Sermon, 25 june - Transferred Feast of the Nativity of St John the Baptist (Lk 1.57-80)

            Good morning St John's! Pop quiz: which St John are we named for?

            Now there's a tough question. Here's a quick follow-up question - how many St John's ARE there?

            The answer: a lot. There are a LOT of St John's - There's John the Apostle, who was James' brother. No one knows if this is the same John who is the Evangelist, the gospel-writer, who is anachronistically imprinted in our stained glass above the reredos. There's John of Patmos - he wrote the biblical book of the Revelation. There's John Chrysostom - who is credited with writing the prayer we use at our intercessions "Almighty God, who has given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications unto you..." John of Damascus who defended the use of divine Images, such as icons or banners. We've got John of the Cross, the Carmelite mystic who gave us the poem "The Dark Night of the Soul." And, if we skip over the other 70 or so St John's, we can consider St John the Baptist.

            Now, I like old JB. He was, after all, an ordinary guy, whose life was changed by his connection to Jesus. And, as a result, he did extraordinary things. He lived the mission.

            And yesterday was his birthday. In church-speak, we call it the Feast of the Nativity of St John the Baptist. So, we celebrate that today. Now, each St John has their own feast day - some are major feasts some are minor feasts. John the Baptist is a major feast. It's a change-the-altar-hangings kind of feast day.

            And it's important to us: because that's the day that this parish church of St John, some 183 years ago, committed itself to being a dedicated worshiping community here in Port Dalhousie. The cornerstone was laid, the prayers were lifted, the party was held! And the mission of the church began.

            The reality of starting a church is a complex one. Because a community needs to identify that it wants t gather to hear God's word, to nurture the faith, to share in the sacraments, and to go out and be a force for God in the immediate world. Basically, for a church to come into being, it has to be able to identify what it's mission will be. And then, as we know, for a church to continue in that place and space, it needs to continue in its mission.

            To be fair: I'm not talking about mission statements like we see in the business world. They're not bad: but they're usually more concrete-dollars-and-cents than the mission of a church. They focus on an organisation's purpose and operations, measuring success and failure. They can be rather long and seemingly unattainable. I once heard someone indicate they wished for a mission statement that could be printed on a t-shirt... not on an entire nightgown.

            No, the mission that happens within and from a faith community is rather different. Because it is not something that is controlled by the people: it is something from God. Jürgen Moltmann, one of my favourite theologians, puts it this way: "It is not the church that has a mission but the very reverse... the mission of Christ creates its own church."[1]

            So the church exists then, to participate in God's mission.

            That leads us to the next question... what is God's mission? What is that mission for the world? For the people gathered in Christ's name?

            And: most importantly: how do we - as God's people - participate in that?

            This is the hard stuff. This is where we are called to discern. To prayerfully consider what it is that God wants to happen in this community, in 2017 and beyond, and through those of us who are committed to BEing God's church.

            Any brilliant answers?

            It takes thought, and care and prayer, and discussion, and a renewed understanding of what it means to be part of God's mission.

            And that part, as odd as it may sound, is not just about bringing people to church to fill the pews. If that were the case, we could all line up, and like a drive through just walk through the building. But what would have changed? Aside from the condition of the flooring, not much.

            Mission is also, despite how it used to be understood, not merely a process of sending people away on foreign trips so that they could convert people.  That happens, sure, but there are also things that God's got planned for this place - this community - and we're being invited into those things too.

            Mission is most definitely not about one person doing some things, and some others helping out, and the rest watching as though 'church' is a spectator sport. Jesus gave us the perfect model of that – he could have done it all himself, but instead he gathered folks together, trained and empowered them, and sent them out into the world to do the same. It’s meant to be in community that we come together and make a difference.

            So what do we do when we're together? How do we practically and logistically engage in Gods mission? Well, we start from here. We start now. And we do it together. We worship: emphasising the importance of shared praise and prayer. We pay attention: looking out for our shared ministry, and for one another. We pray: asking God for help, being changed in our hearts, interceding for God's people and the world, and giving thanks for the joys of the glimpses  of the kingdom I mentioned last week. We transform the world around us: through acts of healing, discipleship, teaching. We evangelise: in the true sense, this means to share the Good News - and when the Good News is being part of God's plan, how can we help but joyfully share that?

            So we come together. In this place, in this time. Building on the good examples of the past 183 years, and equally committing ourselves to discern our missional path for the future. Taking from the holy space the spiritual strength we need from baptism, scripture, and evangelism.

