“Accomplishments
in Abundance”
John 6:1-21
Ephesians 3:14-21
Introduction. During my
time in Logan, I have been very blessed to be able to share worship
leadership with many wonderful people, including choir director Evelyn
Falk, who is incredibly talented, but also very easy to work with.
I have learned over the years, talking with colleagues in the ministry,
that like cats and dogs, pastors don't always get along with choir directors.
In fact, when I heard the choir today singing “Jubilant Song” on
my final Sunday, I was suddenly reminded of a horrible dream I had just
a few nights ago. In the dream, Evelyn and I were not getting
along. The first hint of trouble came when I preached on the movement
of the Holy Spirit, and that Sunday Evelyn chose the anthem “I Shall
Not be Moved.” I dismissed the whole thing as a coincidence,
but the next Sunday I preached on giving, and Evelyn led the choir in
singing “Jesus Paid It All.” I was getting frustrated, but
then really lost it when the next Sunday I gave a sermon on the sin
of gossiping, and Evelyn selected “I Love to Tell the Story.”
I had to take a stand, and so the following week I told the congregation
that unless something changed, I was considering resigning within the
month. I remember you all were stunned when, instead of singing
“Go Now In Peace,” Evelyn led you in singing “O Why Not Tonight?”
Just before I woke up from the dream, I resigned, explaining that Jesus
had led me here, and Jesus was leading me away, and as I was waking
up I could hear Evelyn leading the chorus, “What a Friend We Have
in Jesus.” (http://www.stewardshipoflife
Move 1. Fortunately, Evelyn
and I have not experienced such ugliness. Indeed, as a church,
we have not for the most part experienced such ugliness. On the
contrary, we can be jubilant, even on this difficult day, because together
we have accomplished much. Allow me to share with you a few of
the things I see that we have accomplished together.
First, we have worked through many pastoral
transitions, and as a result have become a stronger church. Paul
Davis said last week that the church had to bring in 5 pastors to train
me. We all have experienced the difficulty that such changes have
brought. And yet during these last ten years, we have stuck together,
loved one another, and continued to be Christ's church. We have
seen many leaders step forward in faith, to serve on Session or Deacons,
participate in the prayer group, take care of the property, spearhead
the building project and capital campaign, engage in mission within
the community, lead Almost Broadway, and much more. We have been
financially sound for several years running, with budget surpluses,
and tremendous mission giving. We have become stronger through
the transitions.
Second, we have transformed an antagonistic
relationship with the Presbytery of Utah into one of healing.
Many of you have contributed to this transformation, and so have many
who are leaders in the Presbytery. We have seen their flexibility
and their desire for this congregation's success grow, and we can hope
for continued movement toward a healthy relationship.
Third, we have strengthened ministries
with children and youth. We have demonstrated commitment toward
young families by providing for two part-time staff members with benefits,
as well as providing for nursery staff. We have demonstrated commitment
by supporting summer camps, mission trips, and ecumenical youth activities.
We have demonstrated commitment by providing quality Sunday School and
music programs for young people. We have, by this commitment,
said a great deal to visitors and the entire community about where our
values are. And we have grown, in numbers and in faith, through
these ministries.
We have done these, and many other accomplishments,
together.
Move 2. Of course, First
Presbyterian has some challenges ahead, in addition to building on the
accomplishments. Perhaps you might take the following as suggestions
for continued growth and vitality within this body of Christ.
First, I would encourage you to embrace
your new pastors and staff people. Starting in September, First
Pres. will have an interim pastor, who even though he will not be here
long, should prove to be a source of great inspiration, ideas, and guidance.
Be open to that person's leading, and what they have to say and do here.
And of course, be open to the one who, after the interim, will be called
and installed, and hopefully will be pastor of this church for years
to come. Even now, God is preparing this pastor's heart for leadership
in Cache Valley. In addition, the church has just hired a new
nursery worker, and will be hiring a new Christian Education Coordinator.
Give them, as well as the wonderful staff who already work here, your
prayers and strong support. (Ask Pam, Myrrhaya, Lauri, Jake &
Jamie, and Devon to stand and be recognized.)
