"Homecoming Happened, Now What?"

​

Good morning, everyone!

 

Well, Homecoming Sunday has come and gone. The summer is over, and we are back to our normal schedule -   now comes the real question: Homecoming happened... so now what?

 

It’s easy to celebrate for a day. It’s wonderful to look around and say, "We are home." But life doesn't stop just because church is over. Monday morning is coming. And when we step out of these doors, we step right back into a world that feels pretty heavy right now.

 

Let's be honest about what our world looks like today.

Right here in Queens, we live in one of the most diverse places on earth. But we also know the daily grind. People are working two jobs just to pay rent. Families are worried about the cost of groceries. Neighbors speak different languages, and sometimes it’s hard to just understand each other, let alone feel connected.

 

Across the globe, the news breaks our hearts. Wars are displacing millions of families. People are fleeing their native countries, carrying only plastic bags and heavy grief. Hatred and division seem louder than ever.

When you look at Queens and you look at the world, it’s easy to ask: Can this church really make a difference? What does "home" even mean when everything outside these walls feels so broken?

 

The good news of the Gospel gives us our marching orders for now what? Jesus didn’t give us a home just so we could sit comfortably inside a nice building and lock the doors. He gave us a home so we could open the doors wide for others.

 

Here is what "now what" looks like for us at Emanuel:

 

We Listen Across the Language Barrier In Queens, we have neighbors from every corner of the planet. Being God's family means we take the time to listen. You don't need fancy words to make someone feel safe. A warm smile, a shared cup of coffee, and a patient ear can make a stranger feel like they just arrived home.

 

We Share What We Have When the world feels scary and expensive, it’s tempting to hold onto what is ours. But Jesus showed us a different way. When we share our food, our time, and our space, God multiplies it. We become a safe harbor for the person who feels lost in the city.

We Carry Hope for the World When we see global suffering on the news, we can feel helpless. But our faith tells us that we are citizens of a different kingdom—a kingdom of peace and justice. Every time we choose kindness over anger, and every time we welcome the outsider, we are bringing a little piece of heaven right down to Woodhaven.

 

So, homecoming happened. We remembered our past, and we welcomed our new family members.

Now, we roll up our sleeves.

The pews might look different than they did fifty years ago, but our mission is the exact same. Let's step out into Queens and into this world not as strangers, but as people who know deep down that we are safely held in God's love—and ready to share it.

 

The party is over. The work of love begins. Let's get to it.

Amen

 

Deacon Arthur S. Ackermann

Message for Sunday, Sept 20