Let Your Life Shine
A sermon preached at Old South Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Hallowell, Maine. This sermon is based on the sermon provided to local churches by the Maine Conference for Annual Meeting weekend.
September 30, 2007
Text: 1 Timothy 6: 6-19
This morning clergy, delegates, and visitors from our local churches, conference and beyond are gathering together to worship on the third day of the Maine Conference 2007 Annual Meeting. Brightly colored red, gold, and black banners celebrating the United Church of Christ’s 50th Anniversary and made by Maine Conference churches and others hang from the walls of the worship space. At this special worship service our new Associate Conference Minister, the Rev. Susie Craig will preach; she and Maine Conference officers and commission and committee members will be installed. God’s word will be heard. Communion will be celebrated as the conference gathers at the feast of God’s people. Prayers will be said and praises to God in word and music will fill the room. This morning’s worship will bring closure to a weekend of workshops, plenary sessions, parties, meals, reports, fellowship, and one resolution. The theme, “Let Your Life Shine,” which was woven through the colorful agenda of the weekend, will focus both annual meeting worship and our thoughts this morning. So, though we are a long way from Sunday River, we are not far from the thoughts of those who are still gathered together.
I attended the Friday and Saturday sessions of the Conference, as did Warren and Christine Bartlett. We bring you greetings from the Conference, as well as information, and a sense of our experience—both good and bad—and some new ideas that we are eager to share.
We begin this morning focusing on the theme of the Annual Meeting: How does God’s light shine in our lives and in our collective lives as members of the local church and Maine Conference? Our epistle lesson for today from I Timothy gives us some practical answers to that question. First some background. Timothy wrote his letter at a time when most of his society did not embrace Christ. Timothy’s community was diverse–rich and poor, slaves and free, Jews and Gentiles, men and women. They had questions about how to live together as the church—an issue that is just as relevant today, this weekend, as it was when Timothy wrote in the late first century or early second.
How does our life shine in a diverse world? Timothy gives us some help by giving advice about building up the church and then being God’s people in the world. People of God, Timothy says, pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love and endurance so you can build up the church and take hold of the life that is really life. Timothy charges us as God’s people to keep the commandments, to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share.
The light of God shines through us when we follow Timothy’s charge. Our theme today calls us to “Let our life shine.” How is our life shining in our churches and in the Maine Conference? Let’s look at this through the lens of Timothy’s wise words.
Shine God’s people in your church community. You are a community called to pursue righteous and godliness. Matthew wrote, “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under a bushel basket, but on the lamp stand, and gives light to all in the house.” (Matthew 5:14, 15) How does our light shine in our congregations?
The workshop that I attended at annual meeting, “Providing an extravagant welcome for families, children and youth,” (led by Annette Mott) focused on ways we can make families, children and youth feel at home and included in our church community. I found one idea from the workshop to be particularly relevant for us. I will be sharing that idea with a couple of committees in October. The workshop reminded the participants that we extend extravagant welcome through good childcare, safe space, and family friendly worship. Hospitality to visitors and each other shares the message of God’s love and that “whoever you are or wherever you are on life’s journey you are welcome.” Think about times when you visited another church and how a warm welcome, a hand shake, a name tag, directions to the church nursery, introductions to other worshippers made you feel at home and cared for. People of God, let your life shine and take hold of life that is really life.
Shine God’s people. We are a community called to be faithful and loving. Matthew wrote, “You are the light of the world. Let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”(Matthew 5:14,16) People from all over Maine and beyond, from small and large churches, from cities and countryside, lay and clergy, visitors and delegates gathered together as one big community at Sunday River this weekend. They worshipped in different ways, met in small and large groups, welcomed each other and supported each other as God’s wider church. As it was last year, so too this year: the best worship experience was offered by the youth of the Maine Conference. Yesterday, after lunch, a group of young people gathered at the front of the grand ballroom and led us in inspiring worship. Through music, scripture, and the sharing of their own stories, they let their own lives shine, inspiring all of those who gathered to take seriously the significance of finding the grace and the courage to let our personal and collective lives shine—not to hide under our own insecurities or doubts. To unabashedly let the light of our lives shine forth. Let your life shine and take hold of life that is really life.
Shine God’s People! We are called to endurance and gentleness. The ministry of Pilgrim Lodge is a ministry of endurance and gentleness. Energy, wisdom, creativity, faith, love of God and of kids and yes, endurance, go into the incredible ministry at Pilgrim Lodge. At our Conference meeting, we heard about the efforts of Pilgrim Lodge to be accredited by the American Camp Association. They endured and shone through that process and came through it with flying colors. They will find out in November if they have been accredited.
In August there was an article in the Bangor Daily News entitled “Pilgrim Lodge, a Summer Place for Spirit.” The gentle spirit of God blows through Pilgrim Lodge bringing rest, new life, and fresh faith to campers and staff. Camper Kelesa Trefethen, quoted in the Bangor Daily News, said, “Summer at PL is my new year. This is where I start over.” Bryan Breault, Maine Conference Director of Outdoor Ministries, commented in the same article, “It’s hard for kids to talk about faith in a secular world. At this place it’s the norm.” Pilgrim Lodge is a special place where the winds of God’s spirit blow through sacred places and holy spaces, through the beauty of nature and the wonder of new friends, through gentle words and enduring faith bringing hope and new life. I believe that my daughter Margaret, after her week at Pilgrim Lodge this summer, would agree. PL is a special place that not only should never be taken for granted, but held up and celebrated. We are all called to endurance and gentleness. Let your life shine and take hold of life that is really life.
