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| The Power to Bless I would like to begin this morning by telling you a story about a little four-year-old boy named Matthew. One day Matthew was riding in the back seat of the family car eating an apple. At one point he said to his dad, "Why is it that my apple is turning brown?" And so his father proceeded to answer. "It’s because after you ate the outer skin of the apple, the meat of the apple came in contact with the air…and that in turn caused the apple to oxidize, which in turn caused the apple’s molecular structure to change…and that in turn created a significant color variation that is much darker than it was before." The little boy was silent for a moment, and then he looked up at his dad and said, "Daddy, are you talking to me?" Words. Every day you and I hear or speak literally thousands of words. Without understanding these words convey little, however connected with meaning or purpose our words have the power to challenge and transform, heal, comfort and bless. How true this was in the Pentecost story Rose read just a few minutes ago. In addition to the dramatic elements of wind and fire, the disciples begin to speak, not surprising about the things of God, yet amazingly in various languages unknown to them yet understood by others whose native tongue they spoke. The mounting confusion begins to lead to chaos until Peter addresses the crowd. Assuring those present that the disciples are not drunk, after all it is only nine in the morning, he then quotes from the prophet, Joel. These words offer meaning to that which has occurred and challenge for what lies ahead. "In the last days God declares I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams." Peter speaks words of blessing and hope. Well, today is my last Sunday at St. John, and I have the opportunity, the privilege to stand before you and speak. With as chaotic as our lives have been these past several weeks I do not presume my words in any way to be prophetic. Yet they come from my heart and arise out of my love for you, the people of God in this place, out of our shared experiences together and from a deeply seeded conviction I hold. And that conviction is this; each of us as members of the household of God, no matter what our particular situation in life has a tremendous power to bless. Blessing. What comes to your mind when I speak this word? Family, home, food, job, nature, beauty…I imagine for most of us we think of blessing in individuals terms, those things and people for which we are grateful. This is natural and good. Yet, I would like for us for a moment to think of blessing not as a noun, something tangible, that we can name or identify, but as a verb, something that is in the process of happening or becoming. Here I am thinking of blessing as an outpouring, a begetting if you will; an open-ended offering where the result is yet to be lived out. Recently a friend shared a story about a young man named Johnny who bagged groceries at a local supermarket, and who also had Downs Syndrome. It was written by a woman named Barbara Glanz. She writes, "About three weeks after I had spoken to some supermarket employees about creating spirit in the workplace, I received a telephone call from a young man named Johnny who bags groceries there. He said, ‘I really like what you had to say, Barbara!’ Then he went on to tell me that when he’d gone home that night, he asked his dad to teach him to use the computer. He said that he set up a program using three columns, and each night now when he goes home, he finds a ‘thought for the day.’ "He said when he can’t find one he likes, he ‘thinks one up!’ Then he types it into the computer, prints out multiple copies, cuts them out, and signs his name on the back of each one. And the next day as he bags customer’s groceries, he puts a thought for the day in each person’s sack. "One month later the manager of the store called me. He said, ‘Barbara, you won’t believe what happened today. When I went out on the floor this morning, the line at Johnny’s checkout was three times longer than any other line! I went ballistic yelling, ‘Get more lanes open! Hurry up! Get more people out here!’ But the customer’s said, ‘No, no! We want to be in Johnny’s lane. We want our thought for the day!’ "The manager said one woman even approached him and said, ‘I only used to shop once a week. Now I come here every time I go by because I want the thought for the day!’" "In a southern church there was one woman who served as a greeter nearly every week. Each Sunday morning, she would stand there at the front door and say hello to the people as they arrived and give them a great big smile. When the service was over, she’d be at the door again, this time saying goodbye to the folks and to give them another smile as they left. One day a man asked her why she was there Sunday after Sunday, shaking everybody’s hand and saying hello or goodbye, all with a big, warm smile. Her response was both simple and profound. "Oh mister," she said, "this is my ministry here. This is what the Lord calls me to do. Every Sunday morning, I just smiles them in and smiles them out!" The power to bless. Unlike many things in life which require hard work, determination and time, the act of offering blessing is many times quite effortless, particularly when it flows from our authentic self and finds it’s motivation in the love of God. Most of you know that part of my ministry responsibility at St. John has been working with our newcomer orientation program. It has been great fun to have the opportunity to meet and interface with those that are new to St. John. Individuals and families arrive here with many different stories. I would like to share with you just one. This family arrived to Anchorage several years ago with a job transfer. New to the community there was much to do and discover. Needed of course was a place to live and a school for the children to attend. These were immediate concerns. Within several weeks these decisions were made. Yet Sunday after Sunday this family would attend worship at some local church seeking to find the place where they best fit, where they could receive as well as share the love of God. Surprisingly this turned out to be harder than they had anticipated. Nearly two months had gone by and they still had not found a church home. However, one-day blessing came in the simple form of a local minister’s suggestion. She said, "I think you might enjoy worshipping at St. John United Methodist Church. The next Sunday the family decided to give it a try. It