Ginny and I were just in Denver, CO this past week for synod assembly after spending a few days north of Denver visiting our respective families. As I picked her up Thursday morning, she told me about tornado warnings in our area that she had heard about on the news.
     A bit worried about the uncertain weather, we decided to grab lunch and wait until the warning expired. Once it did, we headed south to Denver. As we were driving, my sister and Kirk both called - worried - to check on us. They also had heard about tornados touching down very near to where we were heading. We were fine as the dark skies were behind us, but once we got to the assembly, we heard in announcements that that wasn't the case for everyone.
      Sixty homes in Windsor had been destroyed. Hundreds of people were hospitalized. One man was dead. Thousands of people were without power. All in all, 6 tornados touched down last Thursday in Northern CO and WY. The national guard has been called in. Emergency shelters have been set up. People are beginning the process of putting their lives together. And I imagine part of that process for many will include sitting in church today.
      The people who weathered that storm, people who have lost everying they have will sit in church and hear this Gospel read to them today. They'll hear Jesus' words telling them not to worry. Not to worry about what they will eat or drink. About what they will wear. And what will they think? What would you think?
     Think about something in your life you worry about right now. Imagine telling a friend about your worry and them coming back at you with the same words Jesus is saying in the Gospel for today. "Don't worry." When it comes from another human, it can come across as flip advice, can't it? Uncaring. Like someone is trying to blow off your problems without giving you any solution. But this isn't the case when it comes from the mouth of Jesus. His, "Don't worry," is accompanied with a solution and a promise. This is what I want to talk about for the rest of this sermon today. Jesus' solution to worrying and His promise.
     Before we look at the solution Jesus gives to worrying, I want to be very clear that I understand that worry is real. I have no doubt that every single one of you could name a worry that you are dealing with right now: an issue in your family, your health, the economy, the state of politics. Jesus knew worry was real, too. After all, if worry was not a reality for God's people, there would be no reason for him to ever mention it or speak about it at all.
     Jesus knew that worry was real, but he also knew that it wasn't productive. One study I found on the web reported that 40% of the things we worry about never happen; another 30% of our worries are in the past, and we can't do anything about them. 12% concern other people, and are really none of our business anyway. 10% are about sickness which we can do very little to control. But, what are we supposed to do if not worry? How do we not worry when there is so much to worry about?
     Well, Jesus tells us. His solution to worrying is found near the end of the reading. He asks us not to worry, but to strive for the kingdom of God first. Strive for the kingdom of God first. Maybe some of you are thinking, "Yea, whatever that means."
     Let me give a couple examples. Think about the natural disasters in Colorado or Myanmar or China lately. Will it help more to worry about the victims of those storms or earthquakes or to send money to help them rebuild? Think about the stress or tension you are experiencing in one of your relationships. Will it help more to worry about it or simply go to the person and have an honest conversation about what is going on?
     Think about your kids or grandkids. Will it help more to worry about them whatever they are experiencing in their life's journey or to pray for them? Our worry rarely changes or helps anything. It's the things we do to build the kingdom of God that are catalysts for change. Things like sharing our resources, opening up communication to maintain our relationships and build community and praying for others.
     Jesus has given us life not to be worriers, but to be kingdom builders. Jesus has given us life not to be fatalistic, but filled with hope. He asks us to strive to build his kingdom first and then he gives us a promise. The promise is that as we keep God and God's kingdom first in our lives, all that we need will be given to us. As we live in this moment and not get wrapped up in the problems tomorrow might bring, God will take care of us.
     "Don't worry", Jesus says. But he doesn't stop there. His don't is accompanied with a do. Don't worry. Do strive for the kingdom. Use your energy for something productive instead of something that will paralyze you. And then, trust in his promise. Trust in Jesus promise that God will take care of the rest. It's a promise you can count on again and again and again. Amen.



    


Kid's Sermon
Lord's prayer. Give us this day our _____________ what? (daily bread) Daily bread is the stuff we need to live. What do you need to live? (Food, water, shelter, love, clothing, etc.) We ask for this every time we pray this prayer. It's neat because in the Gospel reading for today, Jesus promises that God will give us these things - God will always take care of us. Sometimes God uses us to do that. (Collect offering for relief money for places hit by tornado in CO.)