April 29, 2007
by Rev. Dr. Jim Carlson
Acts 9: 36-43
Widowed parishioner in Oakland. Found on floor still alive. Death of son Art.
Pastorate in Oakland mostly with widows. “Jim’s harem”. Widows matter.
My parents – Stella. Stella mattered. Widows at church mattered.
Early church – widows crucial. Office in 1 Tim. (Slide)
Rights of widows – almost none. Food aid in Torah. (Slide)
Bible has many warnings against mistreatment of widows. Widows matter. (Slide)
Church in Acts was haven for widows – part of its mission (Slide)
Story of Tabitha.
One significance is that the first resurrection recorded by Jesus’ disciples is
of a widow. Talk about a dynamic senior ministry!!
Why is this important to the church? The Social Security Administration projects
that by 2010, nearly 1,050,000 Americans will lose spouses each year, and by
2030 that number is expected to grow to more than 1.5 million. Those left behind
face redefining their lives to deal in new ways with family and friends, as well
as unresolved feelings and regrets left over from marriage.
Those people are a significant part of our community here in Waukesha, and the
church has a historic commitment to care for them in the name of Jesus.
(Slide)Picture of Betty. Picture of Renoel. Imagine years of participation in
the ministries of our church. What must it be like to be in their shoes?
Someday, if we’re lucky, we’ll live to be their age and still have our health.
What will we want from the church?
The contributions to this church by widows are significant. Think of the
contribution Tabitha made to the ministry of the congregation in Joppa.
We would probably not be able to survive financially and our ministries would be
greatly reduced without the contribution widows make. Widows matter.
Our ministry to and with widows is important no matter what age group you fall
into. If we take them seriously, they will continue to make the kinds of
contributions the make now, and we will lift them up in their most difficult
times as Peter did with Tabitha.