Scripture:
When it comes to seeing ourselves as ministers in our daily life, many of us have a hard time. We feel ourselves to be without the necessary resources or training. Yet it is from just such a place of inadequacy that power emerges. Consider the following story which comes from the third chapter of the book of Acts. As you listen to it, remind yourself of the wealth of gifts you DO have, even when it seems you have nothing to offer. Let us open ourselves to the word of God.

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at three o'clock in the afternoon. [2] And a man lame from birth was being carried in. People would lay him daily at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate so that he could ask for alms from those entering the temple. [3] When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked them for alms. [4] Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, "Look at us." [5] And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. [6] But Peter said, "I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk." [7] And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. [8] Jumping up, he stood and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. [9] All the people saw him walking and praising God, [10] and they recognized him as the one who used to sit and ask for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

May God add a blessing to this reading from Holy Scripture.

First, Jesus was baptized. Then he was sent into the world of pain and temptation, where he faced Satan and all of Satan's powers for 40 days and nights. Then Jesus came home to the people he knew and loved. He proclaimed good news. Shortly afterwards, they ran him out of town. A pattern emerges. It will be repeated again and again: good news rubbing up against bad news. . . . Hear now the good news according to Luke chapter 4, verses 14-22a

Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. [15] He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. [16] When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, [17] and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: [18] "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, [19] to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." [20] And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. [21] Then he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." [22a] All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.

Thus far the Gospel for this morning.

May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable unto you O Lord; our strength, and our Redeemer. Amen

Sermon:


We may not think about it very much, but our connection to this congregation, and to other congregations of which we have been a part, matters a great deal. These connections have shaped the kind of people we are in our homes, our workplaces and our neighborhoods. Our morals, our ethics, the impulse we feel to act justly -- this and more is prompted by our connection to one or another religious congregation.

This pattern didn't begin with our generation. Throughout our country's history, our public conscience has been shaped largely by the connection of our citizens with religious congregations. Our country was born out of people-of-religious-faith applying their beliefs about equality-and-justice to the arena of politics. At critical times during various moral struggles, religious congregations raised challenging questions about public policy. From the abolitionist movement, to the anti-nuclear weapons movement, to the gang-peace anti-violence movement which has saved the lives of scores of kids in Los Angeles and South Boston . . . religious congregations have led the way.

Let there be no doubt that congregations have power, and that our life-together as a congregation can have an enormously creative and positive influence on the direction of society. As a congregation, we can shape the future of Shaker Heights, and have a significant impact on the future of Cleveland. As a congregation, we can initiate ministries that can effect the lives of thousands of families, with Habitat for Humanity and our work at Buckeye school being the most immediate examples.

But the bulk of our power is the witness each-of-us-makes in the 166 hours per week we are NOT in church. Those are the hours during which each of us brings to-our decisions-and-actions the commitments we express as a congregation each Sunday. And I would contend that the voice and activity of thoughtful, prayerful Christians is increasingly distinct from that of a citizen who is not part of a religious congregation.

Why is this so? Because since 1960 (give or take a few years), it can no longer be said that our country is a "Christian nation". Now -- I'm sure that the members of this congregation are too sophisticated ever to have thought this. But the fact is that up until a few decades ago, the bulk of America's cultural and political self-understanding developed in the context of our heritage as a religious - albeit religiously diverse - republic. Some refer-to-it as the "age" of "Christendom" -- and they note that it began in the year 313 when Constantine declared that the Roman Empire would be Christian. This age . . . is now over. And as a result, the role of the Church in society, and the role which our own faith plays in our personal lives, must evolve.

To put it bluntly, a "lay person" from-the-church is no longer the same as "a citizen" of the country.(1) As our country becomes more-and-more diverse, and less-and-less-centered on common-moral-teachings, our baptism sets us apart . . . and marks us in a distinctive way.

So with this cultural shift in mind, we must ask a serious question, and prepare ourselves for some unexpected answers. The question is: What are congregations for?(2) There are congregations in greater Cleveland -- and also in Boston -- that seem to exist to preserve eighteenth and nineteenth century music. Now . . . Lord knows that this is a valuable contribution to our culture, but I don't think that this is what congregations are for.

Do congregations exist to assure the continuation of genteel social structures?

Do they exist to maintain an ethnic heritage from the past?

Do we need them to house 12-step programs,

or to provide rehearsal space for orchestras,

or to host community meetings?

All of these are no doubt worthwhile, but none offer a satisfying answer to the question of what congregations are for.

When Jesus spoke to his home congregation after spending a month in the desert with the devil, he provided a hint about what congregations are for. Our distinctive role is to announce good news in a world overrun and obsessed with bad news. If we do -- if our lives testify to good news -- then the distinction I have drawn between the citizen of the nation and the laity of the church will be as obvious as night and day.

To announce good news is to engage in daily ministry. The way we do-it is to respond to the specific pain-and-injustice we see in the lives of the people we encounter. A terrific example of the proclamation of good news -- or one might say "the ministry of the laity" -- is one we are all mindful of this weekend. It occurred in response to the bombing in Oklahoma City one year ago. The bomb that sent hundreds running in terror ultimately provided thousands with an opportunity to help, hold and heal - all the while witnessing to their faith.

