From Guest Minister Amanda Hanley

Thank you so much for allowing me to be your guest speaker today. It truly is an honor to be standing here in front of all of you, especially because this church raised me, and you all are my family. Emanuel United Church of Christ gave me the foundation for my faith. I still have my Precious Moments Bible from my baptism, and out of all the editions I ever received as gifts, that’s my favorite one to read because it has pictures. I also remember the lessons from Sunday School (and my Mom still has the Christmas ornaments we colored, even though I was very much outside the lines).

I have so many fond memories with all of you here, and they will stay with me until the day I die. As I grew up, I began to witness and feel how the passage of time affected this congregation. That’s why mysermon today is going to focus on faith and love during difficult times.

 

At the hospital, we face many difficult situations. We see young people who are terminallyill or older people whose families are nowhere to be found. Some come to us because they have nowhere else to go. While we healthcare providers are people of science and will always recommend antibiotics for pneumonia, you’ll find that many of us cling to faith when faced with situations beyond our control. After we’ve exhausted every scientific measure, many turn to their religious beliefs to help us cope with what lies ahead. When we feel that we’ve hit the end of the road, faith is what keeps us going. Hebrews 11:1 reminds us, "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." There are many things we can’t see or predict, even with science, so we musthave faith and belief in something.

 

Regarding what people my age believe in, I’ve seen many who prioritize their faith. Someturn down plans because they have church on Sunday, keep strict halal and kosher diets, go to prayer during lunch, and refuse to break their fast even during 12-hour shifts. I am inawe of my colleagues' devotion to their faith. Conversely, I’ve seen others who believe in nothing because they’ve witnessed so many horrible things. Yet, even this absence of belief is, in a way, a form of belief.

 

Witnessing these different cultures and religions made me reflect on my own beliefs. When asked what I believe in, the simple answer is God and Jesus, but what does that truly mean? When trying to find the words for today’s sermon, I returned to my Precious Moments Bible. There, I saw how people turned to Jesus when they were hungry, sick, poor, or facing internal struggles. It’s easy to pray to Jesus in times of struggle and ask forhelp, but true faith is trusting that He and God are still listening, even when times are tough.

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Consider Peter, who was scared and terrified when Jesus told him to walk on water duringa storm. Peter doubted because common sense tells us that people can’t walk on water. Yet, when Peter cried out, Jesus grabbed him and saved him, and they both walked on water to the boat despite the rough sea. Faith is trusting that God will be there when you feel like you are drowning and overwhelmed. It’s easy to see the storm and be fearful, but faith is trusting in God’s plan and knowing that you will get through it.

 

 

Having faith and believing in God and Jesus also means that we should love and help one another, even when it’s difficult. God is love, and no matter the religion, the common theme I’ve seen is loving and helping each other. I’ve seen Christians fix a Muslim’s hijab after surgery, atheists ensure their lunch is kosher for their friends, and colleagues offer prayers to friends and patients of differing faiths. I love how, in such a tumultuous world, people can put aside their differences and come together for the greater good. Being a Christian to me isn’t about showing up to church every week, and being proud that you sat through a long sermon; it’s about having compassion, and being kind to one another, even when you don’t want to be kind in the moment. God is everywhere, even in places where you feel like all hope is lost. When you feel like the world is on fire, there are small slivers of love and compassion you can find amidst the chaos. And if you can’t find it, be it.

 

So when people ask about religion, faith, or what your beliefs are, I will leave you with this passage from my Precious Moments Bible, 1 John 4:7-12: “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”

 

Thank you.

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Amanda Hanely