09/08/2024 ~ Proper 18 ~ Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost ~ Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23; Psalm 125; Isaiah 35:4-7a; Psalm 146; James 2:1-10, (11-13), 14-17; Mark 7:24-37 ~ Rally Day ~ Blessing of the Stuffed Animals [1]

VIDEO OF FULL SERVICE: https://vimeo.com/showcase/7960701/video/1009165620

Doing Things Well

“Those who saw these things were amazed, astounded beyond measure, and said, ‘Jesus has done everything well and even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.’” — Mark 7:37.

I’ve said what follows about my church background a number of times. I was raised in the Roman Catholic tradition and confess to having had some Jesuit training. I sometimes say scratch a Jesuit and you’ll find a Protestant.

Perhaps as a consequence of Jesuit influence, in my mid-twenties I found a home in the Episcopal Church, high church enough to satisfy my liturgical heritage but, at the same time, very different. How different? My pastor was a woman.

Then I moved to Maine, married Bonnie, saw the light and joined First Parish in Brunswick— a Congregational Church. Why? Not only was it the place where things were happening. The people were involved and excited about being church.

But this is a story about my time with the Episcopal Church. (Slight pause.) There is an ecclesial office non-ordained members of the laity can hold in the Episcopal Church— Licensed Lay Reader and Chalice Bearer.

That name describes what this is— you read Scripture and assist with the Episcopalian celebration of Communion— helping people take a sip from the chalice. Also note: for Episcopalians Communion happens every Sunday.

I held this office— Licensed Lay Reader and Chalice Bearer at my local church. I also trained people for that ministry and coordinated scheduling the services, two on each Sunday in that church. Due to some odd circumstances one Sunday I wound up covering both services.

After that happened, another Lay Reader approached me and said, “You do all of this church stuff so well. When are you going to go to Seminary?”

I had no idea from where my response came. I just blurted it out. “I’ll go to seminary when I get the call. I haven’t heard the call yet.” (Slight pause.) Little did I know…

Coming back to that “You do this so well” thought… when you get right down to it, most of us don’t do just one thing well. Most of us do many things well.

I believe a key question for nearly any aspect of life is not “what do I do well?” A key question for nearly any aspect of life is: “Am I called?— “Am I called?”

Put differently, “Since God has granted me many talents, what I am doing which is right for me and right for others as I strive to work out my covenant relationship with God and with others?” (Slight pause.)

This is what we hear in Mark: “Those who saw these things were amazed, astounded beyond measure, and said, ‘Jesus has done everything well and even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.’” (Slight pause.)

Jesus does a lot well here, even does an exorcism at a distance without needing to be in the presence of the one being exorcized. But those who saw the miracles being performed— healings— these people do not appear to understand what’s going on, understand why Jesus is there, understand why miracles are happening.

Perhaps we don’t either. In our culture we seem to dwell on the miracles. But all the miracles we find in Scripture, no exceptions, are not about the miraculous event being described. Miracles are about announcing the presence of the Spirit of God.

Equally, today we seem to dwell on what people do well rather than on what their calling might be. I would never say God calls us to do something we fail to do well. But since we each do a multitude of things well, I am saying the more important question is ‘when it comes to what we do well to which of those things does God call us?’ (Slight pause.)

Coming back to the Gospel story, concentrating only on the actions, the miracles of Jesus, as people in the reading do— concentrating only on those things— is to turn what Jesus does into a trick, a parlor game. In fact, I would suggest to concentrate on the miracles of Jesus, is to reduce the proclamation and the teachings of Jesus into something akin to magic.

And what is it which Jesus proclaims and the people in this story do not seem to grasp? The proclamation offered both by what Jesus teaches and by the very presence of Jesus is that the reign of God has drawn near.

And if the miracles have any point that is the point. They are an announcement that the reign of God has drawn near. The miracles are meant to focus our attention on the idea and the fact that the reign of God has dawned, the presence of God is with us. If there is any miracle to wonder about, it’s the miracle of the reality of the presence of God. (Slight pause.)

There is one part of the story which, to my mind, should make it evident the realm of God has drawn near. I say it should make it evident because we often miss the fact that there are passages of great irony in Scripture. This is one of those ironic places, one of those ironic moments.

