It’s Friday, and Sundays coming. I’ll preach my
second sermon at Vinland UMC, “my church” just down the hill. I like it. They don’t lock the doors because
locals use the basement as a storm shelter.
It’s a nice church with nice “stuff” and a mix of members. Some people are “country” and some are “city,
professional” with a “county attitude”.
I’m a small part of their history from the 90’s, and the “feel” is
there, when you first walk in.
“The feel”. is
like you’re on your own, to do what you do, but do something, and remember some
of us “go way back.” Like Haiti, they
have used the same hymn book 40 years, but when the choir “is on” its’ new
stuff is approached seriously. And, from the pulpit; keep it simple, but make
it mean something. Last week was work.
That “First”
Sunday, I stumbled through an unfamiliar “order of worship” with Eucharist, Did
remember to serve myself before covering the elements. I talked about what
miracles “are” and ‘aren’t”. Then I “called” the congregation to a “healing
ministry” letting miracles be the natural bi-product of meaningful communication.
This week, Marks’ gospel leads to a discussion
of the stifling effects of rejection with no pity party response. If you can’t “light a fire for the Kingdom
with wet wood” then get some help and go somewhere else to do damage to
demons. Various commentaries call it the
start of ministry or Jesus style mission; some talk of repentance and/or
salvation and even Barbara Brown Taylor has the nerve to use the word evangelism!
Mark does
indicate Jesus had attended VIM Leadership training as he told the “sent ones”
to travel light. They were to take no carry-on or granola bars or Gatorade, and
not to worry about luxury accommodations. Jesus even recommended something to
discourage “critters”. He also instructed them on how to interact with the
“locals” and if “they” didn’t “buy in” to the God stuff, not to fret, but
“shake it off” and go home. There are
more demons out there than apostles.
There is a lot
more to Marks story but borrowing from many sources, I think of it this way:
There was to be a new day dawning; Jesus
and the Apostles demonstrating
the power and presence of God. Not
a side-show extravaganza or high wire performance without a net;
Not a “now you see it, now you don’t“
illusionist and certainly not a Si-Fi Fantasy!
But signs of the Kingdom of God, where
people believed Jesus was different, and his way, too.
If people cared and if the poor had food;
the margins were moved and boundaries crossed;
then lives would be changed and the
demons would depart.
Call it mission; call it a new ministry;
call it evangelism or conversion or repentance if you will.
Some real go getters may call it “saving
sinners” from the burning lake of fire!
But when Christians “get it right”
(thanks to Adam Hamilton),
we just could maybe, call it
church.
Joe and I, and Kansas East Conference, continue to invite people to go with us to La
Gonave; to listen to challenging plans for water for the masses; to consider
partnering with one of many university or advanced education students; or to
participate with industrial development groups, planting trees, training groups
and giving them goats, or seeds, or small loans.
The Haitian Church / La Gonave Circuit
has accepted a couple of teams for community projects on the island, We have
interested congregations exploring ways to help communities, build and repair
cisterns, sponsor individual schools, an orphanage or some students. I think I
see it as “damaging demons” of poverty, injustice and privilege for the
few. Isn’t Jesus’ mission and ours,
STILL focused on changing lives and life styles?
Pastor Shirley Edgerton, July 6, 2012,
for Mission La Gonave.
