Bible Text:

“They are like trees planted by streams of water which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither.”                                 (Psalm 1:3)

I hold in my hand the 2004 Burpee Seed Catalog. A version of this catalog has arrived in my home each January for decades. As a child, it always came to my father in black and white. Today it is full color, printed on glossy paper. I place a minimum order for seeds these days, but I still love to browse the catalog. 

This year’s catalog has at least four kinds of seeds. First, there are the new varieties, with some exotic names. For example, there is one called the Yellow Submarine Cucumber (perhaps named after the Beatles song by a similar name). Another is the Gadzukes Zucchini. A third is a variety of corn known as SugarPearl—intentionally placed as one word. 

Secondly, there are the hybrid seeds. Hybrids are made by blending two or more varieties into one. Hybrids cannot reproduce themselves. You cannot save hybrid seeds. If you try to plant seeds from a hybrid plant, they mostly will produce mutations or produce no fruit at all. 

Thirdly, there are the organic seeds. These are for the purists. There are no synthetic products used. You can plant these seeds with a clear conscience. 

Finally there are what are called Heirloom Seeds. They have been around for a long time. My favorite heirloom seed is the Kentucky Wonder Pole Bean. I also get a variety of eggplant for which the seed has been around since 1910. And I have a variety of winter squash that I like, for which the seed dates back to before the Civil War. 

Heirloom seeds are fascinating. Some people are passionate about these seeds. They are as passionate about them as other kinds of heirlooms and collectibles. In fact, some people collect heirloom seeds and it’s the only kind they will grow. They provide a taste of the past. They are cherished like fine china or glass. 

I read about a woman in Vermont who sells plants and seeds that date back to her great-grandmother’s garden, first laid out in the 1850s. One of the great stories of immigrants to Ellis Island tells how new arrivals to this country came with seeds sewn into their clothing, or hidden in their hat bands. The immigrants made certain they did not lose contact with the homeland. They brought with them their own heirloom seeds. 

What about heirloom seeds of our faith tradition? Should we be passionate about preserving these? What do heirloom seeds do for us? 

A LINK WITH OUR PAST 

First, they provide us with a link to our past. That’s why I still like to get in a hymn or two of Charles Wesley on as many Sunday mornings as possible. When we had our discussion about a new Sunday night service nine years ago, I was somewhat reluctant. Part of my reluctance came out of my unfamiliarity with what was meant by a contemporary service. But another part of that reluctance had to do with the fact that I was raised on the hymns of Charles Wesley and Isaac Watts. I did not want to lose those. I still love to sing, “O for a thousand tongues to sing,” or “Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heaven to earth come down,” or “When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of Glory died.” I never wanted to lose the singing of that hymn at Easter, “Christ the Lord is risen today.”

 All of these are heirloom seeds for me. I am not afraid of the new any more, but I like to hold on to the heirlooms. 

This is why we sing the Gloria Patri each Sunday morning, a picture of God and the three expressions in which we know God. Plus, the version that we sing here was composed by John Erickson, our organist for 21 years. So the Gloria Patri is an heirloom seed in the faith and also an heirloom seed for this congregation. 

It’s why we sing the Doxology. We don’t do it just to get the offering to the front, or give ushers the time to walk up the aisles. The Doxology is a centuries-old way to praise God. It reminds us of some of the Psalms, particularly Psalm 100. I remember years ago, learning to sing the Doxology to the tune of “Hernando’s Hideaway.” That is not an heirloom! But the Doxology is an heirloom seed. 

This is why we read Scripture at every service of worship. Some Scripture dates back 3000 years or more. Scripture was written by people who keenly felt the presence of God. They wrote it down. They passed it on. Our task is to bring it out of the past into the present. 

Therefore we say, after each Scripture reading, “Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.” As the Spirit spoke to many in the past, the Spirit still speaks today. And so we respond, “Thanks be to God.” 

All of these are heirloom seeds. They provide us with a taste of the past. 

A SPECIAL FLAVOR 

Secondly, heirloom seeds bring a special flavor to our life together. I am not a connoisseur of fine taste, but I honestly believe that the Kentucky Wonder Pole Bean is the best tasting bean there is. Given enough time, I could probably write a great commercial for that seed! 

We bring different and fine flavors to the Christian life. Like heirloom seeds. We have at least four styles of worship here. Saturday night is the casual style, with the Folk Choir. Sunday morning is the best of Methodist traditional. Sunday night is contemporary. And more recently, Taizé gives us a totally different expression on the first Wednesday night of the month. And there will be more to come. 

