There’s a quiet army in our country.
They don’t use guns, or bayonets.
Instead, they take up a pair of scissors, a swatch of material, a needle, a sewing machine and some thread.
Without a lot of hoopla, part of this army sews quilts right here in our Koepchen Fellowship Hall.
I usually end up visiting our own platoon of this quiet army right around snack time.
That’s about the time I’m out and about on Monday, my day off.
One time, when I came at snack time, the quilters were having sunshine cake.
Not only do they eat sunshine cake.
In a way, they provide sonshine, spelled capital Sonshine in the lives of needy people around the world.
When someone in a refugee camp, or a cabin in Peru, receives a quilt, it’s as if our women were saying, “Here’s a gift from the God who loves you in Jesus’ name.”
When children can pull out a clean notebook and a sharpened pencil, and a pair of child-safe scissors from their backpack, again, it’s as if our women are saying, “Here’s a gift from the God who loves you in Jesus’ name.”
“When mothers wrap their baby in a new blanket, and a whole baby layette kit is given to them from Lutheran World Relief, it’s as if our women are saying, “Here’s a gift from the God who loves you in Jesus’ name.”
When a child receives soap, and a towel, and a toothbrush, and learns how to use them all, it’s as if the women and men of St. Paul’s are saying, “Here’s a gift from the God who loves you in Jesus’ name.”
When that family that we don’t even know receives that herd of animals we’ve been raising money for by feeding our silver pig, it’s as if each one of us were saying, “Here’s a gift from the God who loves you in Jesus’ name.”
Tabitha was a disciple in Joppa, who liked to say the same with her gifts.
The Book of Acts chapter 9 tells us she was always doing good and helping the poor.
“About that time,” Acts 9:37 continues, “she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room.”
The apostle Peter was in a nearby town.
The people of Joppa sent two men to Peter, and urged him to come at once.
“Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing Dorcas (that’s the Greek version of her name) had made while she was still with them.
Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive. This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.”
Both Tabitha and Dorcas mean gazelle.
God used the ministry of this graceful woman to share the Good News, “Here is a gift from the God who loves you in Jesus’ name.”
How neat that God called Tabitha back to life through the prayer of Peter.
“Here is a gift for you, too, Tabitha, from the God who loves you in Jesus’ name.
Here is a gift from the Savior, Jesus, who laid down His life on a cross for you, and rose again on the third day.
Through Jesus, your sins have been washed away in baptism.
Through Jesus, God raises you to new life this day.”
You and I are sinners who have been washed by the blood of God’s Lamb, Jesus.
We also have been given the free gift of eternal life, by the power of the Holy Spirit, through faith in Jesus’ name.
Jesus assures us He has prepared a place for us, and He will come back to take us to that place in His Father’s house.
But in the meantime, God gives us gifts to use while we serve Him in this life.
We use these gifts not only to take care of our needs, and the needs of our families.
God gives us gifts so that we may share a generous portion with the rest of the world.
Lutheran World Relief helps us to provide the quilts, the clean water, the improved farming techniques, the baby care, school supplies and hygiene kits where they are needed the most.
“Here is a gift from the God who loves you in Jesus’ name.”
We ask God to help us continue to be a part of this quiet, yet very loving and self-giving army, both here in our community and around the world.
In Jesus’ name we say, Amen.