You see, those who hear and speak clearly do not recognize the realm is near. But the one who could not speak plainly because of not being able to hear, is now the one who both hears and speaks. And for this one the presence of God’s dynamic reign is real. Why? This person recognizes the presence of God is embodied in and by Jesus. (Slight pause.)

All that points to something quite essential. If the reign of God is present and real, are we aware of it now, today?

Do we realize this presence of God is a basic message and a basic premise of the New Testament writings? If the reign of God is real and present, are we using the gifts and talents God grants us, those things we do well, to further the reign of God?

I want to suggest that the first step in using the gifts and talents God grants us and using them well is to be aware of and acknowledge the reign of God is present among us. And that first step, that acknowledgment, that awareness, is probably the hardest thing we will do as Christians. But it is the place to which we are truly called. Amen.

09/08/2024
Elijah Kellogg Church, Harpswell, Maine

ENDPIECE: It is the practice of the Pastor to speak after the Closing Hymn, but before the Congregational Response and Benediction. This is an précis of what was said: “I think if we acknowledge that the reign of God is present and real, we become empowered as a people, as a church to make things happen. We do have multiple gifts in this community of faith. Today we concentrated on our gifts and talents with Christian Education, the education of both of children and adults. To my mind this is as vital as any aspect of what we do as a church today. Here’s a question for everyone and anyone: are you called to be involved with education in this community of faith?”

BENEDICTION: Surely God will empower our ministry; surely God will supply for our needs when we are about God’s work; may this God, the God who formed the universe, bless us with the courage, the knowledge, the wisdom and the fortitude to serve the Gospel of Christ, empowered by the Spirit, this day and forever more. Amen.

[1] What follows is the text of the Blessing of the Stuffed Animals.

• BLESSING OF THE STUFFED ANIMALS WITH A HYMN — All Things Bright and Beautiful

KEN: God, You have done so many things! The earth is full of Your creations!
ALL: It is You Who grants to us tender emotions and loving kindness.

HYMN — All Things Bright and Beautiful, Refrain and v. 1

Refrain:
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful:
Our dear God made them all.

Each little flow’r that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
God made their glowing colors,
God made their tiny wings.

KEN: All these things which God has created share in our human existence and have a part in our human lives.
MANY: The animals of God’s creation, both real and stuffed, are placed in our care.

READING — Teddy Bears by J. L. Allen

KEN: This poem is Teddy Bears by J. L. Allen.

Teddy Bears are perfect pets.
They never shed and never sweat.
They don’t talk back and hardly eat.
Won’t jump in bed with dirty feet.

They never argue, never fight.
Whatever’s said, you’re always right.
So if you need some love to share,
Get yourself a Teddy Bear!

HYMN — All Things Bright and Beautiful, Refrain and v. 2

Refrain:
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful:
Our dear God made them all.

The moose I got from Grandma,
The monkey lithe and tall,
The furry face of Smoky Bear,
They are my friends, after all.

READING — From Winnie-The-Pooh, by A.A. Milne.

KEN: This is from Winnie-The-Pooh, by A. A. Milne.

“Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind.
Piglet whispered, ‘Pooh?’
Said Pooh, ‘Yes, Piglet?’
‘Oh, Nothing’ said Piglet, taking Pooh’s hand. ‘I just wanted to be sure of you.’

PASTOR: It is God of Whom we can be sure.
MANY: It is God who gives life and breath to us and often uses the service of animals both live and stuffed to give us comfort. We ask, O God, that you bless these, our friends.

HYMN — All Things Bright and Beautiful, Refrain, v. 3 and Refrain.

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful:
Our dear God made them all.

The teddy on the sofa,
The kitty in the bin,
The doggie’s paws, so nice and soft,
They sometimes feel like kin.

Refrain:
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful:
Our dear God made them all.

KEN: The world created by God surrounds us.
ALL: Sometimes the world is a scary place, but we are not alone. God is with us and surrounds us with love!
KEN: May God, the Creator of all that is, God the Redeemer of all Creation, and God the life giving Spirit, bless you all, and bless these our friends now and forever. And the people said:
MANY: Amen!

HYMN — All Things Bright and Beautiful, Refrain

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful:
Our dear God made them all.