Last Words

Well, here we are.  My last Sunday and last sermon.

 

Ordinarily I would be tucking into the Gospel reading for today,

            exploring how it is relevant for our own lives 

            and how it gives us insight, light and strengthening grace

                        for facing the challenges we have been dealing with.

 

For this really significant Resurrection story today

            I am going to refer you to the sermon I preached to you last year,

                        since this is the Gospel reading 

                        for the 2nd Sunday of Easter every year.

It’s posted on the Nativity Facebook page and on my blog

            for those of you who would actually do such a thing 

                        as to look up a sermon from a year ago and read it.

 

But today is my opportunity to say some parting words to you,

            and dole out some advice for handling the coming weeks

                        before your new priest is discerned, called, and moved in.

 

Most of you here have been blessed by the many years that +Gretchen 

            was here and served as your rector.

That was a special time

            and a large part of that was because +Gretchen was a great priest,

                        and a very good administrator.

And that’s a major reason why this diocese discerned and called her

                                                                        to be their bishop.

And you all can be rightly proud 

            of her service to all the congregations in the diocese

                        because it has been excellent.

 

Her leadership has served the diocese well during this incredible time

            of living through a world wide pandemic.

 

And I am thankful for that leadership,

            because I, like every other priest, was working out how to do ministry

                        under new and difficult circumstances,

            and doing that not as your rector, but as an interim.

 

Let me say right here during the time of serving as your interim Vicar.

            I have not fulfilled all the  expectations you may have had

I have not resolved differences between individuals.

            I have not satisfied everyone.

Some of you disagree with me on various topics, and that’s okay.

            That wasn’t my job – to be everything for everyone.

But I did what I could and trust the rest to our Lord.

 

So amazingly, 

            despite having long stretches when we couldn’t worship together,

                         we engaged in the calling process,            

            and you folks have responded to all sorts of surveys and questionnaires,

giving your input to the profile committee

            for the ministry they were tasked with

                        in creating the all important Parish Profile.

 

That profile committee, which, I must say, 

was a really excellent group of people,

            talked with every one of you,

            and then put together a well crafted parish profile.

You owe thanks to Rosemary, Annamarie, Harold, Mary Lou and John

            for a job well done.

 

I think we can now reasonably say that the worst of the pandemic is behind us,

            and I have been truly impressed with how you all 

                        cooperated together to make this place safe for gathering

                                                                                    during this time.

 

You all have been a witness in a crazy world 

            about caring more for the health and well being of others 

                        than supposed individual freedom rights 

            that flew in the face of medical knowledge and wisdom.

 

And you all can be very proud of the fact that we have a core membership here

            that made it possible to continue providing essential services,

providing life sustaining food to the community during this prolonged crisis.

                        I am so proud of you for this

            because this has been the epitome

                                                             of showing your faith through your works,

because in giving to those in need,

            very truly you are giving  to the Risen Christ disguised in your midst.

I am so proud of you all for this.

 

So even though we haven’t hit the attendance numbers 

            that we had pre-pandemic,

we have nonetheless come through this terribly trying time stronger.

You have been tried, and whether you can see it or not,

            you have come through the time of trial.

 

The contemporary wording of the Lord’s Prayer

            for “lead us not into temptation” reads “save us from the time of trial.”

I want you to think about what we have been through in the last 2 plus years

            and know that this has been a time of trial.

We have come through this trial by the grace of God,

            whether or not we recognize that God’s grace has been at work.

 

When your new priest arrives, 

            I hope very much that you will tell this person

                        stories about this time.

Don’t sugar coat the stories, be honest.

We weren’t heroic or angelic,

            but we persevered in being faithful.

We weren’t always kind and gentle with each other,

            but I heard apologies and expressions of grief and regret

            and, at times, occasions of tenderly reaching out to each other.

Saintly we were not, but I would say that we have been saints-in-training.

            And you better be sure to keep working on being saints-in-training! 

 

You know, this congregation was very fortunate to have been enrolled 

            in the Baptized For Life program.

That was just the impetus that was needed for making a commitment 

            to spiritual growth and sharing our faith stories with one another.

