October 4, 2026
We don’t talk so much about saints because we’re UCC, we’re Protestants. But there is one saint just about everybody loves, St. Francis of Assisi, because he was a very nice guy! He cared for sick people, and he loved animals. He is the reason churches this time of year bless animals! Today is the Feast Day of St. Francis and we’ll bless animals at St Peter’s!
There’s something awesome that Francis wrote, he said a person should preach by their deeds. Another way to say that is “Preach the Gospel, when necessary, use words.” Francis was not against preaching. He loved to talk about God. He wrote about God. He used lots of words. Francis believed in preaching the gospel. Which makes me happy because I make my living preaching! We love Francis, not because of his words, but because of the way he lived his life! He was always doing good for others. He was born more than 800 years ago to a wealthy family in Italy. He gave it all up to follow God. He hung out with beggars and lepers! Francis is one of those people that you know is a Christian, just by looking at the way he lives his life.
The word Christian means little Christ. So, if we’re a Christian, we’re saying we are living our lives like Jesus Christ. The goal is to look a little like Jesus. It’s inspiring to see someone who is living the way Jesus did: helping other people, listening to them, and caring about them.
In the New Testament, in James 2, James talks about how it’s a problem if a Christian doesn’t look like one. He says, “Dear friends, do you think you’ll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person actually has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, ‘Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!’ and you walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you?’” James is telling us: Christianity is about what you do: how you treat people! Faith in God is very important, but it’s not enough by itself! You also have to do good deeds.
To Owen, Jackson, Kallie and Kate, I saw you doing good deeds! You helped at the food pantry. Owen and Jackson, the day you helped was an extremely cold day, but you went out and put groceries in cars! Then you all walked dogs and petted cats and bunnies at the SPCA, and you want to go again! We’ve taken some of the confirmation classes to visit the SPCA over the years, and this is the first confirmation class where an animal came home with someone soon after: Kallie brought home Piper! We thank Kallie’s dad, Rodney for that! The class walked in the CROP Hunger Walk to raise money for hungry people. You inspired your churches to give to help the SPCA. You helped with Vacation Bible School. Owen also helped deliver Christmas gifts to Bethany Children’s Home and helped with games at the Fall Festival.
After you did these good deeds, I asked you if you enjoyed helping, and you said you did! So often we don’t think work, or doing something for someone else, would be fun. But it often is. You feel good. It makes the world a better place. It helps us all to be Christians, little Christs.
There’s a concern I hear us church people express sometimes: we want more people to go to church, follow God, and be Christians. The answer is for all of us to keep doing good deeds. Keep caring about people. Care about people whether they want to go to church or not. Jesus cared about everybody and did many good deeds. He was amazing! Kate, Kallie, Jackson and Owen, you all shared that following Jesus has made a difference in your life. I’m inspired by you, and the consistory also inspired that following God has changed you! You know, everybody in the world is looking for hope. They are looking for kindness. You can live a life where other people see the difference God makes in you! They see that you are a Christian who is a little like Christ! Who wouldn’t want to be part of that?
Jesus said to his followers: “You are the light of the world.” Tell somebody near you, “You are the light of the world!” Jesus said you are here to give light to everybody. let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Today at Trinity, the summer chaplain at Locust Lake State Park, Ellen O’Connell is here! She does a worship service in the park on Sunday, and on Saturday she visits the campsites. This year she would visit a campsite and offer them a little bag of useful items for campers, like a sticker you put on your skin, and it keeps you from getting bit. It really works! Ellen said she felt campers were more receptive to her visits this year because she wasn’t just trying to get them to come to her Sunday worship service. She was giving them a gift they valued.
We’re here to do good things. Owen, Kate, Kallie, Jaxon, we’re here to go out of our way for people and animals who need help. To be a little like Jesus. You inspire us! Keep your light shining! Be the sort of people who others can tell are Christians! And they’ll give glory to God! Amen.
