You would understand that today I am somewhere between there being so much to say, and really, what more can I say.
It is another Sunday to work with the Spirit at proclaiming the gospel in the text and context of our world and lives now. And it is a last Sunday to share my heart full of gratitude for the gift of ministry together in this place of the Cross over the past 22 years, and the privilege of being part of ordained ministry for the past 38 years. So what more can I say than a profound and heartfelt, Thank you! Thank you. Thank you. And, all thanks be to God for this immeasurable gift. Thank you, God.
And there is so much more to say about all the sacred connections to the good news in Christ Jesus, in the past, present today, and for the future. I will try to share just some.
The Gospel reading today is the same as on the day of my installation here in 2002. Then Dean of the Island Conference, Pastor Curtis Aguire, asked if there were readings that were significant to me. And I chose this story of Jesus healing the woman bent over for 18 long years. It is a poignant story of Jesus’ ministry of healing and advocacy, especially for those bent over by suffering and pain. I have wondered if this story is significant, maybe unconsciously, because, as my siblings, two of whom are here today, know, our Mom suffered from chronic back pain for much of her life. And I can remember, beginning as a child, praying for her healing in body and Spirit. And it is this ministry of healing and Jesus’ resistance and advocacy against those who would prevent God’s love from being shared with any and all in need, that I have wanted to be part of and share. And we have in this community together. Joining in offering, in many expressions, the welcome and unburdening, the healing and advocacy, we ourselves receive from a loving God, embodied in people striving to live out that grace together in community and for the communities and all creation of which we are a part. Thank you for sharing in this Jesus’ ministry for all who are bent over by suffering, and in resistance against any and all that would prevent their healing.
Today is the Day of/or Day of Prayer for, Creation that begins the Season of Creation from today until the Festival of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4. This Day of Creation and this Gospel reading, suggest the question, “Who is the bent-over woman?” Is it Mother Earth? And is Jesus reaching out to offer healing as humanity continues to resist and offer excuses for why she should not be helped and healed for economic and political and practical reasons that ignore our mother’s health and wellbeing, and sacrifice the most vulnerable now and in the future. Together we long and hope for Mother Earth to be healed and stand up straight again in praise of God. And seek to live out that healing and advocacy individually and together in faithful stewardship and care for the earth and its climate.
The other readings are connected to this Sunday’s and the season’s, creation theme. The words from Job are part of Creator’s response to Job’s questioning, asking where were you, do you know, when all this was being created? And with striking imagery describes Creator’s intimate connection to all creation. And similarly, the Psalm, sings of the magnificence and dependence of all creatures. And Romans, the theme verse for this year’s Season of Creation, that speaks of creation’s waiting with eager longing... that creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay, and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labour pains until now; and not only creation, but we ourselves…” This calling to healing and advocacy for the earth and all its creatures is a ministry of Jesus that we have learned is urgent, for us and all the world. Thank you for hearing the groans of creation and seeing Mother Earth bent over in suffering by our human consumption and greed, and sharing in this ministry now and in the future, in a hope that we do not yet see, but we wait for with patience.
There are many connections, past and present, in our worship today. The song played on strings with the Thanksgiving for Baptism, “We know that Christ is raised and dies no more… was the processional hymn at my ordination with Pastor Don Hall at the Alberta Synod Convention in Camrose, singing it over and over as we walked from the then Camrose Lutheran College campus to Messiah Lutheran about 20 minutes away. The song was ingrained in me, with its baptismal imagery, “We share by water in his saving death. Reborn we share with Christ the Easter life. …A new creation comes to life and grows, as Christ new body takes on flesh and blood. The universe restored and whole will sing, Hallelujah!” Forever connecting the baptismal life with the ministry of all people. Thank you for sharing in this ministry of all the baptized, in all our varied skills and gifts and abilities, ordained and non-ordained, young and older, new and long-time… all together.
And today’s gathering song, “Lord whose love in humble service… we also sang at my installation here, reminding us then and now of Jesus’ “love in humble service, bore the weight of human need… Still your children wander homeless, still the hungry cry for bread. Still the captives long for freedom, still in grief we mourn our dead… making known the needs and burdens, your compassion bids us bear, stirring us to ardent service, your abundant life to share.” Thank you for singing and striving to live this way of service, of justice and mercy, together for and with our neighbours. And so also in new songs and liturgy, in new words and in different languages and imagery, as we experience a global and local church of increasing diversity, in the beautiful rainbow of all God’s people - especially in the sending song that I spoke about on PRIDE Sunday, holding the vision of a hope not yet realized. “God, we gather as your people to raise our song above, and we dare to claim the promise of your love. Though the day may not yet be here, we trust it soon will be, when your children will be free. Oh, may our hearts and minds be opened, fling the church doors open wide. May there be room enough for everyone inside.” Thank you for sharing in this vision and challenge of a church for all, in truth and reconciliation, in inclusion and diversity, anti-racism and equity, decolonizing and right relationships, food security and affordable housing, all together with all creation.
And thank you for the ongoing commitment of this community to worship, to good liturgy and music, in words and actions, in water and bread and wine around the table, that is our work together to shape and inspire and challenge and change us for ministry for the common good, for God’s love of this hurting world. Thank you to all the musicians and the choir,
visual artists, the Altar guild, readers, ushers, livestreamers, assisting minsters and communion assistants, caretakers and office staff and volunteers, those who bring flowers and food for hospitality, who keep things in good repair and change the setting of the sanctuary, who offer prayers for healing and light candles for prayers, and simply any and all who come to participate and join online, believing that worship together is important, vital, life-giving, challenging, changing, in this journey with Jesus, sharing and giving our lives away in God’s love. Thank you for being a community that loves worship together and all that worship calls us to be and do as God’s people.
There is more to thank you for, for being a learning community that cares about our continuing to learn and grow as God’s people at every age, a caring community that attends to the concerns and needs of one another, a collaborative community that values partnerships with Luther Court, the Kitchen, church and multifaith neighbours, our Synod and National Church, and more and all the possibilities with others, a risk-taking community that plans and makes decisions and builds for the future, an adaptive community through a pandemic and other challenges and change, a community of forgiveness because we are far from perfect individually or together, a good-spirited and good-humoured community that can laugh and celebrate together, and more! Thank you for all these ways of being followers of Jesus in healing and resistance in this community of the Cross and the joy and privilege of serving in ministry with you. I am forever grateful.
At a farewell gathering at Luther Court last Thursday, one of the residents told me she was at my installation. Now at age 99, and looking forward to her 100th Birthday in January, she hoped to be present for my last Sunday as pastor here. We were both thankful to share that connection together, that our paths and lives have crossed. And I would say the same about each one of you, others who have gone before us or who are no longer here. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for praying and seeking and serving together in the healing power of Christ, that we and all the world would be unburdened, free, and able to stand together in praise of God, now and forever. Goodbye. Farewell. And let it be so, in all our relations. Thank you. Amen.
