It's Homecoming

Sermon: Homecoming Sermon

This sermon is adapted to fit – Homecoming Services, Reunions and Celebration Gatherings as we 1. Embrace One Another’s Healing and Transformations 2. Practice the Grace of Forgiveness 3. Accept and Enjoy One Another’s Diversity

Scripture: Mark 5:18-19

“As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, ‘Go home to your own people and tell them how much the LORD has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”

INTRO:

Grace and peace from God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

Homecoming.

The mere mention of the word brings up all kinds of thoughts and images.

+A Day of Celebration – Eating, Singing, Talking and Sharing Life

+A Day of Reunion – Seeing and being with old friends and acquaintances – seeing new faces and old faces.

+A Day of Remembrance – Reflecting on yesteryear:

+Thinking about all the people that have walked through the doors of the Church.

+Thinking about all the people that have sat in the very pews that are still being used today. All the people that have taken Holy Communion, listened to a sermon and called this place their home church.

+Thinking about all the people that are now gone. Those that worshipped in the building just a few miles from here. Those that are now resting in the Mt. Zion Cemetery or some other cemetery.

+Homecoming can even be a Day of anxiety

+Am I ready to see certain faces again?

+Will I hear the same stories about what I did or didn’t do years ago?

+What will people think of me – my family – what I am now doing in life – where I am in life right now.

+It can be a Day of questions

+Is the music the same as it was years ago – is that the same carpet, what has changed and what has not changed?

+Who is the new minister – is the church growing, staying the same or on a slow decline?

+I wonder what the future will hold.

+Oh, I wonder what we are going to eat today. I hope ______ brought that cake, pie or desert. I heard that there is going to be some tenderloin.

Homecomings bring a lot of joy, celebrations and questions and anxiety. There are always some knowns and unknowns. There are always some

‘How are you doing’ ‘I see you still think you are something’

‘Look at me now’ ‘why again did I show up’

and ‘I am so glad that I am here with my family’.

I am sure it was that way for the man in our story this morning.

Jesus was sending him home. Jesus was telling this man whose life had been radically transformed that he couldn’t go with him. Jesus wanted him to go home. He needed to go back to his family and friends. Jesus told him that the best way that he could serve him and Kingdom of God was to go back home and share what had happened to him.

One of the hardest things any of us can do in this life is to live out our faith around those who know us best or who at least think that they know us best.

At times, most of us like a fresh start.

More than once I am sure most of us have thought – I would like to go someplace where no one knows me or my past. I would like to start fresh. Make new friends, have new experiences, and put some things behind me forever.

However, often we find ourselves in what we could call “homecoming moments” – moments where we need to return to our roots. Moments that we are required toa face the people of our youth. Where we may have to endure hearing old stories we no longer want to hear or want our loved ones to hear. Where we have history – good or bad – we still have history.

This morning, how do we make Homecoming for ourselves and for others a most wonderful experience? How do we make Homecoming truly a time of Celebration and Joy? Not just Church Homecomings but Homecomings that happen in our families and among our friends.

1. Homecoming allows us to Embrace One Another’s Healing – One Another’s Transformations

Can you imagine this morning all the things that happened the day this man returned to his home?

He had to wonder if he was going to be accepted. He had to wonder if he was going to be able to stay.

For years he had been a terror to his family, his friends and his community. How many people had he attacked over the years. How many people had he frightened through his words and actions.