A MESSAGE FROM REV. KAREN KINNEY: SO MANY QUESTIONS!
Grace and peace to you,
This Sunday we will explore the parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:1-7) where Jesus is again the target of complaints because he was welcoming and eating with sinners and tax collectors. So, he tells a parable of a sheep owner noticing that one of the sheep is missing and he asks which one of you wouldn’t go after that lost sheep, not stop looking until it is found, and then carry it home inviting all to rejoice with him.
Would we really expect a sheep owner to go out 
and find the lost sheep? Would we expect a sheep owner to explore every rocky ledge or wilderness hiding place to find one lost sheep? Or would we expect that sheep owner to cut his/her losses and celebrate the 99?
Who are you in this story? Are you the unwelcome ones? Are you the one who is lost, or part of the 99 that have been found? Or have you been both at times? Do you see the sheep owner as God who won’t let you stay lost?
Who do we label as lost? Those who live at the margins, those who have left the faith, those whose voice is not heard or isn’t allowed to be expressed?
So many questions! But that is what parables invite us to have – questions! Parables are defined as short stories or sayings that have a double meaning – do you see a double meaning in this parable? What questions get raised for you in this parable? Lots to explore!
Perhaps this poem by Reverend Sara Speed called “The Good Shepherd” might answer some questions:
Jesus said, “Who among you wouldn’t leave the 99?
Who among you wouldn’t look for the one?”
Someone in the crowd probably rolled their eyes.
Someone squirmed and looked at their palms.
Someone sighed and thought to themselves,
“This man doesn’t understand the business.
What fool would leave 99 to look for one?”
But maybe God was not talking about us.
Maybe God was talking about
her own reckless love.
Maybe God was talking about
her own willingness
to turn the world upside down
for me.
Come and explore more this Sunday, March 30!
Blessings,
Pastor Karen