No matter what small group you have been in,

            I hope you value that opportunity going forward 

                        to keep working on those relationships

                        and on your own going deeper into your relationship with Jesus.

THIS is THE BEST THING you can do as preparation  

            and as you anticipate the next priest who will be coming to Nativity.

 

Now, some words of advice about how you are to view your next priest.

 

First of all, this person is not your savior.  Jesus is!

This new priest will be working WITH you, not FOR you.

            So you will need to continue working in your areas of ministry

            as you have been, and maybe in some new ways or with fresh vision.

You are not to back off from the ways you have been contributing in service.

            Can I press you to pledge that now?  

No slacking off when the new priest arrives!

                        even though that is often an unconscious thing that happens.

I am telling you that now and I want you to remember this.

            And it doesn’t need to be just Maxine and Don doing everything 

                        – God bless them – 

Trust that you will not be treading on anyone’s toes 

                                                                        by offering to help in any area.

 

Second word of advice, 

new clergy leadership does not guarantee a growth in attendance.

            Having that expectation – spoken or unconscious – 

                        is really detrimental to you all.

You and your new priest will need to work together and pray together

            about HOW you want to be a welcoming beacon of light

                        to the LC Valley.

You and your participation will be a big part of what happens 

                                                in terms of congregational numbers.

 

And be very clear that the purpose of reaching out to bring in others

            is NOT about sustaining the membership 

            so that you can meet the budget.

                        Loving, sweet Jesus, no!

 

It is about one beggar showing another where to get bread.

            That is one of the best definitions of evangelism that I have ever heard.

One beggar showing another beggar where to get bread.

            There is no judgment in that kind of evangelism.

There is admitting that I am just as much in need of God’s mercy 

                        as you are or as anyone else is.

But I have found something life giving and life sustaining here,

            I have found a solid ground for faith here,

            and it has sustained me through difficult times:

                        times such as these last couple of years with a pandemic

                        and ragged times of my own doing – or undoing.

 

Each of you need to do your own reflection about this – I mean it – 

            and then be thankful for our Risen Lord faithfully with us

            hidden in bread and in wine and in each other.

 

Third word of advice:  This is essential for being able to be with each other 

            in loving ways that create connections, rather than dividing.

Do not judge each other.

            That is presupposing your own values and rules on another

                        without knowing their circumstances,

                        without knowing the whole picture.

Do not expect others to act or be as you think they ought to be.

 

And now a last word of advice:  remember, control is an illusion.

            Do NOT try to control the ever moving flow of Life, of the Spirit leading.

A good way to quit trying to control is to recognize that at its base

            control is motivated by thinking you know what’s best.

It takes some humility and spiritual maturity to recognize this.

Control is a trap.  Don’t get caught in it.

 

But know this: You are all so lucky to be here.

You have made it through the plague that stalks in the darkness

                        and the sickness that lays waste at mid-day,

                                                to quote Psalm 91 – read that Psalm!

As you wait your turn to come up to the altar to receive communion,

            pick up the prayer book and read Psalm 91, page 719.

And be so utterly thankful for God’s providence that has overshadowed you.

 

In conclusion, let me tell you a story.

            There is an ancient story, not in the New Testament

                        but handed down through the oral tradition,

            a story about the Apostle John.

 

Of all the twelve he was the only one to live to old age.

He lived through persecutions and the martyrdom of the other apostles.

He is said to have lived through exile on the island of Patmos.

He is attributed with writing the Gospel of John, 

                        three epistles, and the Book of the Revelation.

 

The story goes that when he was very, very old

            the faithful would gather around him to hear his wisdom.

Now, as he was approaching death, 

            they came to ask him for what his final sermon to them would be.

Gathering his strength so that he could speak, he said,

                        “Little children, love one another.”

After some silence, he then spoke again:

                        “Little children, love one another.”

After further silence, he spoke once more:

                        “Little children, love one another.”

 

I don’t think I could do better than that.

So my dear sisters and brothers, if you want to honor my time among you,            

    do this:            Love one another.