"Called - Gifted - Sent"
Sermon preached by Rev. Robert Undercuffler
Hanover Presbyterian Church
18th Street and Baynard Boulevard
Wilmington, Delaware
August 6, 2006
We don't need a program ?Rather we need an environment.
?An environment, an atmosphere
What we breathe in and exhale
What we receive and give and then receive back from one another
And what we give to our neighbors - our city - the world.
Even more accurate, more empowering -
What we receive from GOD -
What we breathe in from God,and?
What we breathe-out to others.
God loved the world so much that God gave God's son. God gave - Not a program but a flesh and blood person who walks among us. God gave - Not an agenda or a curriculum but a relationship - friendship - encouraging words - words of hope. Acts of love.
So I hear the discussions, "What does Hanover need?" And I've been pondering that question. The Futures Task Force has been thinking about that, as have our church Committees.
What does Hanover need? Try this out: Hanover needs an environment.
And the wonderful thing is this, a loving, encouraging, hope -filled environment surrounds us/permeates us ? What would you say? 55% of the time? 75% of the time? So how do we increase that %? And how do we increase the % of our members who thrive, who find hope and execute justice within our Hanover environment? And then out into the world?
There are three concepts I'd like to give special attention as we seek to enrich our Hanover environment, and that environment includes at least three ingredients
First Ingredient: We are CALLED
Paul says to followers of Jesus who were living in Ephesus, and he says to us, "lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called."
Last week I was talking with several Hanover members about what the future may hold for our church: sharing frustrations, disappointments, and some dreams.
One said, "I'm surprised we're still here - Hanover at 18th and Baynard - "There have been so many ups and downs?and over the last 30 years or so, it has been mostly downs.
Another person in that conversation observed , "Well, it must be that God has called our church together and has some special plan for us.. I don't believe God is done with us!"
Wow! What an idea. Could that be true? The Greek word for "church" is ecclesia - those who are called out. Not that we heard voices, but rather perhaps sensed nudges, tugs - the knotted web of our life, freed.
Others have spoken to us, encouraged us, and woven us into this church‑family fabric. We say, "I never thought I'd be a member of a church," or "I never thought I would return to church again. But here we are?inexorably drawn together - called. And it's not that we are like-minded people?and we certainly don't look alike. As Bob Bolt reminded us last Sunday. we're a motley crew.
Certainly only our wildly creative God who places a high premium on ingenuity and originality would pull together this assembly ?And so it seems we can't escape God's call. "So lead a life worthy of the calling to which God has called you."
Called by God, and given Gifts. Given gifts is the second ingredient.
We don't respond to God's call, we don't come, and then go away empty handed, drained, or frustrated. But?we receive gifts and are energized.
"Each of us is given grace according to the measure of Christ's gift," Paul writes, and the gifts Jesus gives, are that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors, and some teachers. Those gifts sound much like roles played within the church, and in these days roles handled by ordained clergy and other church professionals. Paul was not speaking of that kind of hierarchy, but rather gifts that equip the saints (that's us) for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ which is The Church.
In other places Paul talks about more gifts given for the building-up of the body of Christ: gifts of generosity, gifts of compassion, gifts of leadership, gifts of wisdom, gifts of healing, and gifts of administration.
These lists are not exhaustive but merely suggestive.
Gifts of understanding and using technology. Gifts of teaching others technology. Gifts of music. Gifts of writing. Gifts of speaking. Gifts of planning. Gifts of following a plan. Gifts of cooking. Gifts of hospitality.
And isn't it especially exciting when folks are using their gifts for the church ? their neighbors?the community, and doing so with the knowledge of having been called - by God. The life-bringing, love kindling environment of Hanover flourishes (moves from 60% towards 95%) as we help one another identify our gifts and help one another discover places where those gifts might best be used to serve the church, our neighborhood, and the world.
And that brings us to the third ingredient of the thriving Hanover environment --
WE ARE A PEOPLE WHO ARE SENT.
with all humility and gentleness
With patience
Bearing with one another in love
Making every effort to maintain
the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace
WE ARE CALLED -
WE ARE GIVEN GIFTS -
WE ARE SENT.
What an environment. What an atmosphere.
Beginning tomorrow morning 5 Hanover members will spend one day a week in our church office using their gifts -
welcoming -
hosting -
secretarial ? organizing ? helping.
The five? Mondays: Ruth Howell, Tuesdays: George Turner, Wednesdays, Nancy Palmer, Thursdays: Thelma Meginniss, Fridays: Eleanor Warren.
I believe they are called by God to this service - and they do too. They are gifted people. And they are sent to these tasks? to serve Hanover. What a blessing for Hanover!
SEE the opportunities
HEAR GOD'S CALL.
SPEAK WORDS OF CARE AND
ENCOURAGEMENT
STRIDE OUT INTO THE WORLD WITH FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE.
And may you continue to recognize the power of God among you. Forever."
