Sermon preached by Rev. Robert Undercuffler
Hanover Presbyterian Church
18th Street and Baynard Boulevard
Wilmington, Delaware
November 12, 2006
Why I Support Hanover
Stewardship Sunday
Why I Support Hanover!
And I'm not talking only about money. Perhaps not even especially about money support -
But why I speak well of Hanover.
Why I give time and energy. Support committees and task forces.
Visit. And then too, why I give money?
Why I am held in Hanover's grasp.
In the first place, I support Hanover
because you are a HOSPITABLE people.
It is my observation - yes, even more my experience that Hanover folks don't try to "change" people but you provide a safe place and space where new people are met, new ideas tested and new ways tried. There is an over-arching and often overwhelming spirit of welcome in this place.
For example - in early October - we had a new twist at the Hanover Clothes Closet. (They meet every Wednesday morning and have been doing so for years.)
The first Wednesday in October a mini Health Fair with
health displays, and blood pressure and ? depression
screening was included.
When I first learned of this plan I thought, "Who in the world will come for depression screening?" I know "those people" ? they simply want to pick up some free clothes and shoes.
Well, it was a remarkable morning - people walking around, reading the displays, speaking with one another -- drinking coffee.
Alice Davis was leading some activities with the little children who came and also she translated for several Spanish speaking adults.
Pat Undercuffler was taking blood pressures and talked with folks about what those blood pressure numbers mean and what they can do to improve the numbers.
As I sat in the lounge for my blood pressure test and listened to Pat tell me how I can improve my numbers?
I looked around me and marveled - There was Dan Leep - having a conversation with a woman who came for depression screening. She had heard from a neighbor down Jefferson Street that this opportunity was available at Hanover and she hurried over to take part.
Seven people came and sat down with Dan and talked about depression. And that day over fifty people participated in the Health Fair.
That hospitable Hanover is the place I know and love.
That's why I support Hanover.
In addition, I support Hanover because you help me - and you help one another -- to listen for TRUTH with our hearts.
Hanover engages both our brains and our hearts. And we do this together within community - in groups.
A Hanover member said to me, following a Hanover Women's Bible Study, "You help me think and so to see Bible passages in new ways ? Tom did that too - and you invite us to learn from one another. To question - risk - and grow.
An "in" word these days is DISCERNMENT. At Hanover we are not told what to believe, but we are introduced to sisters and brothers who are on a journey seeking to be faithful and through them and with them -- -
by studying scripture ? considering our confessions ?
reflecting on the lives of faithful people ? we discern the
call of God for our own lives.
This seeking - discerning Hanover is the place I know and love.
That's why I support Hanover.
Further, I support Hanover because here HEALING is recognized, honored and celebrated. Healthy bodies - and minds --- and spirits.
Yes, Hanover has Parish Nurses, and Yoga classes ? Mini Health Fairs and consultations about medications and presentations and luncheons featuring such health issues as Diabetes.
Hanover has Deacons who reach-out and connect and listen and who pray with us and for us. And we also have this -
Two weeks ago Bob Matteson, Peg Green and I took Communion to 14 Hanover Homebound. Among those, we visited Peg Bogart who is in the nursing home at Foulk Manor. We were met there by her Deacon, Jean Gross. Jean visits with Peg consistently. Peg cannot hear and is slowly going blind.
Jean patiently wrote-out thoughts and questions on a white board - in big letters - Peg slowly, even painfully responded.
And then Peg began to sing - "Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love." We tried our best to sing along with her. Our song was choked-back by tears.
I believe that was a moment of profound healing - for Peg -
for Bob and Jean, and certainly for me too.
We were all touched by something deeper and more
rich than words -
-- The spirit of God who makes all things new.
This place of healing - this healing fellowship is the place -
is the fellowship I know and love. That's why I support Hanover.
In addition -- I support Hanover because among this fellowship DIVERSITY is prized and celebrated.
No, we are not perfect in our Diversity. But actually, in none of these practices of Hanover are we PERFECT. And each of us is at a different place on the Journey. Certainly, that is a part of our Diversity.
Yes, it can be argued that Hanover's Diversity is more a matter of TOLERATION.
Or does Hanover gladly welcome DIVERSITY?
Here's the way I see it. At times and for some people toleration is all that can be managed. For others, glad welcome for all is their way.
But for most of us we walk, and at times stumble, along that continuum between Toleration and Glad, Wholehearted Welcome.
Other churches I have served - and attended say, "We are diverse, meaning young and old and middle age -- liberals and conservatives -- middle class and upper middle class all find a home among us.
