Scarboro United Church

 
 

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Readings:

Isaiah 40:28-32

Mark 1:29-39

February 8, 2009
Scarboro United Church
Calgary, Alberta
Rev. J. Paul Mullen

 

 







"KEEPING FOCUS, RENEWING ENERGY"

 

 

One of the realities for me in preparing a sermon is that we need a sermon title by the middle of the week, which is typically a few days before the sermon gets written. Frequently the process of coming up with a title brings some focus to the emerging sermon and makes the composing easier. It doesn't always work, though, as life keeps happening between the title and the actual writing.

Occasionally I write a sermon and then look at the title in my copy of the bulletin, the title I wrote a few days earlier. Sometimes that earlier focus was lost for a good reason. The second choice is to do some serious editing and try to recover the lost focus. The third choice is to re-write the whole sermon and restore the lost focus.

I will confess that I have yet to try that third choice. Sermon titles just aren't that important and I don't have the time, the energy or the interest to go to all that effort just to give a title wings to fly. Given the choice I'd rather have a sermon soar like an eagle and let the title just lay there on the page. There are more important missions than resurrecting a dead title.

As a church living in difficult times we are faced with tough decisions. The church has changed and will continue to change. We have changed as people and we will continue to change.

The scripture lesson this morning from the Gospel of Mark challenges us to keep our focus on our mission and not be distracted by popularity or pressure. Mark tells us of Jesus having a very busy day - first healing Simon's mother-in-law then all the sick people in town. I'm sure any healer would be exhausted.

Then Mark tells us that Jesus got up before sunrise and headed for a deserted place where he prayed. His disciples hunted him down. Can't you just hear them? "Jeez, Jesus. What are you doing out here? We got a whole bunch more sick people and it looks like we got a good, not to mention profitable, thing going here. You keep healing and we'll all do well, we've got it made in the shade."

Instead Jesus answers, "Let's go on to the neighbouring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do."


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For that is what I came to do. In that early morning time of prayer, I believe Jesus remembers what he has been called to do. Not to only heal but to proclaim the message he has been given. In that early morning prayer time he feels his exhaustion fall away and again knows the powerful surge of eagle's wings lifting him above the distractions and the clamour and carrying him on to the next phase of his ministry. Jesus is not called to heal only but to proclaim the presence of God here and now.

Yesterday, along with five others from Scarboro, I attended the Emerging Spirit event called "Living the hope." You will be hearing more on that in the time to come so I won't let myself be distracted by the urge to tell it all now.

In one of the workshops I attended this story was handed out. It is a story about how God gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless, so that, no matter their age, those who wait for God and are willing to hear God's voice through others, shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40: 29-31)

Story: UCW at Prayer (as told by Graeme Burns)

The UCW -- and its precursors -- had long been an important part of the life of St. Mary's United Church. Like many UCW groups they had spent many years in service to God -- and much of that, supporting the congregation in a million ways. You know - the suppers, the fund raisers, the laying down of carpet and making sure there was paint for the walls, helping the Board in its decision-making processes and supporting each other in love.

The average age of the eldest unit was 86 - and many of the members were beginning to "slow down". Actually, they were quite clear that they had been beginning to slow down a number of years before. They were at the point, now, when they couldn't do anymore. So they were gathering to decide how to go about disbanding.

Before their meeting, a younger member of the congregation asked if they could have permission to sit and listen and, perhaps, to speak to the group before they made their final decision. The President gave her permission.

During the meeting. the members talked about what their Unit had been - many of the joyful times they had spent together and some of the sad ones, too. They talked about all they had done together . . . and now they were done doing.

There were tears shed. A motion to disband the unit was moved and seconded. When discussion wound down, the President invited the young person to share their thoughts.

They went something like this:

"For everything that you have done - thank you. Who you are, and how you have shared your love, has helped this church to be a place where I could come and learn about who I am in God's love. Everything you've done has made a difference -  not just to me, but to at least four generations of people - both women and men, in the congregation.

I've heard you say that you're done doing. I've heard you say that you're tired, and that its time for the young people to take on the responsibility. I'm sure you're right . . . we do need to take on some tasks - and let others go.

 

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But... I'd like to suggest to you . . . that . . . maybe ... you're not done yet. Maybe you're done with the baking and the serving and the doing. But there are other ministries which are going missing here - ones that I believe you might be more than suited for."

One of the UCW members said, "Such as?"

"Such as . . . taking on the responsibility of prayer for our congregation, and for the children and youth of the community. Many of you are mothers, grandmothers, and greats! You know that every child and teen . . . and every adult, for that matter, needs love. Don't you think you might be the right people to lift them in prayer - each and every day?"

Someone said, "It's not much." Someone else responded, "It's not much . . . it's everything!"

They didn't disband that day. That was the seed that helped them to see their value, and what they valued. With support, they took on that ministry. And grew.

This story is not about UCW groups, although it can be. It is not about the power of prayer, although it can be. It is a story about how we can become disconnected from, or complete our mission, lose spirit, lose meaning, lose purpose, lose energy. It is about listening for that voice, even when we don't want to hear it (often from strange sources), feeling the wings - those ever powerful eagle's wings - and responding in faith.

Amen