Everyone has a worry list–things that concern them.  There are lots of things in this world that we don’t like.  There are lots of things that God doesn’t like.  Who is going to do something about it?  The Bible tells us to seek first the kingdom of God.  Jesus told a group of scribes and Pharisees not that the kingdom is inside of you, but that it is in your midst.  The kingdom of God was happening in the midst of the world then and it is happening in the midst of the world now.  God has called us to be that kingdom of God.

I don’t like to use other people’s stories, but this one is so good that I couldn’t resist.

Bob Newton, the president of the California, Nevada, Hawaii District, at the pastors/educators conference, told about a visit to one of his congregations up in the mountains. This was his first visit to the church. Even though it was a small town, he needed to stop at a gas station to ask directions to the Bed and Breakfast where he would spend the night.

The young lady at the cash register said “Go straight on down the street about two more blocks. It’s on the left hand side. There’s a sign out front. You can’t miss it.” He then asked about the church that he was visiting. He got a blank look from the young lady. She really didn’t know. The next morning he set out to find the church. It was a small town and it didn’t take him long.

In fact, if the young lady in the gas station stood by the cash register and looked out the window, she would be looking right at the church’s sign.

President Newton met with the people of the church. They complained about the lack of attendance, the lack of people joining the congregation, and all of the other things that church people complain about. President Newton asked what were the people in town concerned about above everything else. Just about everyone said “the high school.” There were so few students in town that every spring they worried if the school would be closed, all of their teachers would get pink slips, and their children would be bused to a high school in a town twenty miles away. In the winter that could be dangerous. President Newton said “Why don’t you throw an appreciation dinner for all of the teachers.” One of the men said that would be

expensive. President Newton said, “I didn’t say pay for it. Spearhead it. Ask the Elks if you could rent their hall. Ask the supermarket if they would help with the food.” One fellow spoke up, “The Elks will let us have the hall for free.” The congregation did an appreciation dinner for the teachers. The whole town pitched in to help. Don’t you think that the young lady in the gas station knows where the church is now? If people don’t know who you are or where you are, how will they hear you? What worries you? What bothers the people who live around you? I’m sure that everyone here could come up with a whole laundry list of things that he or she is concerned about.

Who is going to do something about it?

The other day I was out on the playground with my peer group—the two year olds. We were playing on the small slide. They were doing the sliding and I was cheering them on and tickling tummies and paying attention to them. They were showing me some of the less desirable aspects of a two year old. They were so eager that they forgot about things like sharing and no pushing and do not step on a classmate in your eagerness to be first. And I thought to myself the congress of the United States has all the bad characteristics of two year olds—the pushing and shoving, the playing silly little political games, the refusal or inability to get their work done. And the administration doesn’t seem to be a whole lot better.

Certainly these aren’t the people that I would think of first if I actually wanted something accomplished.

So who actually gets things done? One of the nice things about being on the calling end of the call process, is that I get to sit in on the interviews. As Yogi Berra would say, you can observe a lot just by watching. And you can hear a lot just be listening. One senior pastor mentioned that sometimes when he shows up at church, the parking lot is filled, and he wonders what is going on. I know the feeling. Sometimes I’ve shown up at church and the parking lot is filled. I start to worry or if I have the day wrong and this is Sunday and I’m late for services.

Most of the time, it is because an event is going on. I like to be aware of what’s happening at the church, but there are many things that are not dependent on the pastor.

I happened to stumble on a group of ladies that were making treasure boxes—boxes for boys and girls—for children in an orphanage. There are others who are making prayer shawls for those who are ill and receiving blankets for new moms—including new moms from our school. There are some who are collecting little things to remind the people in our Armed Forces that people really do care about their services. And there are teachers who are changing dirty diapers and wiping snotty noses. In just about every congregation that I’ve served, changing dirty diapers is part of the church’s ministry.

Who gets things done? All of this leads to one of the most profound insights of Scripture—the priesthood of all believers. God sent his Son into this world to die for people—men, women, children. There are lots of things in this world that you don’t like, that I don’t like, and lots of things that God doesn’t like.

All of us, at times, show the least desirable characteristics of two year olds. We forget things like sharing and taking turns and not stepping on other people to get ahead. It’s even worse than periodically forgetting. Sinning is part of our DNA. But God has accepted us as we are and forgiven us. God has made us his church—all of us from the last infant that was baptized to the oldest member of the congregation—men, women, children.

Then God has thrown us right back into this world that we find so much to dislike about.

God has made us the Body of Christ on earth—the hands, feet, voice of the Lord. The Gospel lesson for today said don’t worry about the things on our worry list. Don’t worry whether or not you are going to be the height of fashion. Don’t worry about whether or not everything on your table is gourmet or organic. Seek first the kingdom of Him who sought you out. Seek first the kingdom of God.

Who seeks first the Kingdom of God?

Who gets things done? Quite frankly it’s often the ladies of the church who get things done. The Lutheran Women’s Missionary League is a shining example within our denomination. Here is a group of women who have their focus on the mission of God’s church. Their mite boxes, their collection of pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters may not sound like much, but it has supported an incredible proclamation of the Word of God throughout the world. The priesthood of all believers, including women working together to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Our own women’s group both supports the work of the LWML and is focused on our local community and our congregation. They are the ones who come up with ideas to address local community and our congregation. They are the ones who come up with ideas to address local needs. They come up with fundraising ideas to support local causes.

The ladies of our church do an incredible amount. They see that the altar is prepared, and the altar cloths are laundered, the bulletins are folded, and so many other things that need to get done are taken care of.

In a mountain village or in the middle of a megapolis, the kingdom of God is present. It consists of women, men, and children—the redeemed, loved people of the Lord.

Jesus was talking one time with scribes and Pharisees. In the King James Version is says that he told them the kingdom of God was within them. A better translation would be the kingdom is in your midst. It’s all around you. It was happening then and it is happening now. We are the church and we are the people whom God has called to live as the kingdom in the midst of this world and do its work.