But at Hanover we know our diversity transcends all that. But yet we feel bound within this congregation. We have experienced friendship, affirmation, challenge, opportunity from all directions. -
? We find us all singing with Peg Bogart "Blest Be the Tie that Binds our Hearts in Christian Love"
And we know that for hearts to be truly bound is a struggle that includes fear and frustration - keen listening not just to words and concepts - but to hearts aflame with hurt and with hope.
-- Joyfully responding to God's creative ingenuity.
This Diverse community is the fellowship I know and love. That's why I support Hanover.
And -- I support Hanover because the quest for JUSTICE for all God's people flames in our bones.
From the time The Female Harmony Society was founded and advocated for and gained public education for all Delaware children - to the 50's and 60's when Hanover leaders and members sat-in to advocate for open public accommodations - through the 1980's when Hanover, led by Advance - took actions to control the use of marijuana at bus stops and on the school buses rode by our children?
Into the new millennium working for justice with Jews and Muslims, Bahis and Sikhs.
At Hanover there continues to be a spirit of fairness that seeks to engage the powers that be, transforming the "inner spirit" of systems of injustice, violence and exclusion.
Here at Hanover Justice is sought through the linking of hands-on service, mission and active engagement in the life of our neighborhood, the city - and the world.
This Justice-embracing community is the fellowship I know and love. That's why I support Hanover.
Further -- Here at Hanover WORSHIP is not a battle between contemporary vs. traditional ways.
Over the years Hanover has faithfully practiced an enlivening approach in worship - not only to discover how people can "experience God" together ? but how a broadening band of people can praise God together.
?Not in separate enclaves such as 9:30 contemporary praise worship (which, we assume) will appeal to younger people) and 11:00 traditional worship. (which will appeal (we assume) to our continuing members)
The God we worship is not satisfied with categories such as contemporary versus traditional but our God desires worship that binds us together.
Worship that is a rich expression of our faithful community.
Worship to lift the heart ? soul ? strength and mind - and our voices, too.
This Worshipping community of Hanover is the fellowship I know and love. That's why I support Hanover.
Then too - I support Hanover because of the beauty of this place.
Observe the beauty?.
Stained glass - Jesus, the good shepherd.
A window or two along the sides.
The arching structure -
Look behind you - the organ - the wood -
the pipes - the sound.
The beauty of the music -flutes and strings - sometimes trumpets At other times, drums and harp.
Best of all - the beauty of the people. People hoping - helping -
Some have it all together - at least for this week -
Others broken - hurting - longing for healing.
And we all sing ? "Blest be the tie that Binds" -
"Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness," the psalmist sings. The beauty of this place - the beauty of this people is why I support Hanover.
This sermon has grown out of author Diana Butler Bass' identification of 10 practices of vital mainline denominations, drawn from her study of 50 U.S churches that was funded by the Lilly Endowment,
I have lifted up 7 of these practices that are especially evident at Hanover?a vital congregation, indeed.
The 3 additional practices awaiting concerted attention by Hanover are REFLECTION, TESTIMONY and SILENCE.
1. REFLECTION, Diana Butler Bass asserts, is a means of engaging heart and mind, not pitting them against each other. Emerging churches are not afraid to question the gap between human knowledge and God. It's an essential part of the process. Pastoral Assistant Rick Hay's Adult Church School class cultivates this reflective approach and helps participants grow faith in the midst of questions.
2. TESTIMONY, as described by Bass, is among the most democratic and empowering of practices. She writes, testimony is a way for everyday Christians to attest to what early Christians knew - the transformative power of God. Many Hanover members have experienced in their lives the rejuvenating, life-changing power of God, but have difficulty putting that into words. We are private people. Or too modest.
3. SILENCE, meditation and contemplation have new followings in emerging churches, according to Diana Butler Bass. She notes that many churches practice silence at board meetings, prayer meetings, Bible studies, Labyrinth walks, yoga classes and discernment groups. Hanover people like to talk. Enough said.
A gentle spiritual Hanover members love to sing is;
There's a sweet, sweet spirit in this place,
And we know it is the Spirit of the Lord.
There are sweet expressions on each face,
And we know they feel the presence of the Lord.
Sweet Holy Spirit. Sweet Heavenly Dove.
Stay right here with us, filling us with your love;
And for these blessings we lift our hearts in praise,
Without a doubt we'll know that we have been revived
When we shall leave this place.
This Hanover fellowship, friends and allies bound together and empowered by the Spirit of the living God, is why I love Hanover. Why Pat and I support Hanover. Together, we live. United, we grow.
In the name of God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
