bethquick.comThe blog of bethquick.com - Sermons/Lectionary Notes/Resources for MinistryPagesHomeSermons & Lectionary NotesSaturday, November 28, 2015Sermon, "Prayerful: Thanksgiving," Matthew 6:24-33Sermon 11/22/15Matthew 6:24-33Prayerful: ThanksgivingMymother will tell you that in some ways, I’ve been a worrier since I was alittle girl. When I started kindergarten, I went through a stretch where I keptasking my mother “what if” questions about starting school. What if I couldn’tfind my bus? What if I got locked in the bathroom and no one heard me callingfor help getting out? What if no one was home when I got off the bus? What ifthe teacher didn’t show up? What if I wore a dress on a day I was supposed towear pants for gym? What if I didn’t have my money for milk? These wereapparently serious concerns on my 5 year old mind, and my mother did her bestto help me relax, to know that I would be safe and that someone would be therewho could help me no matter what I encountered. I don’t even remember havingall these questions myself, so she must have done a good job in calming myanxieties. But I’mstill a worrier. I might put on a good exterior show, if you think I am alwayscalm, cool, and collected. But I am worried about matters large and small everyday. There was a study that came out at the end of last year that said peoplewho worry a lot might have higher intelligence, and I rejoiced, because it iscertainly about the only benefitworrying might produce. Everybody, it seems, worries about something sometime.Are you a worrier? Do you experience stress? How do you cope with it? We’regoing through a period of global fear and worry just now, aren’t we? Our mindsare filled with images of violence people have been experiencing in the MiddleEast, in Europe, in Africa. We’ve experienced acts of violence in the US in thepast year. At my job in Rochester we had to watch a video about what to do, howto respond, should someone come into the building and start shooting. It ishard not to be afraid, to be worried, and then to let our lives be ruled by ourfear and worry.   And in themidst of this, we find this scripture passage from the gospel of Matthew. It’sa passage we characterize as being about “worry,” although there’s certainly alot packed into this text. In this chapter, Jesus has just talked about givingalms, praying, and fasting, followed up by saying that “where your treasure is,there your heart will be also.” And then Jesus starts with today’s passage. Hesays that one cannot serve both God and wealth. This statement is a springboardfor Jesus to speak about worry. Don’t worry, Jesus says, about what to eat, ordrink, or wear. Life is more than these things. The birds of the air don’t workor worry, and have plenty to eat, and we are more valuable than birds. And thelilies are clothed with great beauty, but they only last a little whi