"A Summer Road Trip: A Highway to Home"

SERMON TITLE:   “A Summer Road Trip:  A Highway to Home”
SERMON TEXT:    Ruth 1:1-22
PREACHER:           Rev. Kim James
OCCASION:           August 9, 2020, at First UMC
 
 
INTRODUCTION
 
                I want to say “thank you” again to Dani Bell for coming this morning to speak to us for a few minutes about the Lantern House homeless shelter.  Our church has long supported the Lantern House and the St. Anne’s Kitchen with dollars, volunteers, and weekly produce from our community garden.  I know some of you made donations for the Lantern House during the drive-through Ice Cream Event in our parking lot on July 19.  And, now that the Lantern House is our Mission Emphasis this whole month of August, we can give even more to help the shelter in their essential care of our neediest citizens.
                As I think about The Lantern House, I’m mindful that an emergency homeless shelter isn’t meant to be permanent housing.  But, like the name of the shelter program in Salt Lake City implies, hopefully the temporary shelter, case work, and resources provided there can set the residents on “the Road Home.”
                This notion of a transition or path to housing fits well with the theme of our worship service today.  In this month of August, we’re taking some biblical road trips, and today’s scripture tells us about Naomi and Ruth, who were setting out on their way home to the land of Judah.  So, let’s think about what this journey looks like.  What are the sights to see and wisdom to gain on this highway to home?

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