A Sermon for a Celebration of New Ministryr
Virginia McBride
"I do nothing of myself. What the Father has taught me is what I preach."
My kids all phoned me, "How do you like your new priest, Mom?" Oh, Pat the Priest. We.., I've only been to one service, but she's already a friend. I hadn't thought about needing a new friend. It was always I have lots of friends, especially all of you. At that first service I kept saying, "Thank you, God. Thank you, God" for sending us this new priest because she seemed so right for us. I was impressed by her small hands and the confidence in her clear, distinct voice.
She said she didn't have a stove. Aha, an answer to a prayer. I had two micorwaves. I had two electric fry pans. I was emptying out a house. When she came to get them there were other items I thought she could use – a chair, do you need this table? How about a lamp? A friendship was formed in carrying out furniture.
"The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers." This is as true today as when Paul wrote these words. We all have many gifts to use and share. While accompanying Pat on a visit to a parishioner's home to introduce them, I was struck by the sincerity of her spirituality – her gift. How clearly it shone forth during that visit. The parishioner asked, "What can I do for you?" Pat said, "Pray for me." That seemed backwards – pray for the priest? Isn't it the priest's duty to pray for use? But yes, I was already doing that: praying for her alone in that big, empty, rather isolated farmhouse. I know how scary it can be to be alone in a big, empty house and how your prayers helped me. So, yes, we should all pray for Pat.
"The Lord said to Moses, ‘Gather for me seventy of the elders of Israel . . . I will take some of the spirit that is on you and put it on them and they shall bear the burden of the people along with you so that you will not bear it all by yourself.'" Hmmm. Seventy elders? And what is the total of these congregations Pat serves? Pretty close to seventy. You hear what we are called to do? To bear the burden along with her: praying, serving, sharing the stories, hopes, and dreams of our parishes. All of us have gifts that Christ has given us. Our resources might be minimal, bu God's resources are inexhaustible, and they are there waiting for us to tap into them. God help us if we fail to do so.
St. John tells us, "I am the vine and you are the branches." A vine without branches is pretty empty. Think about that. Imagine a Christmas tree which is just a trunk – no branches. Where would we hang the ornaments – the marshmallows and popcorn strings? Not very useful. Or a branchless maple tree. We would have had no red leaves this time of year. Not a good way to enjoy God's beauty.
Let us then be the seventy who can be the branches to help Pat in her ministry of pastor and teacher. We are indeed blessed by Pat, our priest and Pat our friend.
Amen.