Farewell from your rector

During my time serving with you at Redeemer a couple of themes have risen up in my prayers, sermons, articles, and conversations. These will probably sound familiar to you, and I offer them as my farewell reflection.

1) We are temples of the Holy Spirit, and so, we have nothing to fear. The truth of this is alternately joyful and terrifying. The power of God’s love, the presence of Jesus’ own spirit dwells in us constantly transforming us and the world in which we live, move, and have our being. Most often it isn’t our circumstances or helplessness we fear but the power of God that lives in us, individually and corporately, ready to transform. As a result we often minimize that power in us, limit it, or outright deny it, choosing instead to rely on our own knowledge, experience, influence, etc. The good news is, since nothing is impossible for God (Lk 1:37), neither is anything impossible for us in whom God dwells. Not by our own efforts, of course, but by our… (see #2)

2) Surrender (or as Deacon Pam says it, “Welcome, welcome, welcome!”). Everything is a gift, even the hard and difficult things we face (Ro 5:3-5), AND redemption is guaranteed – in God’s time and in God’s way. In his meditation this morning, Brother David Vryhof, SSJE tells us we are called to let go, to relinquish our need to control and define, to manipulate and possess. Self-fulfillment comes through laying down our lives in obedience to God’s deepest yearnings for us.”

3) And God’s yearning for us is that we abide in love (Jn15:9) which is eternal life – life in the eternal presence of God. The ‘football passage’ (Jn 3:16), reminds us: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that EVERYONE (emphasis mine) who believes in him may not perish but have eternal life.” And I always remind people to keep reading through verse 17 which says: “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” God’s judgement of us, God’s promise to us is salvation, which means redemption is guaranteed. God will see to it.

4) In the meantime, we who have received Christ Jesus, must choose to continue to live in him. (Col 2:6) By his own life, Jesus showed us what that would look like: a life full of friendship and betrayal, joy and hardship, miraculous ministry and rejected ministry, truth-telling that leads to conflict, earthly injustice and divine redemption. As it was for him, so will it be for us.

The Good News is that redemption has already been accomplished by our Savior and the outcome of that – reconciliation of the world to God in Christ - is our mission as followers of Jesus: “to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.” (BCP, 855). Christians are part of a Jesus Movement, as our Presiding Bishop Michael Curry calls it. We are agents of Christ, gifted specifically to carry on Christ’s work of reconciliation of the world. It is our duty as Episcopalians to take our place in the life, worship, and governance of the church which is the means by which our mission is accomplished. (BCP, 855) It is also where we are strengthened to serve by the nourishment we receive in Word and Sacrament.

God bless you all as you live into the fullness of life God has given you and gifted you to do. Steve and I will hold you in continuing prayer as you continue to grow in your love of God and your service to God’s people; all for the glory of God. Please come say good-bye at the service of leave-taking Tuesday evening (1/26) at 6:30. There’ll be food afterwards! Peace out.