I lift up this example not only because it is on all of our minds, but because it illustrates that proclaiming good news is not a matter of optimism. While proclaiming good news takes on many forms, one thing that is true is that it is always linked to bad news. The question for each of us in our lives-and-ministries beyond-the-church is this:

In our day to day lives, where do we see pain, and how does God call and-capacitate-us to respond?

As we listen to the news, or walk the streets of our neighborhood, or speak with our next door neighbor: where does our heart connect with the pain that surrounds us?

In this regard, each of us has a special calling -- each of us has been given distinctive gifts. We are not all equally compassionate towards every injustice or hurt -- and that's why being part of a diverse congregation is important.

One of the most significant things we do when we come together each Sunday is to help more-and-more-of-us identify the needs-of-the-world which are calling out to us. We do this by noting how many-are-the-needs . . . how numerous the opportunities for-ministry in our daily lives. The testimony we heard at the beginning of today's worship service about Habitat for Humanity is a perfect example of what I'm talking about. Another of our tasks as a congregation is to nurture and strengthen each-one-of-us and send each-of-us out to use our unique gifts to respond as only you or I can.(3)

All of this assumes that we have power -- or to put it more accurately: that we have been given power. Peter and John discover that the Holy Spirit had invested in them the power which Jesus had promised: power to heal the cripple at the gate. When Peter commanded the man to rise, he was acting on behalf of a new world -- and his action contributed some small additional amount to the formation of that new world. Did he know what he was doing? I don't think so. But once he engaged the opportunity -- once he stepped-up to respond to the pain which was crying-out to him -- he and those with him discovered the kingdom of God in their midst.

This afternoon we will sing one of my favorite hymns: The voice of God is calling. God is calling us to receive the power we have been given. Amidst a culture which distracts us with countless temptations, and invites us to dissipate-our-power in useless endeavors, we find-ourselves gathering each week with-others to receive support so that during the week, we can be among those who are working to build a new society.

But our ministry outside this congregation will never be a significant witness unless our life-together here, each time we gather, offers us a kind of testing-ground for how we are to act the rest of the week. By way of a conclusion, let me offer you ten characteristics which describe the way effective-communities-of-faith function.(4) As you listen, you might ask how well you live-out these principles here in this congregation; and how well you live them out during the week.

In a healthy community, strangers meet on common ground. Could this congregation become a laboratory for you to reach out beyond your friends and family? What if our society were to exchange its fear-of-strangers for a commitment to hospitality -- like the hospitality which arose-like-a-Phoenix from the ashes in Oklahoma City?

In a healthy community, fear of the stranger is faced and dealt with. Could this congregation become a place safe-enough to allow you to admit the fears which you carry about people who are different from you? Would the opportunity to-discuss-your-fears in this safe environment allow you to better confront prejudice and discrimination in your workplace?

In a healthy community, scarce resources are shared and abundance is generated. In certain ways, this congregation already pins its financial security on shared resources. How can we delve deeper into the abundance available to us, and bring this view to the wider world?

In a healthy community, conflict occurs and is resolved. All congregations have conflict. Healthy ones are not surprised when conflict arises, and they have various ways to resolve it-- not avoid it, or pretend it will go away -- but resolve it. As we begin to use the opportunities that come our way to resolve conflict directly here at Plymouth, think how much better we-are-going-to-be at resolving the conflicts we're-drawn-into in our homes, work and neighborhoods!

In a healthy community, life is given color, texture, drama, and a festive air. We know when we do this well on Sunday mornings. And when we bring these gifts to the rest of our life, we see how much the world hungers for celebration.

In a healthy community, people are drawn out-of-themselves. When God is active in a person's life, it's simply not possible to remain silent, or private -- however introverted you may be. Sharing that gift with others is a fruit of receiving it.

In a healthy community, mutual responsibility becomes evident and mutual aid becomes possible. Many of us are engaged in housing the homeless, feeding the hungry, praying for the infirm, visiting the sick, and crying with the bereaved. What we do as a matter of course provides our society with a picture of how to address the increasing gap between the haves and the have-nots.

In a healthy community, opinions become audible and accountable. My comments about the anonymous letter I received last week were an example of this. We know we are stronger when we live this out. Each of us needs to have the courage of our convictions, and the willingness to own up to our opinions by expressing them in a straight-forward fashion.

In a healthy community, vision is projected and projects are attempted.

In a healthy community, people are empowered and protected against abuse of power.

Each of us is called to live out these principles here in this congregation. And every Sunday, God sends us forth to live-out these principles as active witnesses in a world which is in desperate need of community, justice, and good news. This congregation is alive and well when our life-together empowers each-of-us to proclaim good news in the face of bad news throughout our lives.

In the years ahead, as this activity becomes increasingly uncommon throughout our society, let us become even more clear that God is calling us to become agents of transformation, servants empowered by vision and power, ordinary people sent forth to undertake apostolic ministries.

Amen.

Footnotes:
1. Loren Mead The Once and Future Church (Washington D.C.:Alban Institute, 1991), p. 24ff.
2. This, and other ideas which underpin this sermon, come from Loren Mead's recent books. In particular, Transforming Congregations for the Future (Washington D.C.: Alban Institute, 1994), p. 24.
3. Transforming Congregations . . ., p. 41.
4. Transforming Congregations . . ., p. 49ff.