John Wesley, father of millions of Methodists, had no children, no offspring. His marriage was not particularly a happy one. Yet, he was a father. Just look around the world!

This Sunday we will give a measure of honor to those we call father, to those who were also “dads” of sorts to groups of children on ball fields, clubs, Scouts, schools, and churches. Men who cared and helped us grow up and grow in the Lord. Biological fathers, step-fathers, uncles, older brothers, coaches, teachers, others who appeared as mentors and guides. Like “Dads!”

Our Mark text is about growth. And how even the Kingdom of God takes time. It’s “in our midst” but not hardly complete….just yet! Growing! And in I Samuel, the Word for us is about sons who can be leaders, even kings with power and authority. And the act of calling, responding, growing into…..maturity and behavior that points to the Reign of God in our lives, our communities.

Just as these words and acts of God manifest themselves in our two congregations, in different ways with different histories, (yet all siblings of the One Lord) we accept that we are still seeing the Kingdom of God grow in our midst, like a small seed into a large bush, like children growing always into spiritual maturity even we “can’t always see the growth ahead, we continue by faith” II Corinthians 5:7.

So, we remember those who left us examples, tool kits, game plans, who took us to church, put up with our missteps, misadventures, and did it, hopefully, with patience and wisdom. When they inevitably failed at times we remember what they took us to hear about at church: forgiveness and hope!

For the “fathers” still with us and those of us called “father” we look to the Heavenly Father to be our guide and show us the Son who never “forsakes us, never leaves us!” Play ball, do the chores, walk that walk, keep that faith, learn the trade, listen to that call….to be that “somebody for somebody else!”

Bring that “inner child” and any other child with you to worship this Sunday!

Pastor Barry