was the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Walking up to the door they were surprised to find that the door was already being opened for them. Two greeters welcomed them to St. John. Hanging up their coats they followed in the direction that others were moving. Soon a warm and firm hand greeted them with a handshake and welcome. Later they would discover this man’s name was Bob. Worship was warm and inviting. Laughter on several occasions filled the air. The choir, though not large in number, was great in spirit. The minister was at home and comfortable with the people. At the close of worship all held hands and sang a song of comfort and blessing. Once back in the car, the older child spoke first. "This church reminds me of our old church," she said. The next news that spilled forth was that a cookie jar existed. Naturally, there is probably not a child around who does not enjoy a cookie no matter what the day but to these children it meant something even more. It connected them to their former church where on another desk in another state a bowl of jellybeans awaited the children Sunday after Sunday. What could be more welcoming? St. John became this family’s church home. It became our home for these past two years and we, the Hamilton’s are very grateful. However there is more to the story though some of you already know it. Not less than a month later, Jim Fellers, the former pastor of this church, shared at the end of his sermon that the church was looking to possibly add another staff position. I’m not sure whether it was Steve who reached for my hand or I his but inside we knew that the Pentecost spirit of God was working in our midst. It was not a rushing wind on the outside but I guess that truthfully it was that on the inside. I felt such excitement with this idea of new possibility in my heart. Before I go any further I wish to refer back to the beginning point of this blessing. I mentioned that it was another minister who suggested we visit St. John. Speaking from her authentic self and deep love for God she sought foremost to help us find the place to which we were being called, the church where we best fit. Her name is Janice Stamper and she is pastor of Jewell Lake Parish. The power to bless. This power resides in each one of us. As I have reflected upon my deep seeded conviction this week, I have realized once again that blessing most often flows not from our striving but in our trusting, not in our controlling but in our receiving, not in the spectacular but in the simple. As I look out among you I am reminded of ways that you have offered blessing to me and I to you. I have experienced this blessing in times of need and in moments of joy, in working in committee meetings or on projects, in conversations over lunch or in this sanctuary, in quiet and spoken prayer, in worship and in play. This past week I received in the mail a little book from some friends. It is entitled Plain and Simple Wisdom and contains excerpts from the book of the same title by Sue Bender. It describes how one woman’s journey led her to the Amish and how through their authenticity and love for God her life was blessed. Growing up near Amish country in Pennsylvania this book, Plain and Simple, has always meant a great deal. One of my favorite quotes from the book is this. "There is a spirit guiding us, in ways we often don’t understand and don’t need to understand." The spirit of Pentecost is blowing and will continue to move and bless in this place. Even now God is working and weaving those threads, which are necessary for that individual who will come to serve in this place to hear that call and for you, the church, to receive that call. So too is God’s spirit working within our lives, going before us in ways that in God’s time, when we and others are ready, direction will become clear. Before I close there are a few last words that want to be shared from within my spirit. Though many of you have shaped my life in significant ways, I must express my gratitude for the staff with whom I have worked. I have told Linda Dunham, one of our secretaries, on more than one occasion that next year I will call the church sometimes just to hear her voice, and words, "how can I help you?" Whether she realizes it or not her greeting offers not only me but others blessing. I will miss Judi who so consistently offered support and encouragement, not only in regards to my work but in my life, particularly those months when Steve was gone and in our conversations about parenting. I will long for the creative spirit that is constantly moving in the preschool office. I have teased with Linda Padden, though she knows these words are true, that my favorite place in this church next to the sanctuary is the preschool office. I can’t tell you how many times I have gone there and received ideas from Linda or one of the other teachers. Just being in there stimulates my creativity. I know you will be able to relate with me when I say I have never known anyone like Rose. So many things come to mind, her humor and quick wit, her shopping, her deep concern for others, particularly to any whom are marginalized by society. Perhaps her generous spirit, bigger than all of Texas, best summarizes it. And Dave. This past week when I was experiencing another one of my tearful moments, I told him we had not had enough time, there was so much more that I could learn from him. This is true. As you know, St. John is wrestling with many exciting and challenging things. We are growing, we need more space, and new ministry teams are necessary as we continue to live out our mission statement. Dave understands this and has a deep vision for this church. I do not know all the details. He probably doesn’t either. But I trust the spirit of God in him, and believe above all else that he not only listens but also makes time to hear and wait upon God’s spirit. This deep sense of authentic spirituality has blessed my life. I know it will continue to bless St. John. Well, I have spoken more than enough words. But hopefully as you leave this place you will not wonder, "was she speaking to me?" but know that the Spirit of God is not only with you, but has given you a tremendous power to bless. This blessing is to be shared not only within the church, but in the community, your workplace, neighborhood and home. May you and I continue to enjoy the process, the journey of becoming, remembering God’s blessing are always an open-ended offering where the result is yet to be fully lived out. |
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June 11, 2000
