It was a shorter sermon than normal due to our having a hymn sing during the first part of worship. The focus on participating in the common life and worship was implicitly lifted up by the singing of familiar hymns. They would not be familiar if we have not been in worship through the years singing them.
The first section of the sermon continues to be a question before the leadership of the church as we struggle to understand who makes up the church membership after Covid and how we extend the church's presence in the lives of some who are not living in our geographic area. We have not engaged that well enough yet.
“Showing Up” I Corinthians 12: 14-31; SAPC, Denton; July 10, 2022; Richard B. Culp
14Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15If the foot would say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16And if the ear would say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many members, yet one body. 21The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; 24whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, 25that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. 26If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.
27Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.
Introduction: We continue reflecting on what the Book of Order calls, the “ministry of members,” although we recognize that our call to membership is tied to our call to discipleship.
”Taking part in the common life and worship of a congregation" (G-1.0304, Book of Order);
Move 1: We, perhaps, reflect on that ministry in different ways given the past two years of discovering the challenges and opportunities that come from being apart intentionally due to the pandemic.
a. For example, we have had a strong commitment to trying to build community by having an Advent or Lent project for every family to do at home.
1. Those front porch deliveries and the sand that spilled on your carpet or the cubes you had to read directions to figure out how to use were more than just some crazy pandemic idea some committee dreamed up with too much time on their hands.
2. They were provided so there would be a sense of connection, a sense that we were taking part in the common life of the church together.
3. Even so, those who join on the live stream, not in driving distance missed out on that opportunity.
b. How do we expand our sense of the common life to take into account a church community where people zoom into Sunday school and live stream worship?
1. I know for a fact that joining us for worship today are members of this congregation who could not be here for a variety of reasons;
We also have people who have made St. Andrew their home for worship even though they do not even live in the area.
2. When Paul describes an ear and a nose, it suggests proximity.
3. what does it mean if the eye and ear, make up a body that stretches beyond a 15-minute drive to St. Andrew?
4. how are we finding ways for people to take part in the common life and worship if they are not here each Sunday?
c. If we understand our task as equipping our members for ministry, that taking part in the common life means being equipped for ministry, then what does that look like in an expanded community or for those who no longer come to the physical building we call St. Andrew?
1. Does it mean that as we talk about HFH build here in Denton, we encourage those not in this area to join with HFH in their area?
2. Does it mean that as we talk about ODB, we also invited people to be involved in feeding ministries wherever they live?
3. As I have been reflecting, I have been reminded of an older woman in the church I served in OH.
when I arrived, she was primarily home-bound with her husband who was very sick and could not get out.
As I visited in people’s homes and met different members, I kept hearing her name.
she was not the ears or the nose, but more the mouth.
Or, really, the connective tissue of that congregation.
4. Jesus was always expanding the boundaries, so it seems to me that as we speak of the joining in the common life of the body of Christ, we need to expand our understanding of the geographical reach of the body.
Move 2: Singing hymns reminds me of how joining together, participating in worship and VBS, and Sunday School gives us opportunities to be exposed to and learn
a. Like many of you,
1. Singing together.
2. Learning.
3. A few years ago during Lent, we used the same hymn each week for the opening hymn.
4. A mother of one of our young disciples sent us a video of her daughter singing the hymn in her car seat as they were driving down the road.
5. a learned response from participating in the common life and worship of the church.
b. Robert Putnam and Lewis Feldstein, better Together (291): “Again and again, we find that one key to creating social capital is to build in redundancy of contact. A single pitch is not enough, whether you are preaching unionization or Christian salvation. Common spaces for commonplace encounters are prerequisites for common conversations and common debate. Furthermore, networks that intersect and circles that overlap reinforce a sense of reciprocal obligation and extend the boundaries of empathy.”
1. Going to SS and then seeing someone in worship and then volunteering with them at the habitat house.
2. or, zooming into SS and then sharing worship on live stream, and then emailing someone on the prayer list.
3. The redundancy of contacts creates opportunities for relationships.
4. Sharing in the common life builds community and creates opportunities for us to serve in the world.
Move 3: Common life and worship
a. IN the pastors’ class we are finishing up a study of Revelation.
1. Throughout Revelation, there are images of worship - images of heavenly worship and also the call for God’s people to be in worship.
2. no surprise -throughout the biblical story God’s people are called to worship.
3. We remember that when Moses goes to Pharaoh and ask Pharaoh to release the Israelites from slavery, Moses says they want to be freed so they can worship God.
4. The first thing they do when they get into the Promised Land is worship God.
5. Jesus’ first public declaration of who he was takes place in the synagogue as he reads from the prophet Isaiah.
b. Amid the various ecclesial, ethical, and liturgical reforms of the sixteenth century, Martin Luther was once asked to describe the nature of true worship His answer: the tenth leper turning back. http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=783, David Lose, Mount Olivet Lutheran Church Minneapolis, Minn.
1. Turning back to give God thanks and praise.
2. Part of our calling as disciples of Christ, as members of the body of Christ.
Conclusion: Participating in the common life and worship.
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