            Let us give thanks for these holy spaces, and ask God that they may continue to mean much for years to come:

Almighty God, watchful and caring, our source and our end, all that we are and all that we have are yours. Accept us now, as we give thanks to you for this place where we have come to praise your name, to ask your forgiveness, to know your healing power, to hear your word, and to be nourished by the body and blood of your Son. Be present always to guide and to judge, to illumine and to bless your people. This we pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.[2]

---

[1] Moltmann, Jürgen. The Church in the Power of the Spirit: a Contribution to Messianic Christianity, p. 10

[2] Anglican Church of Canada. Book of Alternative Services, p. 668-9

Sermon (Pentecost +2) Matthew 9.35-10.8

            We have a fascinating gospel passage this morning, don't we? It starts off with Jesus doing what Jesus does: teaching, preaching, and healing. It's beautiful. And then Jesus shows his compassion for the people, which makes it even better, wanting them not be harassed and helpless and without a protector and leader. All that in the first 2 verses!

            Then we hear of Jesus speaking to his disciples, setting the stage for what he's going to ask THEM to do. He's going to share with them his mission, and invite and expect them to continue along in it. Because "disciple" doesn't mean someone who is along for a ride; it means someone who chooses to follow - and we learn from these folks, and know from our own experiences, that sometimes following can be difficult. Especially when we're trying to follow the example of Jesus to live out the mission of God.

            So the first thing we get, naturally, is the full list of those first 12 disciples. Now, my guess is that many of us, if we were choosing a team of people to share a common mission, we'd choose the best equipped, the best trained, the most energetic... right? For healing, we want the best doctors and nurses. For teaching, we want folks on the cutting edge of the latest models of education. For preaching, we want the people with impressive degrees in theology. Right?

            Yet here we get the list of those that Jesus chooses. One who will deny out of fear. One who is a brother along for the journey. A couple of fishermen.  One who will question. One who will openly doubt. One whose job swindles for personal profit. One who is a zealot. One who will betray.

            Fascinating. God's mission is to be done, and Jesus chooses a mishmash of everyday, ordinary people. Folks who have given up their past titles and positions in order to follow Jesus. And not just on some 3-hour-tour; this is a life-forever-more experience. Welcome to the Island, if you'll pardon the Gilligan pun.

            It's these 12 who are then told that they will not be the be-all and end-all; in fact, before they even begin, Jesus lets them know that their jobs will be to train others to do their jobs. Biblical succession planning: it's important, it's part of God's mission, and it's the same thing that Jesus is doing with them.

            That is their job, as Jesus' followers. Go out, do what Jesus did, say what Jesus said. Proclaim the Good News - tell the world that the Kingdom of Heaven has come near! And do this with folks who are disillusioned, who are frustrated, who have left the faith communities for whatever reasons. And certainly don't expect to get rich doing it!

            Point of clarification: the disciples were not independently wealthy; nor were they suddenly exempt from earthly needs. Biblical hospitality indicated that guests were welcomed with generous hospitality. So they could expect meals and lodging and clothing, but not riches to hoard away. Jesus' teaching matches biblical hospitality in that the disciples were not permitted to withhold their teaching and ministry should someone not be in a position of affluence to cover their expenses.

            So - let's get back to what they are meant to say to proclaim the good news! Because there is an important point to be had from Jesus' exact words. When speaking about the kingdom, Jesus doesn't say "Let's get ourselves ready for the kingdom, for when we go there." Instead, he declares: "The Kingdom of Heaven has come near." The kingdom is not a far-off destination, it's part of our on-going journey.

            If this is how we - both as individuals and as the community - understand the kingdom, how then do we proclaim it? How do we live it? How do we share it?

            We, a mishmash of ordinary, imperfect people, respond to Jesus the same way those first twelve did. We listen to the call to be Christ's followers, and we engage with God's people. We do our best to live as participants in and with God's mission, where the kingdom of Heaven is drawing near... and nearer... and even nearer still! And this nearness of the Kingdom will be achieved through the mission by the work of the people.

            Now, there is a nuanced distinction here in our understanding about the Kingdom. It's a distinction of being passive or active in how we will encounter the Kingdom of heaven, and how we will see our lives in the here and the hereafter.

            Person A, the person for whom the kingdom is somewhere out there, will perceive that showing up at a church is enough: it's a Spiritual Top-Up for the week, a feel-good time where we can gather in community, pray, hear the beautiful messages of scripture, and head home to the "ordinary" or "secular" time, the other 167 hours in the week. This person will be feeling prepared for the hereafter, when they trust and believe that they will go to the Kingdom of Heaven.

