Rev. George Miller
April 28, 2024
Acts 18:1-11
Two weeks ago, under the musical talents
of Linda Taylor and Linda Radick, the choir sung a song that embodies the faith
experience.
“Be Not Afraid, I Go Before You.”
We heard the choir sing the words of a
loving Creator who sees God’s people, hears their cries, and cares for them as
a compassionate parent would.
We heard about wandering through barren
desserts, raging waters, burning fires as God says-
“Even if you don’t know the way, I go
before you. Come, follow me, and I will
give you rest.”
Rest.
What a wonderful word. For it is safe to say that in many ways, we
have all been restless.
The Search and Call process is certainly
an experience filled with barren desserts, raging waves, and burning fires.
And yet, if the process is done right, and
done faithfully, one can certainly see that God is with us.
Two weeks ago you heard Pastor Vicki
encouraging us that there are times in which maybe we should just
listen.
Pastor Vicki reminded us that God’s love
and care in unlimited, especially if we embrace the ability to humbly,
compassionately hear.
Meanwhile, 1,065 miles away in a different
state and different time zone, the people of Emmanuel UCC in Sebring, FL were
listening to the story of Peter and John
who bring wholeness and welcome to a man by seeing him and demanding that they
are seen in return.
Follow, listen, see, do not be afraid.
The Christian experience through
scripture, song, and sermon.
So it is fitting that today we add another
component to that list of how people of faith can live- to speak, evangelize, and
share the Good News.
But first, a story.
In 1959 Brooklyn, New York my mother Carol
was participating in Confirmation class.
My Mom was the child of Margaret Ola and
George Wenderhold, people of Hungarian, Romanian, and German descent.
So there is my mother at church, all
excited, because she has memorized the Books of the New Testament and she is
ready say them before the congregation.
My Mom has put in the time. She’s practiced. She’s memorized.
She stands up to speak…and she makes a
mistake.
And the pastor…the pastor of my 13-year-old
mother, says to the entire congregation “Well, what do you expect- she’s German.”………
Years later it’s 2004 and my Mom is with
me as we drive to my graduation from Eden Seminary.
Before we go in, Mom has me park the car,
turn off the engine, so she can tell me this story.
She shares that from that moment on she
decided to never memorize anything again.
She gives me a very clear directive- that
as a Pastor, I am to never do that to anyone else nor intentionally hurt
someone the way she was.
In 1959, my13-year-old mother, filled with
joy and spirit,
was shamed and silenced by a religious
leader who thought it was appropriate to say such a thing in front of all the
people.
Who knows how this experience forever shaped
and affected my mom;
who knows how this experience shaped and
molded me and my three siblings.
So it is an unbelievable honor to stand
here before you today,
a historic church,
founded and called into creation by people
of German heritage,
to give a Candidating Sermon that is all
about
“Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be
silent, for I am with you…”
There is tremendous healing in this
moment, and I hope the ancestors are proud.
This morning’s reading is a rich one,
filled with so much detail.
We learn that Paul is in Corinth. We learn he’s a tentmaker.
We learn that he is working alongside and staying
with a husband-and-wife team who are immigrants.
We hear how Paul doesn’t really spend his
time just listening;
he loves loves loves
to debate,
discuss,
share his understanding of Scripture,
what it means to say that
Jesus is the Messiah,
and the beauty of believing
and being baptized.
Some folk enjoy listening to and hearing
about the Gospel. But there are others
who are not so happy.
They feel threatened, unconvinced.
So Paul is opposed, reviled.
These are barren desserts, raging waters,
and burning fires that are making Paul want to shake the dust off his feet, to doubt
and second guess himself.
But God, who is the Great I Am, says to
Paul-
“Do not let these people get in the
way. Do not give your power to the
doubters and the second-guessers.”
God says “Instead, stop being afraid,
speak, lift up your voice, say the words that bring new life, and do not be
silent, for I am with you.”
Speak; do not be silent; do not be afraid.
For I Am with you.
And who is this great I AM?
The One who spoke Creation into being by
saying “Let there be light.”
The One who said to Moses “Say to Pharaoh,
set my people free.”
The One who said to Jesus “You are my
beloved in whom I am well pleased.”
Who is the Great I AM?
The One who raised Jesus from the empty
tomb and made sure that Mary, Mary and Salone were told “Do not be afraid…He is
not here. Go and tell the disciples.”
The One who sent forth the Holy Spirit on
Pentecost so people of all backgrounds could hear what others were speaking.
Be not afraid, but speak and do not be
silent, for I am with you.
What a beautiful, affirming, empowering
sentence to hear.
If only my mother’s pastor had said those
words instead of shaming her.
In the past few weeks, we have heard that
God
goes before us,
that we are blessed,
there is a beauty to when we see
and are seen,
and that sometimes,
sometimes it is best
that we just listen.
Today we add another component- the art and
importance of speaking, of not being afraid to say, to share, the Good News.
The Good News of Jesus Christ.
The Good News that Jesus Crucified
is the one that God Resurrected.
The Good News that we are all endowed with
the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
The Good News that through Christ,
with Christ,
for Christ,
we all have the ability
to speak
and share words that
express love,
express compassion,
express hope,
express welcome.
Because of Christ Resurrected
we all have the ability to speak
and to share with others that
No matter what dessert we wander,
No matter what waters we face,
No matter what fires get in the path,
No matter if we don’t know the way,
God goes before us, always.
Blessed are we who follow the Lord. Blessed are we when we have the chance to
listen, see, and speak.
For we are assured
the gifts of Heaven,
and in Christ Jesus,
we get to humbly follow,
and we also get to experience rest.
In Christ’s name we pray, and we say “Amen.”
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