Shine God’s people. Be rich in good works. In Isaiah we read, “ I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:5) We are called to be God’s light in our communities and world by bringing healing and wholeness to those lives are broken, and peace and justice for all people. The resolution asking the Maine Conference of the United Church of Christ to Call for an End to the American War in Iraq calls us to be a witness for peace. But, it’s really not as simple as that. It’s difficult to convey this part of the Conference. The resolution was put on the floor yesterday afternoon, delayed by reports and presentations that had not been listed in the agenda. But, once the resolution was put on the floor, I was struck by a couple of things—the earnest desire of people to speak gently, but firmly, even when there is disagreement, but also a tremendous feeling that this part of our life together needs to be examined and reviewed, and, hopefully, changed in the future. In recent years, the resolution part of the meeting as been increasingly fraught with difficulties. Yesterday’s issues, like last year’s, were focused primarily on the problematic and seemingly unceasing desire of people to offer amendments. Although this year’s efforts to maintain parliamentary procedure were much better than last year’s, we were still left with the sense that we discussed much more carefully and thoroughly the amendments, rather than the resolution itself. This was further complicated by the short amount of time that was allotted to the resolution. In the end, the resolution passed, with a couple of big amendments. Although I tried to speak up, getting up to one of the microphones and getting in line, I was not able to speak. In the end, I voted against the resolution.
As we continue to consider this resolution, perhaps finding new ways for us as a local church to talk about the war, we remember the way of a loving God who gives "light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death (and guides) our feet into the way of peace." Let your life shine. Be rich in the good works and take hold of life that is really life.
Shine God’s people. Be generous towards others sharing what God has given us. Let God’s extravagant generosity shine through you—and us. Warren attended a workshop on Inspiring Generosity and I expect that he will share some of the information and insight that he gained from that workshop. But, also, we considered the generosity and mission of the whole of us as we tackled the presentations of the Treasurer of the Conference and the chair of the Finance Committee. The financial health of the Conference is not where it could be. The budget for 2008 includes an increase in dues equal to what is allowed through the by-laws, I believe. Last year, an extra increase was voted in. This year, no such motion was offered. Yet, except for one staff person, no raises were provided for the staff of the Maine Conference.
In Our Church’s Wider Mission (or, OCWM), a couple of larger churches significantly reduced their giving. In total for last year, one-third of churches gave less to OCWM, one-third gave the same, one-third gave more. We, I believe, are in the group that gave the same. As our budget process is just around the corner, we ought to prayerfully consider our giving to OCWM.
In addition to these, there was a small amount of discussion regarding the part-time position of Associate Conference Minister for Small Church Development. The minister who has been in that position since it was formed four years ago has resigned, effective at the end of the year. I suspect there will some examination, next year, of that position, and whether or not it can continue to be funded.
The Coordinating Council of the Maine Conference is also undertaking an examination and study of the Conference assets, particularly the real estate assets of the Conference—the Pennell Center in Yarmouth, where the main offices are located; Pilgrim Lodge, the camp that exists in West Gardiner; and Rockcraft, a retreat center located on Sebago Lake. Town meetings have been scheduled for around the state. One will take place in Waterville on Saturday, October 20. All are welcome, and encouraged, to attend.
We also heard a lot about the general state of the Conference from the Conference minister, David Gaewski, whose contract has been renewed for the next five years. I can’t possibly share with you all that he presented, but I would offer a couple of things. The first is the Maine Conference’s relationship with the E and R Church in Honduras. While this relationship is growing and developing and taking great shape, it has also reached a point where there is the experience of significant growing pains. This we will hear about more in the future.
Also, the Conference is in the process of developing a new and exciting program for the education of lay leaders—the Academy of Congregational Life and Leadership? Anyway, it sounds great and something that I hope some of you will find worthwhile.
As in pretty much all of David Gaewski’s speeches, there was little bit of a history lesson. And this weekend’s lesson concerned the Maine Missionary Society. In 1807, a group of congregational churches gathered together to form the Maine Missionary Society, one of the groups that would later form the Maine Conference. The group of Congregationalists that met and covenanted together did so in order to strengthen their circle of influence and to do good in the world. That group met and formed right here in Hallowell. Our desire to covenant and partner together goes way back. It’s not a perfect union, to be sure, but it is valuable, it is hopeful, it is faithful. It is a significant way through which we shine.
Let’s listen again to Timothy’s charge to us as individual churches and as the Maine Conference. People of God let your life shine - pursue righteousness and godliness, faith and love, gentleness and endurance so you can build up the church and take hold of the life that is really life. Churches of Maine Conference let your life shine - keep God’s commandments to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share. Let your life shine and take hold of life that is really life. Let us shine as God’s people!
Amen
This sermon is heavily based on the lay sermon provided for Maine Conferences for this weekend. The sermon was written by the Rev. Dr. Alice Z. Anderman, Minister, First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Waterville, Maine
Resources:
Bangor Daily News – August 18, 2997
Maine Conference United Church of Christ Website – August 2007
New Century Hymnal
United Church of Christ Website – August 2007