May, 16, 2004

Sixth Sunday of Easter

John 14:23-29

“The Trinity – A Special Interest Group”

     How often do you come to church to find a party going on?  Maybe not often enough!  We have much to celebrate today!  We are giving thanks for everyone who helped bring us to this exciting moment in our history.

     We will launch “Inspiration-Based Ministry” today as we vote in the first Leadership Team at our congregational meeting.  Almost two years in the making, we talked it over and thought it through, prayed about it, had a book study and a retreat and worked out the details.  Today, we have finally arrived at the starting line!  From here, we will trust the Holy Spirit’s guidance and one another as we move into the future together.  Will everything go smoothly?  Probably not, but if we will love each other through it, the way Jesus encouraged his disciples in the Gospel text, then we’ll be fine.  More than that, we’ll be doing God’s will and we will be blessed. 

     Actually, the blessings have already begun and we’re celebrating that, too!  Our outreach through the arts is touching lives and we’re beginning to see renewed interest in the church.  The concert this afternoon is a good example, as is the upcoming “Everyman” performances by Flock Theater.  The director of Teatro Latino de New London just called me and asked to use our facilities through the summer.  Our arts program is a happening thing and our neighbors are taking notice.

     As we meet for our congregational meeting this morning, our friends at Second Congregational Church are meeting, too.  They have called a special meeting of their church to talk about us (and of course, we’re going to talk about them!).  They are going to be asking for permission to begin talking about the possibility of a future merger.  It won’t be a vote to merge, but one to allow the conversation to happen.  Secondly, and this is a BIG “secondly”, they will be asking the church to consider putting their pastoral search on hold for six months.  This is a very big deal and it says a lot about how they value our relationship.  It says a lot about the hope and trust they are placing in us.

     After many years of decline, good things are happening, so we’re throwing a party!  It’s starting to seem as if we have everything going for us!

     Overly optimistic?...far from it!  God may have an even greater vision for us yet.  Consider Romans 8:28 and 31:

“We know that all things work together for good for those who love God…(and) if God is for us, who can be against us?”

     We have everything going for us because we have God going for us.  Jesus told his disciples that he would not leave them alone, that he would give them an “Advocate”, one who will, “…teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.”  And along with the Holy Spirit, Jesus gave his peace.

     Such peace has come over our church in the joy and confidence we have been feeling and in the hope we have for the future.  We know, quite honestly, that we still have a long way to go and there will be plenty of challenges ahead, but things have begun to turn around.  We have hope because we have the Father, Son and Holy Spirit going for us.  That’s a pretty decent Leadership Team, don’t you think?

     This happy moment in the life of our church is a good indication of what is possible in our personal lives, too, as we trust God to show us the way.  That’s what church is all about - showing us the good that is possible in our lives.  Here, we learn to trust God and each other.  Here, we seek to walk with God.  Here, thanks to the advocacy of the Holy Spirit, we are taught about Christ and reminded of what he said and are opened to the peace he gives.

     If you are struggling in your personal journey in some way, bring it here and let the church love you through it.  If you are grieving, bring it here and let the church love you through it.  If you are uncertain, doubting or lost, bring it here and let the church love you through it.  For like Paul also said in Romans 8:

“I am certain that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

     You can go on unafraid because God goes with you.  You have an Advocate.  You have love that will never end.  It’s there for you now if you will listen for it, open your heart to it.  The Holy Spirit is calling your name, touching your soul, ready to teach you of Jesus, the things he said, the peace he gives.

     Yes, this is what the church is all about – the good that is possible in your life.  This, we celebrate today.