A Mediation For August 18, 2024: Welcoming Service

 (Note:  As I ocassionally have, I filled in for our interim pastor who is on vacation.  I wanted to celebrate a very special person during the service, which I did.  I will not give full names here out of respect for privacy.  As they say, IYKYK...and if you don't and have a really pressing need to figure this all out, let me know.)

When I got the call (a phone call; not from God…I’m still waiting for that call) about filling the pulpit, I immediately said yes to this particular date.  It is always a privilege to share this sacred space with you; it is even more so on this day. For as some (or probably all) of you may know why.  Today is A’s birthday and there is no place I would rather be than here to celebrate and honor him, even if he himself cannot physically be here.  

And even though he is not physically here, I would like to take a break for a moment and ask our choir director to lead us in singing, "Happy Birthday."  Maybe if we're loud enough A will hear us.  (Or see a recording of this.)  

(Note:  congregation sang a rousing version of "Happy Birthday.)

 As Christians, there is nothing greater that we can do to show our faith than to serve.  Each and everyone one of us here has done that in one form or another.  No two have served in exactly the same way because each of us is a unique individual shaped by God.  We all have different talents and use them accordingly.  And that is how it should be.  As it says in Romans 12:  "For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully."

 We are called to serve and each of us can do so in using our unique talents.  As you well know, A has many talents.  For decades he has made this building a home of faith.  Because of his service, this structure is not just a building, but truly God’s house.  He has cleaned it.  He has cared for it. For anyone who might think that is a menial or unimportant task, I can loudly and unequivocally say you are wrong.  I know those who have taken over some of his tasks will support me in that statement.  In caring for this building, God’s house, we are serving and honoring the Lord.  For decades that service by A has transformed our community.  This church building is known in town primarily because of A.  In many people’s minds they are interchangeable; A. T.  = First Presbyterian Church.

  I know for my son, stepping into A’s shoes, at least partially, has been a way to honor and show respect for the first person who welcomed him into this church.  (Even though he was less than a month old and doesn’t remember it…I do.)  I never thought taking out garbage and cleaning the church would be so transformative for my son.  His weeks of working here while on summer break, is not just a job, it is something he has dedicated himself to and he has gone all in.  He likes the work.  Who would have imagined?  He knows what he does matters and that it is important.  He knows what he does (or doesn’t do) impacts others. Like A, he is not just caring for this building, he is caring for its people, US, and serving God.  That’s something that we need to remember, that we must care for this physical church and the people in it; they are a package deal.

  know this next week will be bittersweet for my son as he will return to college next Sunday for his sophomore year.  Serving this church over the summer months has become so important to him that he has said that whenever he is home on break, if the church needs help, he wants to be there.  I may be biased, but I think that is pretty impressive for 19 year old; to be dedicated to serving this congregation whenever he is able. 

 This summer, this church, in turn, has served my son as well. Providing a welcoming and supportive atmosphere.  A place where he can thrive and grow. What a wonderful place to be. Isn’t that what a church should be?

 You may think that welcoming someone is a given in a church.  Unfortunately it is not.  There are churches that would not welcome a woman behind the pulpit.  There are churches that would not welcome people of different racial or ethnic backgrounds.  There are churches where in order to belong you need to adhere to their ways of thinking, with no openness for discussion on differing views.  That is not so here.

  As it says in Ephesians” Putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil. Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

 I believe, in this church, that part of welcoming is being respectful of one another.  In my mind, the act of welcoming others, of inviting those who may be different from us is an important component of Christianity.  It IS a way of serving God. And it is a service that each and every one of us can do, no matter how old or young we are.  It is simple and yet it is an incredibly important part of our Christian identity.  

 For over 60 years A.T. has been the welcoming face of this church.  No matter who has come to the door, no matter what they have looked like, Andy has welcomed them.  I know that the first time I brought my sonto church, when he was just a few weeks old, I was apprehensive.  I had been a member of this church for decades, yet I was anxious about coming in.  A saw me pull up.  He was the one to greet me and reassure me that all would be well. And of course it was.  With his kind manner, he put me at ease and made me feel welcome. His presence here is so strong, that even when I KNOW he won’t be here, I still somehow expect him to appear.  I enter and expect to hear his voice and see his face.  I am ready to greet him, just as I know that he is ready to welcome me.  When A is well enough to return, I want to be the first to welcome him.  However, I know I will have a lot of competition for that because we all carry A in our hearts, no matter where he is, and we all want to welcome him home, just as he has welcomed us.

 A follows the teachings of Christ, being joyful in service and welcoming all.  To honor him and to be faithful Christians, we need to continue to do the same.  And while we may think we have always been a welcoming church, as followers of Christ, we need to continue to do so with thoughtful hospitality.

 What does that mean?  It means welcoming members (yes, even “regulars” need to still be welcomed), friends and strangers.  It means welcoming and not overwhelming, remembering that each person who comes through these doors has different life experiences than us.  We need to honor and respect that.  We need to listen.  We need to understand that one size does not fit all and that each individual is unique.  We may all walk the path together, but we go at a different pace.  We are all at different spots in our journey and we can’t and shouldn’t force anyone to keep up with us.  We all need to travel at our own pace and ask for help if we need it, but not forcing our “guidance” on someone who wants and needs to find their own way.  Your path may be straight, mine may have curves. Some may need assistance, others may need their own private space.   However, we can still be there for each other, never stifling or smothering, but welcoming and encouraging. We still must be there, serving each other, our community and God.

 Isn’t that what A would do?  Isn’t that what Christ did?  Never forcing someone to be something, but welcoming, nurturing and serving with joy.  That is what we have always tried to do.  It’s what we need to continue to do.

 When my son attended camp at Johnsonburg, the week always ended with a singing of “They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love” If you don’t know it, the second verse (which I have condensed and will not sing) goes: “We will work with each other, we will work side by side. And we'll guard each man's dignity and save each man's pride. And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love. Yeah, they'll know we are Christians by our love.”

I would say that here at First Presbyterian, we show that love as Christians by using our talents to serve and welcome all.  By doing so we honor A; we follow Christ.  And with welcoming service we will not just survive, but thrive.

Amen