Rev. Moon’s message for May 22, 2022

Dear Friends,

On Saturday, May 14, I attended my first Time, Talent, and Treasures auction at the church. I was very overwhelmed by the generosity, love, and fun our members demonstrated for the church during the event. Our sincere thanks to Cindy, Nelson, and all who spent hours organizing the event. Our thanks also go to everyone who participated, donated, and prayed for the event and the congregation. Since this was my first time, I did not know what I expected from the event.

“Caritas” (1894–95), by American artist Abbott Handerson Thayer (1849–1921); from the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; taken from the Wikimedia Commons.

However, I went into the event with one objective in mind: Winning the gift Rev. Dr. Bob Smith had offered. Rev. Bob Smith graciously offered to write and deliver a sermon from a text the winner of its bidding would chose (in consultation with Bob). I did not have a particular text in mind, but I had times in mind when I could use it—when I am exhausted, when I am running out of ideas and get stuck with a particular text, when I have to lead a funeral or a wedding service during the week, when my kids start saying, “I am surprised to see you at home”, when I get tired of listening to my own sermon with saying, “I said this before”, or when I need time to focus on other parts of my life. I can go on and on about when I could use the gift.

However, I did not win the gift. Unfortunately, I lost the bidding. I tried my best but lost to another member of the congregation. But then I asked myself on my way home, “Did I actually lose? I still get to choose when Rev. Bob preaches (with the blessing of Rev. Bob and the member), although I don’t select a text. I will get an extra week off, and I did not spend any money. Guess what? Who won that night?

Friends, no one lost that night; everyone won. We won for each other. We won for the risen Christ. May we remember to celebrate the kinds of gifts, talents, times, resources, and love we offer to each other in the name of Jesus Christ each day!

—Rev. Chuck Moon

A version of this message first appeared in the Friday, May 20, 2022, edition of Tidbits.