Larry E. Lenow

FUMC

1-20-08

 

 

“Ready, Set, Go”

Text:  I Corinthians 1:1-9

 

 

“Caught like a deer in the headlights.”  It’s a graphic but accurate image.  You know what it means, of course.  It is that sudden sinking feeling of being caught unawares.  Where did that come from?  When did that happen?  I’ve thought of everything, except…

I must come clean and confess this feeling to you.  You see, today is truly an historic moment in the life of Fredericksburg Church.   Later this morning we consecrate our new Ministry Center; later this morning we open a new chapter.  We’ve been planning for it for ages.  We have a special service of consecration, a special worship schedule, an open house.  The Bishop should be arriving in about an hour.  There are ten thousand, but don’t worry they are under control.  And the Bishop is preaching; I don’t have to worry about that.  Oh wait, so am I.  At the early service of preparation, at the early service which may be for some of us, those of freaking out about all the details, the time when we are able to really worship.  So midweek it dawned on me that yes, I too am bringing the Word.  And oh by the way, the District Superintendent will be present and participating in worship.  Deer caught in the headlights.

 

Half in panic and the other half on autopilot, I did what I normally do.  I turned to the lectionary.  What would be the text for this week?  What would be the lesson if this were not a very special Sunday?  What is the lesson in all our sister churches this morning?  I checked and discovered again that God is good and God provides.  I didn’t need to worry about a sermon for this service of preparation; St. Paul has one for me all ready to go.  So I would invite you hear his words again.

 

Let me remind you that this is the opening of Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth.  And, as you know, Corinth was a big place, a big church, with a very diverse body of believers from very different kinds of backgrounds.  It’s sort of like this church.  “To the  church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours;  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”.  Wait a minute!  Those who are sanctified?  Those called to be saints?  Those who call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ?  That’s not describing people like us, that is describing us.  Dare we believe that this letter, these words are written for us, that they represent God’s Word to us, in this moment, on this special day as we prepare and offer ourselves?  Rather grabs you attention, doesn’t it?

 

The Apostle goes on; I give thanks to my god always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind – just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you…”  Did you hear that?  The grace of God has been given to you in Jesus Christ.  You have been enriched in him in speech and knowledge of every kind.  Fredericksburg Church is this not true?  Do we not have the grace of God have we not been enriched in Christ?  God has given us every thing that we need.  As we worship here in this beautiful sanctuary, as I stand in this pulpit, let me assure you that this church has never had a pastor who is not humbled and awed by the example of John Kobler, the circuit rider who God used to ignite this church.  The bar is set high.  I am both excited that we lift up his memory in the naming of Kobler Hall, and pray that what we do with it lives up to his spirit.  Thursday morning, Amy and I were driving to the church when I received word of Elnora Johnson’s passing.  Amy commented offhand, “It puts things into perspective, doesn’t it?”  Rather.  As important as this day is, as exciting as our new facility and the possibilities of what we can do in it are, it pales alongside the power and glory of just one life lived brightly and powerfully for God.    The grace of God has been given to you.  You have been enriched in Jesus Christ.

 

Saturday, a week ago I was right here in this sanctuary as our District Leadership Training began.  Angie Williams, our Conference staff person for Youth Ministries gave an excellent keynote address.  She spoke about the stark reality that as a denomination and as a Conference we are absolutely missing a generation for Christ, as young people as a demographic group stay away from the church.  I listened with mixed feelings.  I listened with some satisfaction, as she lifted up the challenge, knowing that Fredericksburg Church with our dynamic youth ministry is already doing well all the things she lifted up.  But then I myself was convicted and challenged as she spoke to us not as churches, not as programs, not as ministries but as individuals to look at young people and at strangers and at all others and look them in the eye and with an expression of warmth.  To show them, in other words, the face of Christ through my own face through you own face. Angie used as her text the story of Esther.  You remember, Esther becomes wife to the king of Persia, and a plot against the Jews in Persia is discovered.  Her Uncle Mordecai tells her that she must appeal to the king. She answers, “That’s risky.  You know the law.  No one can approach the inner court of the king without first being bidden.  Unless the king holds out his golden scepter, the sentence is death.’  “It’s risky, yes. “Mordecai answers,   “Who knows? Perhaps you have come into royal dignity for just such a time as this.” Perhaps, you have been put in this place at this time for just this purpose.

 

Who knows, Fredericksburg church, perhaps you have come into royal dignity who just such a time as this.  You have been given the grace of God. You have been enriched in Christ, by those who have gone before you, by those who sit at your side, by those who offer their lives and service and ministry freely. You are not lacking in any spiritual gift.

You see this service of preparation is not unimportant, not a practice not a warm-up.  You cannot consecrate a Ministry Center unless you first consecrate yourself as a Ministry Center.

 

My sisters and brothers, perhaps you have come into royal dignity for just such a time as this.  And in the name of Jesus Christ I challenge you.  Be thankful for the grace of God which is with us always.  Ponder the lives, the witness the ministry that through the years and centuries have enriched us and made us what we are. Consider the spiritual gifts God has given us in abundance.  As we celebrate, as we worship as we commune with the living God and take unto ourselves the Body and blood of Christ, I invite you if you are so led to take a moment in prayer.  Recommit and consecrate yourself to the ministry of Jesus Christ.  That’s the important thing.  This is a special and historic day.  Thanks be to God.