            Person B, the person for whom the Kingdom is perpetually being brought nearer, will also be in the church on Sunday mornings, but their perception will be slightly different. It will be to celebrate being a part of that community, hearing the same beautiful scriptures, raising the same prayers, but also to be challenged and inspired to go and do church throughout the week. This person is seeking ways to live out God's mission during those 167 hours (give or take, in my experience it's hard to be missional when you're sleeping). The person with this perception is constantly looking for glimpses of the kingdom; a kingdom that is both here and not here, now and not now. These glimpses are like catching a faint aroma on a breeze or seeing the slightest presence from the corner of the eye. It's there - it's definitely there - but if we try to pinpoint the source, we won't be able to.

            So it is up to us to decide how we think about the kingdom. It's up to us as individuals: what is our understanding of the kingdom, and what is our calling to engage with the rest of the world around us. "Go and make disciples!" we're told - find and empower other people who will also teach, and preach, and heal. It's also up to us as part of the wider community, to discern how we collectively respond to shared glimpses. How might we together use the gifts and skills and resources in ways that are collaborative and complementary, so that we can encourage more participation from God's people: people who are active, who are engaged, who are willing to grow spiritually in the service of Christ, who are also catching those glimpses of the imminent and transcendent Kingdom of heaven.

            Now, these glimpses, these hints... I believe that God is providing these to us intentionally - to encourage and support us. We know that going out there and BEing the church can be hard. God knows it, Jesus knew it and spoke about it. It's subversively counter-cultural, in that it goes against the capitalistic, individualist society that has prevailed for thousands of years. It's intentionally thankless, as disciples do not expect or even want accolades for their efforts, as that would distract and detract from the Glory to God that is intended through the works. It is missional, however, and next week I'll speak a bit more about what it means to be faithfully missional.

            But these glimpses are exciting, and energising too, as they  invite us to redefine how we integrate the truth of the kingdom into our lives, and how we actively participate in God's mission to bring that kingdom even nearer. We are challenged to redefine how we hear the message of being disciples, and making disciples. We are challenged to redefine our relationship with God and with the world; both now and in the age to come, both how we are and how we could be.

            May God give us the faith to trust that the kingdom is near. and the courage to live in the wonder of receiving its glimpses, and the strength to faithfully respond to be and make disciples, thereby living every moment as Kingdom people.

WhitSunday / Pentecost Sermon

Acts 1.1-21; Ps 104.25-37; 1Cor 12.3b-13; John 20.19-23

What an interesting thing, this Pentecost. A fascinating celebration of ministry in action, of God’s undeniable presence in the world! Can you feel it? Hmm. That can be hard, can’t it – especially in a world where we hear of terror attacks and violence and hatred and environmental devastation and crippling negativity…

And that’s the same feeling we surmise from the folks in today’s scriptures, too.

            They’re in what can best be described as a BLAH state of being. A malaise, if you will. They are spiritually confused and afraid and extremely uncertain about the future.

            Odd, and unfortunate, as this is for the Jewish people, the Festival of Shavuot – where Jews celebrate the re-giving of God’s gifts to the world, most specifically the great gift of the Torah – the Holy Scriptures – WOOHOO!

And yet – they’re just not feeling it. They are there, 120 people all gathered together; fearful, waiting, flummoxed.

And these 120 are all sorts of people. Aside from the diverse backgrounds and countries of origin that we stumble over in the reading from Acts – they are all just kinda… there. Male/female; rich/poor; old/young. Grieving the loss of Jesus - their friend, the world's messiah. Baffled over the message of some advocate that’s coming. Struggling to discern what they’re meant to do now. All present and trying to overcome their earthly judgements and preconceived notions that society is throwing out at them.

AND THEN! A noise like a rushing wind. A violent wind. This is not a deliciously cooling breeze on a hot day at the beach. This is not a gentle warm air transfer bringing with it the aroma of fragrant flowers in spring. This is not like a gentle dove, slowly descending to alight upon the disciples. No, this is not that subtle; the Spirit can at times be subtle; her first entrance is NOT one of those times. This is a RUSHING wind! I’d imagine it was measurable in hurricane forces. This is what the disciples hear. There’s no disputing it; this wind is strong! Strong enough to knock you over – or, strong enough to blow new life into the disciples’ ministries.

THIS is Pentecost. This is what happens when God’s Spirit is acknowledged as blowing in and through the world. This is what happens when the very presence of God moves among the people. This is the empowerment of the people who wish to believe and behave as followers of Christ – to be the church, the ekklesia. This is not about creating an institution; it is about creating an assembly of faithful people excited to DO and BE church in the world.

            This is it. The Holy Spirit - the promised advocate – has arrived.

And, as often happens when God will break forth beautifully into our earthly existence, it is NOT what people were expecting!

