Sermons
Christ in the World: It’s up to Us
The Rev. Anne Kirchmier’s Installation
At Fork Church, Ashland, Virginia
Gracious God
-may we be your force,
your hope,
your light in our world;
in your Holy Name we pray. Amen.
Good Evening.
About this time
-several years back
I remember
that there was a spate
of baby Jesus abductions.
The Chicago Sun-Times had a headline
-"Baby Jesus Stolen from Creche"
Subtitle
-"Congregation wonders
what it will do for Christmas."
Then not long after that
NPR had a story on
"All Things Considered"
about a sting operation
set up by the West Virginia state police.
Apparently church after church
in three different townships
had suffered similar losses
and so
on a chilly December night
the police staked out
several prominent congregations.
And Lo-
as the police
were keeping watch over their flocks by night
-an SUV appeared
and suddenly
out jumped three teenage boys.
They ran to the church lawn
-passed by the shepherds
and grabbed baby Jesus.
They hoisted him through the air,
nestled him in their arms,
ran to the car
and then quickly laid him in the trunk,
because
there was no room for him
on the seat.
Then
they disappeared into the night.
The officers pursued with haste
their red lights
flashing in the crisp December air.
They caught up to and pulled over
the wayward teenagers,
invited them to open the back hatch
and what to their eyes did appear-
but four tiny Christs
minus their mangers.
Picture this if you will,
four baby Jesus's,
lined up in a row,
each with his head to the side,
arms open wide-cherubic smile.
While many were appalled
-I wanted to applaud.
For God,
our God
came into the world
not to sit in a crèche,
static and on display,
but rather our God
came into our world
— to be immersed
— -enfleshed-
—Emmanuel.
The West VA boys in the SUV
had the wrong intentions
-but really good theology.
Christ has come to be in the world-
to pull us beyond our pews.
Christ has come to be in the world
and beckons us to move beyond our church walls
-to walk up the incline
and create the city shining on the hill,
to be the salt of the earth
and the Light of the World
-to be a beacon of hope and light
in a dark and broken world.
Christ for the world we sing-the SUV boys got it right.
Salt of the Earth,
Light of the World,
Beacon of Hope.
Who's gonna to do it?
***** ******* ******* *******
About fourteen years ago,
I was the Interim Rector
of St. Peter's Church in Clifton, NJ.
The people of St. Peter's were just amazing
-one of the things I came to treasure about them
was that
there was little they thought
that they didn't say.
I remember
as part
their discernment and search process
for a new rector
they had a series of house church gatherings.
I'd celebrate the Eucharist
and then they'd discuss
what they did and didn't want in their new rector.
On this particular evening
one long-time parishioner
began to describe his ideal new priest.
He said, "He didn't want one like they had nowadays.
Because it used to be
that priests were available
24 hours a day seven days a week.
Now they want days off
and vacation and
they want you to pay them
more than $24,000 a year.
I sat very quietly through his words.
But later that evening when I went home
I was just furious.
I said to Susan,
"Here I've been working
my rear end off
for these people and
they don't even appreciate it.
I'm routinely working 15 and 16 hour days
and they're just annoyed that I want to take vacation."
And on and on- I went I remember --it wasn't very pretty.
When I'd said
about everything I could think of
I looked over at Susan
and she said to me,
"I don't feel sorry for you."
I feel sorry for God-because we're all God's got."
All of us-
we are who
God has
to bring Christ to this world.
All of us-we are the ones
God is calling
to bring hope and light
to our sinful and broken world.
How are we
to be the light of the world?
How are we to let
our shine before others
so that they may see
our Good works and know God?
************ ************** *******************
I firmly believe
that each of us
being made in the image and likeness of God
has one or two gifts or talents
that God has given us,
to discover,
nurture and use
to transform our world.
When we make use of those gifts
-we bring our world closer
to God's hope and will.
Think about it
-take a moment
right now in your mind's eye
-name one or two of your gifts.
Does the person sitting next to you
-have any idea what these talents may be?
As part of a Christian community
we are called to have deep enough
-meaningful enough conversation
to share and to discern one another's God given talents.
Then having done so
-we're called
to gather together those individuals
with similar talents and passions.
Alone-as a few individuals
-its harder to make a difference
-united with the power of the holy spirit-
with God-nothing is impossible.
Now is the time for each of you
-here at Fork Church, Virginia
-to discern each other's gifts
and begin to ask
-how will we join together
to create the most amazing youth group imaginable.
How will we work together
to eliminate homelessness in these environs.
How will we use our gifts and passions
in such a way that Fork church
is not only a historic landmark
but an eternal beacon-
offering light and hope.
What's your call-
now's the time to discern it-
who will you be working with
-you need to find those partners
-but now is the time to do that work.
And Anne is the person
you have chosen to lead you in this ministry.
May I say,
that when you called her
-you did good.
At other sermons
I have preached at installations and ordinations
I have always encouraged my colleagues
to find strength in their weaknesses
-to spend a fair amount of time
with their "shadow" side.
But for Anne-
well Anne's an exception to most things-
Anne-I think sometimes
you're best friends with your shadow side.
You know your weaknesses well.
So I'd like to invite you
to instead step into the light.
Stand with me Anne.
Anne I'd like to invite you
-before these very smart people
who have called you to be their rector-
in front of your friends and family-
I'd like to invite you
to acknowledge publicly your strengths.
Anne-do you know
that you are
one of the finest preachers
that I have ever heard
-that most of us have ever heard. Do you know that?
Anne- You are the person
I have asked over and over
to be with me and my family in our times of need.
Do you comprehend in your soul
-what an incredible pastor you are?
Anne-Do you understand the extent and ability
you have to be a steadfast friend?
Anne-Do you know
that you have been called by God
to be an extraordinary priest and rector?
Anne we are blessed-
we are gifted to have you in our lives.
You are the salt of the earth
-you are the light of the world.
Thanks be to you-thanks be to the people of Fork Church
-Thanks be to God
who is with us
-who is in our world
-this day and always.
Amen.
And so my friends at this juncture in your history-what does it mean for you-to be the Light of the World? How now is God calling you and your new rector to be the salt of the earth, to be the ones who give taste and meaning to the surrounding communities. How indeed?