There is an old song, covered by several artist written by Dwight Latham and Moe Jaffe, performed by Lonzo and Oscar in 1947, about a man who, through an unlikely (but legal) combination of marriages, becomes stepfather to his own stepmother—by tacitly dropping the "step-" modifiers, he becomes his own grandfather.

According to a 2007 article, the song was inspired by an anecdote that has been published periodically by newspapers for well over 150 years.[2] The earliest citation was from the Republican Chronicle of Ithaca, New York on April 24, 1822, and that was copied from the London Literary Gazette:

A proof that a man may be his own Grandfather.—There was a widow and her daughter-in-law, and a man and his son. The widow married the son, and the daughter the old man; the widow was, therefore, mother to her husband's father, consequently grandmother to her own husband. They had a son, to whom she was great-grandmother; now, as the son of a great-grandmother must be either a grandfather or great-uncle, this boy was therefore his own grandfather. N. B. This was actually the case with a boy at a school in Norwich.[3]

Family, what can you say. You love them you hate them, they bring you to tears they make you laugh till your sides hurt, cause you to roll your eyes and say “Oh my Shattered nerves. 

Family Genealogy can be fun and very rewarding.

Some times it’s strait forward and then there is mine more of a shrub

 I spoke briefly on Sunday past about finding your “tribe”. I was talking with a parishioner, and they mentioned they were at an event. The event was good folks were friendly but then they realized at the end of the day that their faith community is where they felt at home and supported. Their community of Faith was their tribe. 

In and around Rome there are catacombs which became the burial place of early Christians. In the forward to the book The Catacombs of St. Callixtus  the author writes “The Survey of inscriptions deserves special mention…by revealing human feelings, faith, sorrow , family affection.” Here in this warren of tunnels and tombs you find, Saints and popes nobles and common folk Martyrs to the faith.  It was a place where the early Christian Community would gather in secret during the Christian persecution in the second century. It was a place where the early Christian community, Christian tribe, family would meet. 

  Perhaps more than even Jerusalem it reminds us that we are a part of a much larger family lineage.

Like Sunday this week’s gospel is somewhat a back story gospel.  This is one of those gospels that Theologian and Biblical scholars like to preach on. We like the gospels that are tell me the stories of Jesus. This is not one of them. 

Jesus at the end speaks of Family. Who are my family?

Gospel reminds us that we are family or tribe. 

Your Tribe your family is that group of people you gather together with where you feel safe sharing your life journey, your struggles and in turn you are heard supported and strengthened. 

 It is a place where you are able to share your wisdom and offer a shoulder to cry on, an ear to hear and support and strength. It is truly the group where you feel safe.  At our best that is what the Church should be. 

What a community of Faith should be.    Tomorrow  is the 99^th anniversary of the United Church of Canada.       We have come a long way from that inaugural service at the Mutual Street Arena.  Yes, as a denomination we have experienced growing pains.  What we have learned is that to truly be disciples of Christ we must be open and accepting.  Here is a truth, the idea of Church is changing.  What we were in 1925 is not what we are as we begin as a denomination to celebrate our 100^th year.  In all that goes on in the world may we in our rural settings find ways to become oasis where a person may find comfort and find their tribe. 

The United Church now stands at a cross road between the past and the future.  Faith is never a static thing but grows and changes. The challenge for the Church is to be able to adapt to that change.   In this changing landscape of our understanding of what it is to be more than a Church but a community of faith we must constantly be asking that question…”What Next” 

Will we adapt to changing face of faith or will we become a niche in the catacombs of what was?  

We must be bold in who we are, and we must be brave in making the choices that are not necessarily best for us but best for the faith.  One could argue that we are on the cusp of next Reformation. This leaves us in a time that is juxtaposed between excitement and fear.  Excitement in the what next  and the great fear of not knowing what this will look like and leaving what we have always known behind. 

We must seek out and divine the will of the spirit.  We are called to be a united family not to be a house divided for a family cannot be divided.   

We as a church have made a difference we make a difference.  Today  we celebrate the Joy of our Denominations  anniversary.   Tomorrow we own that the spirit is taking us by the hand and saying follow me. Trust me. I know what is next. I will show you.   we know that we are not alone, that in our past in our know and in our days yet to come God is with us we are not alone Thanks Be to God.