Remember when ... I wonder how many times we human beings use that phrase. Remember when we lived in the old house. Remember those good times? Remember those bad times.
Parents constantly remind children, in case they forget. Forget that they belong to a family which a history and a place. Children remind parents of promises made or broken.

Governments have special days in order that citizens might remember who they are, lest they forget.

The Church has special days and a worship calendar in order that we might not forget who we are. Christmas to remember that God was willing to become a human being in Jesus. Good Friday when we remember how even when our love failed, God's love brought us salvation. And of course Easter, where we remember that Christ was the first raised to new life, and so shall we.

Central to the worship of the Triune God is being a people who remember. This is why each Sunday we recount the stories of faith in our bible. While at times in the Bible the writers expound on abstract ideas about God, for example "God is love", most of the time they remind the people what God has done for us. "Remember when you were slaves in Egypt ... "

We even enact drama to remind us of what God has done for us and is doing for us. I remember when Fraser was baptized. We retold the story of Jesus, and we gathered at "the Jordon river". I mean, our little baptismal font, and he along with all the other saints entered into the body of Christ.

We enact a drama once a month. " This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes."

The word that Jesus uses for remembrance is "anamnesis". "Anamnesis" is not used in the English language, so the Bible translators use remembrance. There is a related word that we do use and it is called "Amnesia". It means to forget who you are. Someone gets knocked on the head, and wakes up in the hospital not knowing who they are. "You are my wife? I don't remember you." "You are my father? I don't know." How frightening that must be. But the word "Anamnesis" is the opposite, it is to remember but more than this. It is to remember is such a way that the past become present today. You know what I mean. Someone tells you a childhood story so vividly that you are there, the sights, the smells, the presence of a loved one comes flooding back.

Some say that we live in a time of forgetting. Like the Church in Ephesis, Paul commands us to remember. Remember that there was a time when you were not God's people. There was a time when only the Jews we God's people and you were outside of God's covenants. Remember there was a time when you walked in darkness without the hope of Christ. Remember that through Christ you were brought near. Remember that he made two people, the Jews (God's chosen people by birth) and the Gentiles (Us, made God's people through adoption).

That is who we are! We are children of God! That seems to have been forgotten by the Ephesian Church. It reminds me of my mother, who on the surface is no nationalist. There are no flags in front of the Love household on July 1st. But I remember when she came back from Europe, and after hours and hours flying over the open ocean. My mother, who is terrified of flying said, "I saw the coast of Canada and I thought, ‘Good, at least if the plane crashes I will die in Canada!'" This story reminded me that my mother, while not a nationalist, was and is a farmer, she remembers the importance of the land to who she is.

And for us, Paul reminds us the importance of who Christ is to us. You are citizens with the saints, and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundations of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the Cornerstone.

Who here is a citizen of Canada by birth? Who is a citizen by immigration? Those who immigrated, do you remember that day when you stood before the judge? When you were given that piece of paper? You were a Canadian, the same as us. With the same rights, responsibility and privileges. No one can take that away from you.

Remember that is how it is with Christ. We know through the cross that we are citizens with the saints. We belong to the nation of Christ. This is who we are, this is the gift we have been given. Citizenship might not seem important most of the time, yet when we are in a strange country, standing in front of authorities or perhaps we are in trouble at the border, then it is a life-saver. "I am a Canadian, I can prove it. Let me in." ‘I'm a Canadian, I have a right to call my consulate as required under the Geneva Convention."

Remember that you are a citizen of Christ when you find yourself terrified, or lost, or struggling. Especially remember this when you are face to face with Death or the forces of death. That you are a citizen with the saints, you are members of the household of God.

Especially remember this when you fail morally. When you do the wrong thing, or fail to do the right thing. Some people often think we Christians are do full of guilt and shame because we have confession each Sunday. "We're sorry ...", "We've failed ...", "Show us mercy ..." they say mockingly. But how wrong they are! We are not wallowing in guilt, but remembering that we are enclothed in God's grace. Yes, we tell the truth, that we fail, then we tell the truth that we are forgiven. We practice each Sunday the art of forgiveness, that when we encounter others who have failed us, we might forgive.

I am so thankful for Christ and the Church this last month. While I am still grieving and angry that the family whom we were going to adopt a baby from took him back, I am willing to forgive them. Even though, this beautiful baby, whom I was a father for 5 days was taken back, I will not condemn them. Some of my family have. My brother, pray for him, said, "I will never speak to her again or forgive her."

Now, I say this not to brag about my ability to forgive, since it is not my ability to do this but the work of Christ in the Church that has been shaping me over the years, through worship, through bible study, through prayer, through service to the world. Through coming to understand my own frailty and failures before God, that I might have compassion for this family who caused my family great grief. I am coming to know that compassion Christ has for me that I might have compassion for them. It is not easy, since I still am upset and angry, but forgiveness is there. Thank God.

And thank God that Christ is here. That forgiveness and mercy are here. That God is at work amongst us that we might continue to grow into, as Paul says, "... a holy temple of the Lord."

That is why we gather here each Sunday. To be reminded by God who we are; children of God, citizens with the saints, no longer strangers but family. We gather here each Sunday as a reminder to the world, that there is a way which leads to life and wholeness and even eternal life. We gather to worship God who shows is the way which is Christ Jesus.