sermon excerpts: "9 Day Wonder"

For once, Jesus’ parable is pretty clear cut and simple to understand. We hear about all the characters and we can easily make the identification about who was wrong and who was right. In real life, it’s always more complex; everyone has a story to tell and a lesson to share. For seven years, we’ve spent some time together to offer our stories and lessons, creating memories, but that time is drawing to a close.

That is how life works, nothing is permanent anymore, and the fact is that even the Samaritan moved on. He spent the night to see things were okay, but continues on his way the next morning. He doesn’t know if the victim recovers from his injury. He pledged to return and settle the account, but does anyone know anyone’s name in this story?

Here, we’ve had the benefit of spending more time together, learning names and families and stories. For a while, we journeyed together and we are changed for the encounter. For me, I’ve become a golfer, I’ve become a Mac user, I’ve earned a Certificate in Educational Ministry from the Centre for Christian Studies in Winnipeg. I’ve become a father.

The churches have each gained a chairlift and thereby increasing accessibility. Three different organists/musicians at each church have shared their talents during my time. The name of the charge has changed: from Arkona Pastoral Charge to Arkona-Ravenswood Pastoral Charge. The service of worship has changed to include A New Creed and the always-valuable reminder that we are not alone.

One of my classmates when I was taking the course in Winnipeg spoke very humbly about her ministry. She calls herself a “9-day wonder”, just a blip in the history and heritage of the churches that she serves, despite the fact she’s had a successful tenure of years there. She is someone that is well aware that the ministry of those congregations are greater than their ministers, very aware that the Samaritan was not a priest or a Levite, but an ordinary person who saw someone in need, stopped to help and continued on to do more of the same.

As we pause this day to remember, honour and celebrate the time that we’ve shared with as partners in ministry in this place, let us continue to do our best to follow in God’s way of justice, measuring up the plumb line of love, care and service to others. We’ve commemorated funerals, weddings, baptisms and the special occasion of just an ordinary Sunday. We’ve broken bread together and we’ll do so one more time around the common table in a moment and again after worship. We are feed and are fed by this gathering of family, friends and neighbours. We are not alone, thanks be to God. Amen.