A Score of Years

Sermon

Beth asked me if I would like to preach this Sunday, as 2023 marks my twentieth year at Westminster as your associate pastor. Since I have about ten minutes allotted to preach, and twenty years to cover, that gives me about 30 seconds per year.

When I first came to Westminster, my sons were ages one and four. Some of you may remember that All Church Retreat, when I held a loaf of bread with one hand and with the other arm held one-and-a-half-year-old Aaron on my hip, as he was having difficulty sharing Mommy with a big group of new people. Alex is now away at graduate school in Wisconsin, and Aaron is at the University of Oregon, undergrad. Looking at these young men says it all: Look at how much can change in a score of years.

Some people have wondered, how could I possibly stay in the same place for two decades? Part of my answer is this: Westminster is a healthy, thriving congregation, still seeking to grow in Spirit, in service, and in people. So, what IS Westminster’s foundation? On this day when we ordain and install new leaders, what is our foundation?

I chose the sermon text from Luke 6 the week that we were getting images from California of massive floods. Seeing homes completely unmoored from their foundations illustrated the devastation of the passage. The onset of the pandemic was a type of shaking of the foundation that we are all still learning from. And many of us have experienced in other situations the kind of loss that feels like the foundation has given way: the death of a child, parent, or spouse; divorce; a broken relationship; serious illness; career loss; financial instability. Even the transition of a pastor moving to another congregation, in a small way, may shake things up.

So, I ask you again, what IS Westminster’s foundation? Where do we find our footing?

When I first came to Westminster, there was no corridor connecting the lower levels of the church. In the process of the building of the corridor, we found the cornerstone of the church. I’m imagining four sides of that cornerstone. And the first side would be relationship.

I believe our foundation is the love of Jesus, experienced in relationship with each other. We can love because God first loves us. The relationships we build in our daily lives are the very essence of Christ with us. That love experienced (in all its weakness and strength) empowers us to care for the world. The Incarnation of Christ in us is most clearly known in the love we have for one another. This is especially true in loving those we didn’t necessarily choose ourselves as we make up a community of faith. Our worship together, our gatherings on committees, service together, community organizing, art shows, coffees, lunches, retreats, book groups, breakfasts, line dances, Session meetings—in all of these, we embody Christ with us as we build our relationship to one another. Person by person, stone by stone, the foundation of the church is the people, and our love for one another, in Christ.

Does this mean that we always agree on things? Does this mean that we never hurt one another?

Nope. Sorry, we are human beings, and we mess up. It is by God’s grace that no matter how much we fail, God’s love enables us to act in with forgiveness and to begin anew.

After a score of years, I think it’s fair to say that Westminster and I have been an excellent fit for one another. But even in a great match, there have been times when I’ve hurt you and you’ve hurt me. I know that sometimes I’ve failed to live up to the job. In the times when you lacked support from me, in the times I failed to care as you needed, still, (to the best of my knowledge,) you’ve forgiven me. I hope you have or will. There have been a couple of times when what I’d hoped for failed to gain traction here. But I also have forgiven. When we disappointed one another, the Holy Spirit moved us beyond that and into new life. We’ve forgiven and built a more solid foundation of trust. The second side to the cornerstone is forgiveness.

Honesty is the third side of the cornerstone. We sometimes sing a hymn that says: “Here in honesty of preaching, here in silence, as in speech, here in newness, and renewal, God the Spirit comes to each.”

The fourth side Westminster’s cornerstone foundation is trust. There is a high level of trust in the clergy in this congregation. There is a high level of trust on our Session and with deacons and Stephen Ministers, and that makes us strong. But there is room for growth.

One of the findings of the recent racial audit at Westminster is that sometimes we are reluctant to acknowledge conflict. We are kind, polite, and nice. But we also come with different experiences, perspectives, and awareness. Sometimes things happen here in a gathering. Something was said that suddenly makes our hearts pound, our heads hurt, and our fingers shake. That experience is telling us conflict is happening. Believe it or not, friends, this is a gift if we listen. This doesn’t feel good, but it’s a time to pay attention! When we experience that, or if we hear of a member of our community experiencing anything like that, it’s important that we listen and hear and are transparent about conflict. Getting it out on the table and working it through with courage and honesty can lead us to grow deeper in relationship.

Listening is an act of love. The foundation in Christ, in our relationships, means that we are to be authentically ourselves with one another. Following Jesus means being as authentic ourselves as Jesus was himself.

It’s not an easy thing, but friends: This community can handle it!

On one of my very first sermons, preached here in 2003, I managed to push the envelope and upset someone, who went to Jim Moiso, the head of staff. The concern was, “Is this how it’s going to be now, too liberal?” Trust, honesty, forgiveness, and of course, relationships: These, built over a score of years, enables this congregation to thrive.

I really could have preached a longer sermon. Condensing 20 years is a challenge. But it’s summed up here. Thank you, my friends. You have blessed me in countless ways, and I love you. I will be praying for you, and I am eager to see what new things happen with Westminster.

Know that you are loved.