Because the Spirit is a new entity to them. The Spirit is speaking to each and every one of them – and us – individually. As uniquely as our own language, idiosyncrasies, preferences. Because the Spirit KNOWS that we will all hear in different ways, respond in different ways, be passionate to love and serve God in different ways. So she comes to us – in different ways. And invites us to listen! And to find the commonality in her message to us all. And it is there – the truth of the Spirit is that, when we are faithful people, we WILL all be moved into action!

And so – the Spirit moves. WOW the Spirit moves!

That movement highlights that the Spirit has 2 main purposes. Firstly, she will comfort the afflicted. All those who are carrying heavy hearts can find solace and support in the Spirit – directly from that ethereal presence, but also indirectly (though no less importantly) through the ministering of one another through difficult times. Comfort comes to us when we call upon the Spirit to make herself known to us.

The second purpose of the Spirit is to afflict the comfortable. Those who have decided that ministry is something for someone else to do, or something that is static, or something that will only be how we remember it has always been. Those who never leave the comfortable pew, will never be joyfully surprised by the delights that the Spirit has prepared – which maybe right outside our door, or down the street, or on the other side of the city.

The Holy Spirit likes to STIRS things UP! She likes to stir US up. She likes movement.

Yet - in the midst of this, we get the unbelievers, the nay-sayers, the ‘Debbie Downers” – who would search for any reason to (knowingly or not) deny the Spirit – to deny the breath of God – to deny the building of the Kingdom of God.

The apostles got the very dismissive: OH YOU'RE DRUNK. And in the modern church, in any modern group of people, the excuses can pile up.

·        Oh, we’ve never done it that way before – so we’re not willing to try it.

·        Oh, that didn’t work when we tried it 25 years ago – so we refuse to support it now.

·        Oh, I don’t like that type of thing, so no one should attempt to do it.

·        Oh, I don’t approve of *those* kinds of people – so we shouldn’t welcome them into our community.

            I’m going to stop RIGHT THERE – because that is way too long a list already. That is way too many times when people have, for their own sake and for their own comfort, denied the potential movement of the Spirit.

And as faithful people of God, as the assembled Body of Christ, as the believers who gather in worship and in praise and in the JOY OF THE LORD! – we instead put our focus in the fearless “what if”s.

·        What IF we tried a new way of worshiping – and it inspired new passions within us

·        What IF we tried a new outreach programme – and found new ways to engage with the vulnerable in our society

·        What IF we welcomed new members – and discovered great new friends to pray and praise with

·        What IF we explored our shared gifts and skills – and benefitted intergenerational faith nurture

·        What IF we refused to deny the deniers – and tried new things – and found some of them to be a successful witness of the power of God.

           That power is here, friends. That Spirit is here! Can you hear her whispering? Can you perceive her nudging? Can you see how she is blowing you into the active reality of being the ekklesia of Christ?

So as we pray to the Spirit this day – and ideally everyday! – let us ask the Spirit to reveal to us her presence in our lives. May our eyes be opened to the wonders that are there! We pray for the coming of the Spirit, we invoke her presence… may we truly be ready for it!

So I leave you with some prayerful questions to ponder. 

For the comfort the Spirit offers us in our affliction:

·        How do you receive the comfort of the Spirit - and thereby overcome your afflictions?

·        How often can you recognize the affliction in others – even when it challenges your own views?

·        How might you offer comfort to a hurting world?

For the stirring up that the Spirit does to us:

·        How has the Spirit blown you over?

·        What charisms or spiritual languages do you hear, understand, and convey?

·        How do you respond when the Spirit makes things uncomfortable enough that you feel the need to discern a different path forward?

·        How do you – like Peter, with kindness  – overcome the worldly voices against the Spirit?

·        What happens when you realise you ARE the voice of opposition?

          Much to think and pray on this week. Yet I pray – fervently – that we all embrace this gift of the Spirit:

THIS is the will of the Spirit - that we rise up, faithfully, prayerfully, intentionally - to live out our mission and ministry. That we share the good news of the Risen Christ with the WORLD. That we go beyond our comfort zones, to lead by positive example, to carry the power of the Triune God in our hearts as we sort out how we are being led at this time and this place.

·        This is the Spirit who was present - hovering, pulsating, energising - at the beginning of the creation.

·        This is the Spirit whom Jesus promised would be guiding us forever.

·        This is the Spirit that will blow open the potential of what it means to be the Body of Christ - the church.

·        This is the Spirit we pray to come to us – to inspire us - to use us - to change us.

Are you ready for her?

Come, Holy Spirit, Come: Set our hearts on fire: for the love of God.