Morning Worship: PREACH!

Opening worship… Ken Carter, President of the Council of Bishops, preached Paul’s commitment (and our invitation/challenge) to “maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace,” (Ephesians 4:3), not as a sappy or syrupy sentimentality, but born of a powerful trust that what Christ has done once, he can and will do again.

And what has Christ done? He quoted Ephesians 2:

¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. ¹⁵ He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, ¹⁶ and might reconcile both groups to God in one body^[a] through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it.^{[b] 17} So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; ¹⁸ for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father.” (emphasis mine)

“Are we bold to believe God can do this again?” he asked.

Reflecting on The Cross and Flame, Bishop Carter suggested that we are “stewards of the Cross and the Flame,” here because people trust us to find a way forward. The Cross being what Christ has done for us, and Flame being what the Spirit continues to do in and among us.

“What if, when we speak of holiness, the world hears only judgment?” Could it be that we could join our individual stories to which we are so committed, be gathered under the Story of God who is always concerned with Creation, with taking the chaos and making the world, who continues to reclaim what we discard, to cleanse what we consider unclean, to redeem what we consider lost.

He quoted the Rule of Taize (a Protestant monastery in France), “Never resign yourself to the scandal of separation of Christians who so readily profess love for their neighbor yet remain divided. Make the unity of the Body of Christ your passionate concern.”

Most tellingly he said this: “Along with our luggage, we have brought anxiety.” Yes. He said, “We may think we have gathered to dismantle something; what if God is here to create something?” Yes. He said, “We may be looking for the exits, which is easier, but perhaps not faithful to the One who never seeks and exit from us.” Preach!

And he closed with this: “He who began a good work among you will bring it to completion before the Day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6). Amen, Bishop. Amen.

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To see Bishop Carter's report (not sermon) to G/C, read here:

https://mailchi.mp/unitingmethodists/newsletter-2019-02-24?e=c9fdcf1b16

If you want to see the sermon, you may find it on UMC.org