On one side of us is the time Jesus in the Bible. When he was born in Bethlehem, lived among us, proclaiming release to the captives, giving sight to the blind and freedom to the oppressed; proclaiming the Good News. And on the other side of us, is the promise of Jesus Christ's coming again. When God will finally and completely break into history and set things right. What we Christians call, "The Second Coming."; "Judgement Day.", or if you want to get fancy, "The Parousia" or the "Eschaton".

But today, James letter is not about fancy words. It is about this simple question, "What do we do between now and then?" How do we Christians live in this world faithfully until Christ returns? Basically, how are we to be Christians until the Resurrection?

Big questions, but God bless James, he is always so down to earth. He always gives a tangible place to start living the Christian life together. James points to the sick; So let's talk about sick people.

Who here has been really sick? {wait for hands} If you want, James says, you can "summon the elders". Actually the Greek is stronger. No, "you can officially demand that the elders of this community come and pray over you and anoint you with oil." Notice a couple things about this;

1. It says, "Elders"; who are they? Some might be thinking, "Oh that is the ministers job to visit the sick ... not exactly ... not any more than it is the job of any of us here who are Christians.
2. But the second point is more important. That is, sick people can make demands on the community. To demand that they are not treated like most of the world treats those who are very sick. But shunning them, locking them up and away from sight. The sick can expect that their Christian community will not alienate them. The can demand to be prayed for, and not only that, but that someone will touch them. That is what the oil is about. You place it on the hands or forehead, or both. And to do so you have to be touched.

Touch is important! Take it away from babies and they die. Mis-use it and see the harm caused. Sexually abuse someone and see touch's power to cause untold harm in your victim's life, and then see hell unleashed in your own. Touch can be a dangerous thing.

Touch is also such a human blessing! Use touch well, and it heals and restores; all humans need good and safe touch. It says that we are human, that we are in community, that we are loved. Don't under-estimate the power of the passing of the peace. The power of Christ that is expressed in our saying to each other, "You matter to God." Touch has power for both good and for bad; do not underestimate it.

Those of you who have been visibly sick know what I mean. If it is not in people's eyes, it is in their touch. Some have gone so far as to avoid touching you. Treating you less than human. James challenges this within Christian community; if you are sick and no one comes to pray or give you safe touch; you can, at least, demand it from at least the elders of the community.

Other places we might understand that people might treat us as less than human, but among Christians we can expect ... no, we can demand to be treated as human; as beloved children of God.

But let me back track; why are people afraid of the sick? Why? {Because they fear their loss of health and security) Exactly ... they fear.

But what is the strongest and most often command of Jesus? {Fear Not}. Do not fear. Now let's be real here; of course each of us has fears. Most of us here indeed fear the loss of health and security and those who are sick have honest fears of pain and loss of dignity. But. But together, with the power of Christ among us; together through the power of the Holy Spirit, fear can be overcome. When we do not walk alone; fear has less power over us. And when we know that Christ walks with us, fear lessens, even if it is through the valley of the shadow of death that we all will go. When we know we do not walk alone; fear loses its grip on us.

Remember one of the United Church creeds? It starts, "We are not alone ..." In our biblical text this morning, James is talking about the power of Christian community; and its central importance in our lives; in our being human. The struggle to be human is real; the sick know that. But all of us know it too. James does not stop at physical sickness; he moves onto sin. Spiritual sickness ... something we all deal with.

We act in less than human ways; we betray each other; and we are betrayed; we neglect each other; and we are neglected; we struggle with addictions; obvious ones and not so obvious ones. All far short of what God would have us be. It's something all, who's eyes are open, can see. We are sinners. We mess up and sometimes with great consequences to deal with.

And James says; here too we can have expectation something from each other in Christian community; we can expect that he we will not condemn each other. We can share our confessions with each other. Here among Christians we can admit our fallen-ness; that we are not as bright, or fair, or just, or good as we pretend to be. Here we may not approve of each others actions ... we may even dismayed at our choices; but here we will not condemn each other. We might be angry. even outraged with each other; and their might be consequence to our actions; but here we will not condemn. We will not say, "God has given up on you; damn you to hell." Instead we will say, "Turn from the ways of death, and God will forgive you. And give you new life."

Friends in Christ, we need each other to be able to share our deepest struggles. Both to be forgiven and to eventually to forgive. It ain't easy! That is what James is call us to know this morning. We need each other! We need friends who have lived with cancer to pray with us, touch us and show us how to live with dignity and strength. We need others who have failed, to pray with us, to touch us and show us how to seek God's power, in order to start again. And we need those who have forgiven to pray with us, to touch us, and to help us know how to, is possible and the time is right, to come a time of forgiveness. We need each other.

But why? Because we know a simple truth; that when two or three gather, in Jesus name, Christ is with us.

That's the Source that James proclaims. That is who is among us in this community. Jesus Christ; building us up, if we will let him. Jesus, the one who touches the sick and makes them whole. The one who reaches out to sinners, and forgives those who are truly sorry. Jesus, who gives us the power to be the people of God; his very presence in the world; if we will seek his wisdom, power and presence. He is with us in Spirit.

And one day he will come again, very soon; And then we shall see him face to face. And then, things shall be as God intended. Life restored as God intends it. What a day that will be! Hallelujah!

Call to Worship

Risen One, you walk among us today.
You have promised that where two or three gather you are there.
By faith, we welcome your presence, in the lives of those who have gather today.

Confession

You are not a distant God who set Creation in motion, and then sit on some heavenly throne, distant, aloof, and untouched by the world of your creatures. Through the witness of your covenant with Israel, and through the witness of your Church, we know you are a God willing to enter into the chaos of human struggles, injustice, and suffering. In the fullness of time, you came in Jesus, the Word made flesh. You were fully human, you suffered hunger, heart-ache, and betrayal. And yet, you remained faithful in your mission to proclaim the Kingdom, to call humanity to your way of love and justice. Where our love failed, your love was steadfast, even to horrific death on a cross. And then, you did not wash your hands of us, but returned to us and proclaimed your peace to us, calling us to be your people, including us in your mission of reconciliation.

Forgive us when we have forgotten whom we belong to. Forgive us when we fail to love those you have called us to walk with as your church. Forgive us those whom we touch in our lives do not find blessings, but indifference or even harm.

We confess our need for your presence, that we and our world might find fullness of life.

Offering
Let this money touch the lives of others through the mission of your church here at Shiloh, in New Westminister, BC, Canada and around the world through our Mission and Service fund. Multiply its work that your glory might be shown in transformed lives, in healed relationships, in a restored creation, and in the sharing of your Good News, until Christ returns and your world is fully restored. AMEN.