sermon excerpts: "The Next Step"

The context of the reflection this morning was one of welcoming new members, by Confirmation of Baptismal Vows in Ravenswood and Transfer of Membership in Arkona. Those who were in Ravenswood may see text that was omitted for the sake of time this morning, but was preached in Arkona (no you didn't fall asleep and miss vast chunks of the message ... right?)

The most important aspect of what happens today is what is next. This isn’t the end of a process, but a beginning. And for us, what does it mean to welcome someone new to our church community? I’ll us a moment to think about that: what does it mean to welcome someone new to our church community? … How are we changed? What difference will it make? Where will we go from here? …

We’re here presumably because of our faith, or doubt. Seeking a God we cannot see, a holy presence that has no proof, yet offers continual assurance of an ever-abiding love. Wouldn’t it be nice if God did come down from the heavens, ripping apart the heavens and causing mountains to quake? Then we would have our proof. Then others would know what we believe and would know that God is for real. It would prove we do know what we’re talking about.

The Hebrew people, the chosen ones of God, return from exile in Babylon to the Promised Land in these last chapters of Isaiah to find that things were not as imagined or hoped. And so the people cried out for the grace of God that has been hidden from them. They wailed out of a sense that God was absent because they didn’t get their way.

A life in faith isn’t a magic pill, or a social scene, or a opportunity for business networking. The laying on of hands isn’t a magical transformation, an infusion of mystical power. It is an expression of community, of solidarity, of support and commitment to a lasting relationship. Chances are, and I’m speaking out of turn here, that our new confirmands don’t feel different than before. In truth, they’ve belonged to this church long before this day. I suppose in that we are all in the same boat. No matter how long or how recent we’ve found ourselves in this place, we have been accepted, sought out and called as Christ’s own.

In our world where numbers mean so much and people are tracking church attendance, it can be discouraging at times to see the same loyal people in the pews on Sunday. Not discouraging that you are here, we celebrate and rejoice in that; discouraging that others are not. All those who consider themselves part of this church, who help out when called or asked, who turn to us in times of pastoral need, but are unwilling to make worship in the community a priority. Certainly there are reasons of work, health and unexpected circumstances that prevent us from seeing people on Sunday.

Nevertheless, we worry that the numbers are not financially there for us to sustain the upkeep of our ministry. I mentioned some of this on the church weblog yesterday and someone soon enough sent a message to me reminding me that fellowship found in gathering together in the fundraising is an important expression of community and ministry. Catering to the needs of others and demonstrating care when providing a funeral luncheon is another example.

It bears remembering that the Bible says that wherever two or more are gathered in Christ’s name, and it doesn’t have to be in a church sanctuary, God is there. Even before the gathering arrives, God has already been there. Waiting for us to embrace and accept the invitation to fuller life.

The presence of Christ was very much a part of the life of the church in Corinth, even though it was years and decades since his death and resurrection. None of them actually knew Jesus the person. Yet the awareness that they had upheld the fellowship of disciples, they were able to connect to those long ago teachings. We’re maybe a little more removed from the reality of Jesus’ actual life, centuries and continents separate us from Jesus who walked the earth. One thing that we do share with the Corinthians is this faith community. This place of becoming and belonging, of struggles and disagreements, of nurture and support, is linked to a shared belief in the grace, power and example of Jesus Christ.

As we seek to express what is our call, let us remember what Isaiah was asking the LORD to remember, “we are all your people”. Yes, we are all God’s people, whether we’re new to this church or not, whether we’re in church or not, young, old, rich, poor, happy, sad, we are all clay in potters hands, being shaped and formed into works of beauty and function, vessels of grace. Let us be filled beyond the brim with God’s grace, and share it with the world.