Amos 5:6-7,10-15
Hebrews 3:1-6
Mark 10:17-27(28-31)
Psalm 90 or 90:1-8,12
Brothers and sisters, holy partners in a heavenly calling, consider that Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was also, "was faithful in God's house." Yet Jesus is worthy of more glory than Moses just as a builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. "For every house is built by someone but the builder of all things is God."
Yes, the builder of all things is God, God working his wonders through ordinary people like you and me. Imagine for a moment -- can you picture it? -- Bishop Kemper arriving in Little Falls by canoe in 1858. He met with local Episcopalians and the first service was held in the Little Falls Village School House on December 17, 1858 led by the Rev. E. Steele Peake. Father Peake held services every other week at the school house, the hotel or the Methodist church until he resigned in 1862 to become a Union Army chaplain.
Other missionary priests took his place including Fathers Elwell, Gillfillan, Steward and Root.
The first resident priest in 1883 was Father F. J. Tassell. The first church was built in 1869, a wood frame building located on 1st Street N. W. between 3rd and 4th Avenue. The parish was officially organized in January of 1885. The Senior Warden was W. S. Martin and the Junior Warden was Bill Cheesman's grandfather, Edmund Rothwell. In that same year, Bishop Whipple consecrated the new wooden frame church. Look at the third window showing Bishop Whipple blessing the Indians. EXPLAIN.
Plans were soon underway to build a new church so the old church was sold to the Swedish Methodists. The cornerstone of the present building was laid September 15, 1903. Construction was completed in 1904 at the cost of $10,000. When the debt was paid, the church was consecrated on November 13, 1910 by Bishop James Dow Morrison, the first Episcopal Bishop of Duluth.
The church we sit in today was built in the Queen Anne style. (MPR - plopped it right here from England). It is 86 feet long and 38 feet wide at the nave and 56 feet at the chancel. The outer walls are granite boulder with black mortar for 6 feet and grout and wood panels above. The pews, choir area, nave and altar are finished in weathered oak. The church was built to seat 350 and is on the U. S. Department of Interior Register of Historical Buildings.
And here we are today, 2003, celebrating the building's 100th Anniversary and also celebrating our new accessible, multi-purpose parish hall. "For every house is built by someone but the builder of all things is God!"
The Church's foundation is Jesus Christ our Lord as we just sang. "Christ is made the sure foundation." We--you and I--took a risk--a huge risk to build a future for our parish and community. So did all those who came before us. Think of their sacrifices and obstacles they had to contend with.
Just as those before us took this huge step and we did, today's Epistle -- "Consider Jesus" calls us to another dimension of building on our history, stepping out in faith and fully living our Baptismal covenant. "Consider Jesus." This is the key to our whole Christian life, right here. The word means "think carefully about Jesus." It may sound simplistic but it's true. Instead of letting your mind obsess over all your troubles, pains, difficulties, obstacles, family problems and sorrows--God says, "Think carefully about my Son." The more you learn about Jesus, the more you'll realize how little you know of him and how wonderful he truly is.
And in today's Gospel in which it seems that Jesus is telling us to get rid of all our possessions, I believe there is yet another message and a deeper meaning.
Jesus is telling us that we need to find out what is in the way of our living, what are the stumbling blocks, to a deeper and more committed life as a Christian? Perhaps it's material things and possessions. Maybe we need to pare down our lives. Perhaps its prejudices or attitudes that exclude others. Maybe we are so caught up in making it to the "top," so to speak, both materially and career wise, that we have lost sight of where we are heading spiritually. Maybe we are so focused on ourselves that we rarely think of anyone else.
This is a challenge for us today--to re-examine our lives and to "consider Jesus." Consider how Jesus came to serve and not be served. Mark tells us this throughout his Gospel. Our ministry should be one of servant ministry and as the extension of this church has pebbles in the stucco, we need to be like living stones allowing ourselves to be built into a spiritual house, and a holy priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:5)
We are grateful to all those who came before us--for their many sacrifices and their remarkable journey in faith. Our future is bright and filled with many challenges!! Our hope is that an Episcopal presence will be in Little Falls for another 100 years!
This will happen, I believe, if we each recommit ourselves this morning to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and to live in "community" with one another. It will also happen if we think of ourselves as "missionaries," just as those early missionaries who founded this church, letting neighbors and acquaintances know of Christ's love and forgiveness--letting them know of our unique and special practice of Christianity as Episcopalians.
Invite a friend, neighbor, co-worker or acquaintance to church this month of October. This is more than a building, it's a community of faith. I know it's hard to reach out. It's not part of our way of thinking but this is our calling--our way of celebrating the priesthood of all the baptized. "Consider Jesus" and share your gifts and in 2103 when the parishioners celebrate Our Saviour's 200th Anniversary they will say of us--"They built a beautiful parish hall but more importantly they built a strong community of faith, caring, compassion and love. This will be our legacy for future generations. Commit today to make it happen.
We wouldn't want to have it and leave it any other way now--would we?
Amen.