"Sermon from the Saloon"

Pastor Laura Guy

March 22, 2009

Here's an instant replay of what happened in worship:

We watched a skit called "Jesus and Miss Kitty" - a retelling of the story of the woman at the well, set in an Old West saloon.
We learned that Jesus' conversation with the woman in John 4 is the longest recorded conversation in any of the Gospels. It's difficult for us to realize how scandalous this conversation was - men did not speak to unknown women, Jews did not speak to Samaritans, and no one would ever speak to a woman who had to draw water at noon. She wasn't welcome when the other women came to draw water early in the morning, laughing and sharing stories with each other. The very fact that she was at the well at noon told everything about her reputation.
We watched Pastor Laura sit on a barstool from the skit to preach her sermon. She said that this is where most of us would be in the metaphor. We would want to be at the bar with our friends, laughing and telling jokes. From a barstool, you can look out over everyone else in the saloon. You can look down on everyone else at the saloon. It's a perfect judgment seat. We judge others all the time - the mom of the octuplets, celebrities with DUIs, fat cat CEOs.
We realized that if Jesus came into the saloon, he wouldn't join us at the bar. He would look around and see the woman sitting alone. He would go sit with her and offer her living water - a fresh start, a new life.
We heard that the name of our church came from this story because we are supposed to be like Jesus - seeking out those who are neglected, teased, despised. It is time for us to get off our barstool and offer them something to drink.
We prayed for the eyes of Jesus to see those who need living water and the heart of Jesus to love them enough to offer it.
During the song of response, Pastor Laura turned the "bar" back into a communion table. She reminded us that if the table were still a bar, a place of judgment, none of us would be welcome. But it is a table of grace, and all are welcome.