"Communion Meditation"
Sermon Transcript for May 2, 2004
By Rev. Mike Beck
Before I begin my message I want to promote something that I think we at Grace have not taken much advantage of, as we should. Mickey and I had the privilege during the first ten years of our marriage twice to share in a marriage enrichment weekend. We give lip service to how important our marriages are, but then if we would look at our calendar to see how much time we invest in improving our communication skills which are so important in marriage we find that its one of those things that one of these days I’ll get around to it. Keith and Marilyn we are happy to have your friends with us this weekend. Keith and Marilyn will be leading a Marriage Enrichment Workshop later in May. There will be another one in October. These workshops are for persons who have good marriages and want to make them better. They are for people who have been married one year, 25 years, or 60 years. So let me encourage you to pick up one of those brochures—make that investment. And then on a humorous note, Mickey and I have never spent four months in close proximity together. Keith and Marilyn, we’ll probably be more than ready for your workshop in October.
I want to begin with some words of thanksgiving. First of all for the good results that have come from my surgery in January, for your many prayers. It has been six months since my last Botox injection. My voice is still pretty functional. That’s twice as long as I’ve ever gone before and even if a periodic small dose of Botox is needed, things are greatly improved. And I give thanks to God. I want to give thanks to God for the energy that God has given me in this past month to launch and to provide some initiative for some important ministry that we wanted to implement during 2004. God has given me the energy to get that done, to unleash the very creative lay people and staff people to carry on.
I want to give thanks to you, the congregation, for the permission that you have given Mickey and I to take advantage of this opportunity. For, friends, there are far more churches than you will ever know whose pastors have gone to the church governing body to ask permission to apply for this grant and the church has said, “No, wait a couple of years. Wait until your next appointment”. And I would be very remiss not to give thanks to the Lilly Foundation that has provided funds for us to do things that we never would have dreamed of being able to do. If Lilly were suddenly removed from the face of the earth it would take only a couple of years to realize the contributions this company makes to colleges, to our churches, and to our community.
We are looking forward with great anticipation to these coming four months. We are also approaching those four months with a sense of commitment to having time to do some things to improve physical health, to take time for rest, to take time for reflection. We have a commitment to make those four things for your sake in our continued years of ministry here at Grace all that God intends it to be. It comes at a good time. Over the last 13 years as I have handled the voice problems, we have made 70 trips to Nashville, Tennessee for Botox injections with all of the ups and downs that go with those treatments. We have had four surgeries at Nashville during that time. The churches we have served have had two capital campaigns, two building programs. God has been incredibly faithful during these 13 years. His grace is always sufficient. But having said that, I’m thrilled with 10-15 years remaining to have this opportunity for physical, for emotional, for spiritual renewal. Because we have some District Superintendents in this congregation that know that because pastors never had a chance for this kind of experience, all too many pastors the last ten years of their ministry are just spent doing maintenance counting down the days until they can retire. The purpose of the Lilly Grant is to renew my passion for those 10-15 years of ministry that remains.
I want to say a word to you as a church. For you, during the next four months, will grow as well. I probably feel as good about the health of our church as any time in the seven years that I have been here. We have an excellent staff and lay leaders. Buildings are going to be going up while I am gone and can I be real honest for a minute, that doesn’t bother me a bit. To come back and see it pretty well completed—Dan it will be a learning experience. But we have the finest Building Committee I have ever had the privilege to work with. That’s going to go well. In the new Barnabas Fellowship Teams that we have just launched within the last month, are committed, excellent lay leaders. And I leave you for four months with all the confidence in the world that you have a man of God in your Associate Pastor and his family that will carry on in a wonderful way.
You are going to experience a lot of variety in preaching. And that’s a good thing! Cliff Cain, a Chaplain at Franklin College, will be here to preach next weekend. Cliff is a wonderful speaker. During the month of June, again thanks to funds the church has received from the Lilly Endowment, Dr. Ken Gatehorn and Dr. Ron Krandall will be here, each of them, to teach over two weekends on themes related to what I am studying. There will be books in the near future for you to pick up and read related to the study that I am doing.
The Biblical background for a clergy renewal leave is found in two places. It’s found in the biblical understanding of Sabbath, which we so often in our hurried society neglect. This quote from the “Guide to Sabbaticals Planning” says for the Jews the emphasis of Sabbath is on rest and playfulness. It is a time to study, to sing, to dance, to celebrate. And then listen closely and to reflect on what the previous six things have been. Jesus in his ministry spent countless hours with His disciples and with the multitudes teaching. But then over and over again in the gospels you read phrases that sound like this, “And Jesus withdrew himself from the multitudes and went up into the hills to be alone and pray.” This reading was sent to me by Mary Steedman several months ago. I will make copies of it for you so that you can pick it up. They will be on the table next weekend. They are very profound words which all of us need to hear. I plan to read these words at the beginning of each morning. I’d like to share them with you now. Whoever the author was wrote this:
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Take nothing for
granted. Watch water flow and corn grow. The leaves blow and your neighbors mow. Allow yourself time to be lazy and unproductive. Rest isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity. Listen to the wind blow for it carries a message yesterday and tomorrow and now--and now counts. Rest on your laurels; they bring comfort whatever your size, age, or condition. Talk slower, talk less, and don’t talk at all. Communication isn’t measured by words. Give yourself permission to be late sometimes for life is for living not scheduling. Listen to the song of the bird, a complete song. Music and nature are gifts but only if you are willing to receive them. Slow down, God is still in heaven. You aren’t responsible for doing it all yourself right now. Remember a happy, peaceful time in your past. For each moment has richness but it takes a lifetime to savor. Quit planning how you are going to use what you know you are to possess for God’s gifts just are. Be grateful when their purpose will be clear. When you talk to someone, don’t think about what you will say next. Thoughts will spring up naturally if you will let them. Talk and play with children. It will bring out the unhurried little person in you. Create a place in your home, at work, in your car where you can go for quiet recollection. You deserve it! Take time to think. Action is good and it is necessary. But it is fruitful only if we use and ponder and mull over it. Take times to play the things you like to do. For whatever your age, your inner child needs re-creation. Watch and listen to the night sky. It speaks. Listen to the words you speak especially in prayer. Learn to stand back and let others take their turn as leaders. For there will be always new opportunities for you to step out in the front again. Divide big jobs into little jobs. If it took God six days to create the universe, why do you think you can do it better? Direct your life with purposeful choices, not for speed and efficiency. For the best musician is one who plays with expression and meaning, not one who finishes first. Take a day off alone. Make a retreat where you can learn from drunks and hermits without becoming one. Pet a furry friend. You will get and give a gift. Work with your hands. (Bob, I intend to do that.) It frees the mind. Take time to wonder. Without wonder, life is merely an existence. Sit in the dark. It will treat you to see and to hear, taste and smell. And once in a while, turn down the lights. Withdraw the invitations for less to really be more. Thank God. Nothing is usually the hardest thing to do, but it is often the best. Taste your food. God gave it to delight as well as to nourish. Notice the sun and the moon as they rise and set. They are remarkable for their steady power and movement. And as you ramble on through life, my dearest friends, keep your eye on the doughnut and not upon the hole. And slowly count your blessings one at a time. Thanks to you, Mickey and I intend to do that in a very wonderful way these next four months.
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