need more outreach.

  
  

Tell us something good… that you have done, that has happened to you or that you have witnessed.

• I have been generous to strangers, in response to seeing them be kind to others. 

• Watching three women having lunch together invite a woman who was alone, in the next booth to their table, moved me, and I paid for their meals. This was not in a place that I live, or people I know. But I witnessed three things: Noticing, the women noticed the other woman, alone. Inviting, they invited her to join them. Gratitude, the woman accepting the invitation was grateful. 

• We have helped an elderly neighbor, living in sub-standard housing, arrange her affairs and offered her shelter on these cold nights. 

• It is just good to get up in the morning and know the sun, even during a storm, is still there. 

• Healthy, happy children. 

• I am trying to not see thru perfectionist eyes – helping me not regret past acts, judgements on others and this helps me be more compassionate to myself and others and life’s situations. 

• So many random acts of kindness – just last week a friend gave us two nights in Portland that she couldn’t use and thought of us! Melted our hearts! 

• New church. 

• Last nights NAACP Image Awards – light in the darkness!

• The Hancock church welcomes everyone!

• While struggling to shovel the dirt from our sidewalk last spring a teenage boy who we did not know stopped and asked if we needed help. Which we accepted. Turns out it was his birthday and he was trying out his new bike!

• This church is an oasis of sanity, even in our relatively sane community and state. 

• I went to the Alcyon Center for 3 wonderful days of silence, simplicity, and skiing!

• Volunteered with Veterans – seeing their positive reactions made me feel good. People often overlook easy stuff that anyone can do – coffee and donuts, etc. 

  
  

Tell us something good… that you hope to experience or have happen in the world.

• The little children in my life do not know what is happening in the wider world. They know only what they have, what love surrounds them. They know joy that is not tinged with fear or dread. I hope that this may someday be possible for all children.

• I hope to see our federal officials acknowledge truth and govern without groundless lies and prejudice.

• Hope is a thing with feathers – and feathers are lovely, complicated and beautiful. 

• Restoration of moral clarity and leadership in the world. 

• The smiling faces of friends.

• Loving communication. NVC! (Non-violent Communication) Go Gina!

• All would return to worship God

• Love and compassion will overcome all the anger in the country. 

• The pendulum always swings and this nightmare of presidential overreach will end at some point. 

• That we will discover the Holy, God, Spirit where we never expected. That we will be open to wonder. 

• Hopeful that experts will come up with something that will fix my eyes. 

  
  

Tell us… what brings you hope? 

• You – this place – these people.

• Resistance, resilience, reliance on each other. 

• We are seeing the gradual exposure of the rich and powerful to force accountability. 

• My hope is in the Lord ~

• Community

• The sun rise!

• Connection – every day with family, friends – sharing feelings – open dialogue without judgement. 

• Good people taking the courage to take up leadership in “Doing Good!”

• Our children and grandchildren who have good ideas on how to make things better. 

• My belief is the pendulum and in the innate goodness and benevolent impulse which is inherent in most (all?) people. 

• Our church – members and friends and the work we do. 

• Being in church, in nature, with others, reaching out, making connections.

• I have a roof over my head, 3 meals a day, people who can help me out. 

What brings Pastor TJ hope? The poets. Saturday I turned to Wendell Berry and found this: 

Sabbath Poems, 1993, IV

Hate has no world. 

The people of hate must try 

to possess the world of love, 

for it is the only world; 

it is Heaven and Earth. 

But as lonely, eager hate 

possesses it, it disappears; 

it never did exist, 

and hate must seek another 

world that love has made.

Wendell Berry, This Day: Collected & New Sabbath Poems

Closing Prayer: 

An Affirmation of Faith 

I believe in the good news of Jesus Christ.

It sounds like welcome and feels like home.

It sounds like laughter and feels like mercy.

It sounds like love and feels like a seat at the table,

so I believe in the good news of Jesus Christ.

I have seen it alive in the world.

And even when my heart aches,

even when wars rage,

even when mercy feels out of reach,

I remember the one who welcomed the children and led with nonviolence.

I remember the one who cared for the vulnerable and inspired those around him.

I remember that the good news really is good news,

for I have seen it alive in the world.

Thanks be to God!

Amen

(from A Sanctified Art, liturgical resource)

Rev. TJ Mack – March 1, 2026