I remember reading a story about a country western singer and opera star who were touring South America. Somehow they got into trouble with the law and were condemned to be shot by a firing squad. The executioner was trying to be as kind as possible, so he told each of the men that they could be granted one wish. The country western star said, "I know what my wish will be. I would like to hear six verses of ‘My Achy Breaky Heart’ played over the PA system.”  

“Fine,” said the executioner. “I think we can do that.” 

The opera star then said, “My wish is that you will shoot me first.” 

We have different styles of small group connection. One style does not work for everyone, and so we have CBS groups, and Covenant groups, and MOMs, and MOPS, and United Methodist Women circles. These are all flavorful heirloom seeds. 

We try to provide vibrant community and loving relationships. We try to provide hospitality and lots of opportunity for laughter. 

I remember reading a story about a census taker who was doing his work in the hills of Appalachia. In one of the back rural mountains he came across a ten-year-old boy outside a cabin. “Is your father home?” he asked. 

“No,” replied the boy, “he’s in the State Pen.” 

“Is your mother home?” 

“No, she’s in the House of Correction.” 

“Well, do you have an older brother?” 

“Yes.” 

“Is he home?” 

“No, he’s at Harvard.” 

“He’s at Harvard? What is he studying?” 

“He’s not studying anything, mister. They’re studying him.” 

Heirloom seeds are of such quality that others want to study us and learn what makes us tick. 

We say, without arrogance but also without apology, that Jesus brings more flavor to life than anyone before him or since him. Jesus is the heirloom seed of God. We can truly say with the Psalmist, “O taste and see that the Lord is good.” 

REMARKABLE DISEASE RESISTANCE 

Heirloom seeds bring a taste of the past. They bring superb flavor. And then they bring remarkable disease resistance. Listen again to the words of the text: “They are like seeds planted by streams of living water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither.” That’s the description of a strong seed. That particular text was set to music in the wonderful Wesley Singers anthem sung today. 

Heirloom seeds have a vitality in disease and pest resistance. Part of the reason we offer so many kinds of classes here is to increase our immunity to the diseases of society.  

Sixty or more eighth graders began Confirmation training this week. We do this every year. But I believe that Confirmation training provides a strength of disease resistance. Twenty-five adults are in a new Spiritual Gifts assessment class each Sunday morning. Once again, I believe you are a stronger person, more immune to diseases of the world when you know your spiritual gifts. 

Twenty-five more people are involved in the “Beginnings” class, learning some basics of the faith on Thursday nights. We are planting seeds that give strong resistance to disease. 

I mentioned hybrid seeds a while ago. Hybrids are made by crossing two or more seeds. In the Christian life, we get easily blended with the world. When you blend with the world, it brings increasing disease and pest problems. Sometimes a blended or encultured Christian is indistinguishable from a nonbeliever. 

We simply do not accommodate the culture. We do not try to adjust to the culture. We do not assimilate the culture. Perhaps what we really do is agitate the culture. 

A Sunday school teacher was working with children about the stories of Jesus, where he said, “We are salt and light and leaven.” The kids pretty much understand salt and light, but they were having problems with the word “leaven.”  

“Does anybody know what ‘leaven’ is?” said the teacher. Replied one little girl; “Leaven is the number that comes after the number ten.” 

Heirloom seeds leaven the society. 

In 1988 only two states had casino gambling on a large scale. Today twenty-seven states have casino gambling, and thirty-seven have some sort of lottery. Forty-eight states have some form of legalized gambling. Studies show that there is an inverse relationship between religious participation and risks of problem gambling. To put it another way, the more a person engages in religion, the less susceptible he or she is to problem gambling. 

I have personally steadfastly refused to ever buy a lottery ticket. It’s not because I believe the lottery is the ultimate evil. Rather I believe that it might enculturate me into a part of society that I choose not to affirm. 

With the heirloom seeds of faith, we can agitate against the issues of the culture which drag life down. 

“God’s people are like seeds planted by streams of living water which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither.” 

Heirloom seeds have quality genetic traits. They grow into healthy plants. We need to pass on that good genetic material. 

Heirloom seeds must not be hoarded, but passed on. They are to be shared, multiplied, passed down through the generations. Heirloom seeds are worth sharing with others. 

Heirloom seeds give us a solid link with the past. They bring the best flavor that life has to offer. They provide excellent disease resistance. 

Is it okay to have some new seeds now and then? Of course it is! Is it okay to plant a few hybrids from time to time? Absolutely. But hold on to the heirloom seeds. They are invaluable.