Genesis 18:1-15
They said to him, “Where is your wife Sarah?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” Then one said, “I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?” The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too wonderful for the Lord? At the set time I will return to you, in due season, and Sarah shall have a son.” But Sarah denied, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. He said, “Oh yes, you did laugh.”
The Lord appeared to them by the maples of West Road, as they sat at the entrance of the tent in the heat of the day. They looked up and saw three travelers standing near. When they saw them, they hopped up from their chairs and went to the edge of the hill to greet them, motioned for them to come up and said, “My lord, if we find favor with you, do not pass by your servants. Push that button to turn on the water pump and push it again to turn it off. Take off your packs and your shoes and rest yourselves in the shade. Let me show you some snacks and homemade blueberry muffins, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” Or something like that. So the hikers said, “Do as you have said” And the volunteers hastened to the person grilling and said, “Make ready quickly three hot wieners, made from… well it’s best not to ask what they are made from… grill them, and make hotdogs.” Then they ran to the cooler and took out three hamburger patties, tender and good, and gave it to the griller, who hastened to prepare it. Then they took pickles and watermelon and the burgers that had been prepared, and set it before them; and they stood by them under the tent while they ate.
The Lord appeared to them at the park in Sheffield, as they sat at the entrance of the pavilion in the heat of the day. They looked up and saw three people standing near. When they saw them, they ran from the pavilion entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground and said, “My lord, if I find favor with you, do not pass by your servant. Let a program be brought, and let us take you to your seat, and rest yourselves under this pavilion. Let me bring a seltzer and a snack, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” And Trudy hastened into the artist’s tent to Sarah, Rachel, Orlando, and Jorge and said, “Make ready quickly three movements of choice music, tune up, and make your entrance.” John-Arthur then motioned over the herd… I mean the audience… and called the pastor, tender and good, and he came to welcome the crowd and introduce the artists. Then they took their gifts and their passion and the music they had prepared, and set it before the audience; and the others stood by them under the pavilion while they listened.
The Lord appeared to them by the Maples of Main Street, as they stood in the entrance of Berkstock in the heat of the day. They looked up and saw three folks standing near them. When they saw them, they ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground and said, “My lord, if we find favor with you, do not pass by your servant. Grab some water from that cooler, hydrate, and rest yourselves under these trees. Let me show you the salad bar, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” Then they hastened into the tent to Don and Peter, and said, “Make ready quickly three hot tube steaks, made from… again, probably better to not ask… grill them, and make hotdogs.” Hanna ran to the smoker and took some pulled pork, tender and good, placed it on a bun, and hastened to add some chips and a pickle. Then they encouraged them to take their food which had been prepared, and sit for a time and listen to the band; and everyone, the hospitality team, church tour guides, cooks and servers, welcoming crew and the raffle people all stood by them smiling as they ate and enjoyed themselves.
Here's what I want you to hear today. God shows up... and when God shows up the impossible is made possible. That's Good News because there’s a lot of “impossible” around us these days. Covid, racism, fascism, sexism, Christian Nationalism, rising costs, climate change, our divided world, our divided nation, our divided town. An unholy host of impossibilities beyond our ability to fix. It is easy to feel powerless. But there IS something for us to do... Continue to set up tents and welcome the One who makes all things possible and trust, that in due season, the impossible will become possible. Please, please, please, never underestimate what we do, sitting in our various tents, inviting folks into our corners of kindness, lavishing travelers with hospitality and sharing our spirit of generosity with our neighbors. What we do is NO SMALL THING! What we do is nothing less than Hosting the God who makes all things possible. All things! Amen.
P.S. - Some of you have mentioned the desire to make the impossibility of kids in church, possible again. Just remember that’s what Sarah wanted long after “it had ceased to be with her after the manner of women” and she ended up having a baby! If YOU want to have a baby that's fine. Just keep that juju away from the Rectory! You laughed. Oh yes, you did laugh. Amen.
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