“I am the Door”

 

This children’s sermon was offered for Christ Episcopal Church Eureka on Saturday May 9, 2020. 

As we have been worshipping online, I like to set up this gorgeous Christ Church Eureka banner in the House, but it tends to block our doorway a bit and actually functions as a kind of door.

Christ Church Eureka as a door, hmmm, that reminds me of the vision of our founder, Thomas Walsh, who was an Anglican from the Church of Ireland.

When he moved here to Eureka, he wrote a letter to the Humboldt Times, saying, “I propose DEO VOLENTE [which means ‘God willing’] erecting an Episcopal Church in Eureka, to be called Christ Church (I think a most appropriate name since Christ is the Door to Heaven).

He then goes on to say that all the seats in the church will be free since we have freely received our salvation in Christ then we should freely give.

Thomas Walsh wanted the Church to be named after Christ, who is the Door to Heaven.

In this way, he wanted the church itself to function as a kind of Door to Heaven.

In our Gospel reading last Sunday (Good Shepherd Sunday), Jesus said, “I am the Gate for the sheep.” In other words, “I am the door.”

In our Gospel reading for this Sunday, we will hear Jesus say, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. I am the way to the Father. I am the door to heaven.” Listen for those words in the Gospel reading.

Now what’s the purpose of doors?

Yeah, they protect us. Just as God protects us. So in that way, in makes sense that Christ identifies as a door. He (as our Good Shepherd and as the Gate for the sheep) protects us (his sheep).

What else do doors do? Doors can also open, right? And by doing that, they open us up to the world outside and even invite the world outside into our homes, into our lives, into our hearts.

Although our physical doors need to be closed right now to protect us all from getting sick, we can still open ourselves and our hearts to the wider world by praying for those who are sick and praying for all the helpers. And we are also opening our doors in a unique and expansive way by offering our prayer and worship online so that people all over the country and all over the world can safely join us and fall deeper in love with Christ our Good Shepherd who is our Way to Heaven.

We’ve been that Door to Heaven since 1870, which was many years ago.

Do you know how many years ago?

Well, what’s 2,020 minus 1,870?

That’s right, 150!

Christ Church Eureka is 150 years old.  Do you know how many worship services that’s been? A lot.

Over 15,000 worship services! With over hundreds of baptisms, weddings and confirmations.

We have been a Door to Heaven for 150 years by telling others about Jesus Christ, who loves and protects us, and by opening ourselves up to a world in need by praying and by sharing; and we will continue to be a Door to Heaven in new and exciting ways. And you are the generation that will lead us into that future. Thanks for joining me. See you on Sunday morning!