Second, I would encourage you to be
intentional about welcoming and integrating newcomers into the life
of this congregation. The church has had many accomplishments
here--the organization of the ushers, the start of a greeting team within
the sanctuary, and the formation of a welcome team which calls people
after their first visit. Moreover, this church is amazing about
welcoming a wide variety of community groups and other churches to use
this facility. But what about some other ideas? What
about greeters on Sundays who can stand outside and help people find
their way around? What about finding out what the gifts are of
new folks, and trying to get each one involved? What about integrating
them into small groups for prayer, Bible study, and service to the community?
First Presbyterian has taken steps toward more intentional welcoming,
but the needs in this area are great, as they are in every church, and
deserve focused attention.
Third, develop a second worship service that looks different from the current one. So many in our church, including me, love what happens here on Sundays, and this service certainly needs to be nurtured and celebrated. Yet, if you were at Guinavah two Sundays ago, where we were singing some of my personal favorites--“How Great Thou Art,” “Fairest Lord Jesus,” “This Is My Father's World”--you heard young Dean Stein's matter of fact, unpretentious comment he made after having just returned from the middle school mission trip--“we sang songs that I could relate to--not like the ones we're singing today.” First Presbyterian needs to meet people of all ages where they are, if you want people of all ages to know Jesus Christ. The church may or may not want to start a second service while the interim pastor is here, but you are ready to do this sometime soon as a crucial piece of outreach to newcomers and young people.
First Presbyterian has a number of challenges--exciting
ones--ahead.
Move 3. In all of these
accomplishments and challenges, we are offered abundance by Christ,
who empowers our accomplishments, works with us through challenges,
and makes all of them--accomplishments and challenges-- worthwhile.
One day a dad was cleaning out leftovers
from the refrigerator. He gave the one remaining portion of spaghetti
to his 6-year-old son, Jeremy. Unfortunately, his 8-year-old son,
Matthew, also wanted some, so bickering ensued. After several unsuccessful
attempts to mediate the dispute, the dad decided on a theological approach.
Hoping to convince Jeremy to share his portion with Matthew, he said,
“Jeremy, what would Jesus do in this situation?” Jeremy responded,
“He would just make more spaghetti!” (illustrations@CLERGY.NET)
Too bad we all are not like Jeremy more
often, knowing in faith that Jesus makes more. We see that Jesus
did so with the loaves and fishes, and that he can do so today.
But sometimes we are more like Philip and Andrew, those disciples “who
could not see past” the money issue or “the meager five loaves and
two fish. We tend to base our living on our…scarcity or…insufficiency.
So we hoard and save and worry and end up living life in small and safe
measures. We pull back when we should push forward. We give
in to our fear of a shortfall rather than exercising faith in God's
abundance.” (Charles Hoffman, “Living by the Word,” Christian
Century, July 25, 2006, p. 18)
We are called in scripture today to
receive God's abundance. In the gospel of John, we see the five
loaves and two fish feed thousands. And in Ephesians, we hear
the message of abundance, said as a prayer for us today. Hear
part of it again: “I pray that you may have the power…to know the
love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with
all the fullness of God. (And now) to (God) who by the power at
work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we
can ask or imagine, to (God) be the glory in the church and in Christ
Jesus to all generations, forever….”
Yes, we are called to receive the abundance
of Christ. Perhaps more importantly, we are called to accomplish
with faith Christ's mission of love and forgiveness, and to meet challenges
with the hope of Christ in us, understanding that through Christ, all
good things are possible in abundance.
Conclusion. I know for
sure that I am a different person than who I was when I came here ten
years ago, thanks to Jesus, and thanks to the abundant love of Jesus
shown to me by this congregation and community. I can't imagine
a more wonderful place to have gotten my start as a pastor, and it has
been my honor and privilege to serve here. I will always remember,
on my very first Sunday in worship in December of 2005, the invitation
from Carolyn Chase to come down to Westminster Hall for fellowship and
to meet people. I will always remember the welcome I received
from the youth of this church. I will always remember the various
leadership roles with which you have entrusted me, the amazing love
and support you have given me and my family, and the opportunities I
have had to grow in faith, hope, and love. From the bottom of
my heart, I thank each and every one of you. And as the apostle
Paul once said to a beloved congregation he helped lead: “The
grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love to all of you in
Christ Jesus. Amen.” (1 Corinthians 16:23-24)
July 30, 2006
Rev. Dave Hedgepeth
First Presbyterian Church
Logan, Utah