It is difficult to begin anything these days without reflecting on how our lives have been utterly changed by the events of September 11, 2001. We are compelled to acknowledge the various emotions that have been stirred up within us as a result of the terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C. We feel sadness and grief for the loss of thousands of innocent lives. We feel anger and demand justice, to hold those who committed these crimes against humanity accountable for their actions. We are fearful and anxious about what the future holds¾the potential for war and cycles of escalating violence.

It is important that we share all of these feelings with one another. They are too great for any individual to handle and process alone. As you attempt to regain a sense of security in your own lives in the midst of this crisis, I encourage you to continue talking with one another. This community of faith provides a safe place for us to share our grief, our sorrow, our anger, our fear, and our anxiety.

Over the past two weeks, I have participated in a number of worship services that were held in direct response to the terrorist attacks on September 11th, including three prayer services held in this sanctuary. Both the level of participation and depth of feeling that everyone shared in each of those services have amazed me. Every word of scripture, every hymn and anthem, every prayer and litany, every sermon, every act of worship has taken on a new, more significant meaning in the midst of this tragedy. It has awakened within me and evidently millions of others the desperate need we have for God's presence now. Whatever our faith tradition, be it Christian or Jewish or Muslim or Buddhist or any other, we are searching for answers from a power greater than ourselves.

Over the past two weeks, churches, synagogues and mosques have opened their doors to anyone desiring connection to God and others. Many people visited this church for the very first time last week. This national crisis has reminded all of us that the church is important in our lives after all. Even with all of its faults and shortcomings, when we need it the most, the church is there for us. It was crucial that we opened our doors to all who sought refuge here, and it is crucial that we continue to do so.

Earlier this month, the United Methodist Church as a denomination launched a nationwide advertising campaign for the first time in its history. It is called "Igniting Ministry." It is a comprehensive campaign that combines television commercials, radio spots, and printed ads with the hospitality of our local churches to welcome newcomers. You can see the theme of the campaign on the front of your worship bulletin today: "Open hearts, open minds, open doors. The people of The United Methodist Church." Little did we know when the television ads began to run on CBS and various cable channels on September 4th that the need to open our doors would be so great.

I want to share with you today some of the radio spots you may hear. You will also have the opportunity to view the television commercials in Simkins Hall/Narthex immediately following the service. I encourage you to listen and watch them for two reasons. First, they are well produced and of the highest quality, and I believe that you will be proud enough of them to say "Yeah, that's my church!" More importantly, however, I believe that you will hear and see an important part of Christian discipleship in them: hospitality.

Let's listen to the first radio spot that reflects the diversity of the United Methodist Church [play Diversity Spot]. One of the strengths of our church is that it is diverse. It not only reflects different racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, but it also embraces different theological opinions and perspectives. Each United Methodist congregation is unique, yet we share a common Wesleyan heritage. Especially in this time of crisis, it is good to know that we are both open and inclusive of all while remaining unified by the love of Christ.

Here is another spot I want to share with you today [play Rain Spot]. We have all experienced major changes in our personal lives--marriages, the birth of children, the deaths of parents and grandparents, separations and divorce. We know those changes cause us to reassess our lives, to take stock of our most fundamental beliefs and how we live. We feel a "hole in our soul," and we desperately want to fill it with something substantial and lasting. We search not only for God in those times, but for a community of people with whom we can share those changes.

Our gospel lesson from Luke today shows us that the search is an ancient one. Jesus has just taught his disciples how to pray and is now continuing with this instruction:

Everyone is asking, searching, knocking on the door for answers to their greatest questions. Jesus assures us that if we take the initiative, the door will be opened for each and every one who is knocking. What a promise! God's love is so encompassing and complete that everyone who seeks it will be welcomed.

Our Christian discipleship does not end with our acceptance of God's love for us. We also are called to reach out to others in need. Listen to this [play Good Works Spot]. God's love is not only expressed to each of us as individuals, but through each of us to others. From the time of John Wesley in the 18th century to the present, Methodists have always placed a high priority on helping those in their time of greatest need. You can witness it in the hundreds of families served by Upward Bound House, or our youth repairing homes in the Appalachian Service Project, or the food we contribute to the Westside Food Bank, or our donations to the United Methodist Committee on Relief for the victims of September 11th and their families. Part of who we are is mission and outreach to others.

Here is the last radio spot I want to share with you today [play Love Letter Spot]. In God's "Love Letter" to us, we are reminded that even when we drift far away, when we lose touch with our faith, we are not forgotten. We are never far from God's thoughts and love. We are assured that no matter what journey our lives take, what mistakes we make, what tragedies befall us, God is looking for us.

You may not realize it, but we see exactly how God seeks out each of us in this sanctuary every time we meet. Take a look at the stained glass window directly in front of you. There is Jesus standing outside the door of a home, knocking and waiting for a reply. This window is based on the other scripture lesson we heard this morning from the Revelation to John: Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me (Rev 3:20). PAGE 5. You will notice that it is Christ who knocks for us at our door. It is up to us to open that door and let Christ enter into our lives. This is the scripture that this window is based upon. In fact, this window was originally returned to the company that manufactured it because it had a doorknob on the outside of the door! There is one more thing that I have never noticed before in this scripture until this past week. Note what Christ does once he enters the opened door; he sits down at the table and eats with us. Here again we see the importance of hospitality in our faith. If we are connected to all of humanity through Christ, then we are to welcome all to our table and eat with them. I interpret this to mean that we must welcome all to our worship, our Bible studies, our coffee hour, and any fellowship event that we hold. This applies to all of us. Part of our discipleship is to extend ourselves to all that we encounter, especially the stranger. How do we do this? Let me suggest this practice. When you see someone you do not know or recognize, go up to him or her and say hello. Introduce yourself and learn something about each other. Invite them to share a cup of coffee or a meal with you. Open the door of your heart to them, just as you open the door for Jesus. I contend that if we practice such hospitality to our neighbors, we are also welcoming Jesus Christ himself into our midst. Friends, we need not be embarrassed or ashamed of our faith. We have a community of faith here that has done great things over the last 125 years. I am convinced that we will do many more great things in the future, but only if we do the ordinary, daily acts of discipleship. People are asking, searching, knocking right now¾open the door. Amen.

NOTE:"Igniting Ministry" United Methodist Communications (Nashville, 2001).