Bust out a few cans of soup and box tops. Bring a bunch of soup cans up from the back.
Hi everyone!
I’m very glad to see you today.
So what’s today? (February 1, Souper Bowl, Souper Bowl of Caring)
Right! Today’s the Super Bowl. Who is rooting for who?
Who doesn’t know who is playing?
So it’s not only the Superbowl. It’s also the SOUPER BOWL. The Care Committee has been spending all of January organizing a can-soup drive. And we do it because Soup sounds like Super. And congregations all over the United States are raising money and food just like we are.
Now, this is only a few of the cans that we’ve raised. Can you count them for me? (Let them count the cans)
That’s a lot of cans! Now, I have another question for y’all. Why do you think we raised all these cans?
We’re not raising these cans just because we’re nice or wonderful or kind – though I think we are. And we’re not giving these cans to the Center of Food Action because we’re trying to show off how kind and considerate and wonderful we are.
There’s a verse in the bible that I think explains why we do things like this. Why we not only try to help those who need more food, but also why we fight injustice, and do all we can so that everyone has what they need to not only live a good life, but to thrive and succeed, as well.
It’s not a text we’ll hear today – but it underpins all that we do. And it’s from a letter, called the First Letter of John, and it’s in the 4th chapter, the 19th verse.
And it says “We love because he first loved us.”
We do the things we do to help others because God loved us so much, God sent Jesus to take care of us. So all the stories we hear about Jesus are about that love. Jesus walks with us when things are hard and when things are going well. Jesus keeps helping us – Jesus keeps loving us. And because God sent Jesus to love us – and to love us before we even knew his name – even when we were a baby and didn’t know how to speak – we love other people. We love because Jesus loves us.
So that’s why we raise food. That’s why we do all we can so that everyone can live a great life – and live the way that God wants them to live.
Thank you for being here! And I hope you have a blessed week.
Each week, I share a reflection for all children of God. The written manuscript serves as a springboard for what I do. This is from Christ Lutheran Church’s Worship on the 4th Sunday after Pentecost, 2/1/2015.