Why I Won’t Give Up On The Church!

Posted on June 14, 2011

Pentecost 2011                                               Acts 2:1-21; John 7:37-39

Yesterday was one of those days why I won’t give up on the Church.

To the eyes of the world, it looked simply like a long meeting to be sitting inside on a summer Saturday by a bunch of church people from all over south east Texas.  But to the “eyes of the heart” opened, it was something more…a glimpse of the Holy Spirit poured out upon the Church.  Forgive me for the length of this blog but it is the only way to describe this glimpse!

 Our congregation, hosted the meeting of the Presbytery of New Covenant , a group of 106 Presbyterian Churches spread out across 23,000 miles.  Last Fall, our Session said ”yes” to the gathering on June 11^th  even though it meant a lot of work to prepare and a lot of people to serve.  But thank God, Chuck Davidson said “yes” to serving as the chairperson of the Host Task group and Patti Nanney said “yes” to being Chuck’s “right arm” in organizing the details.  And,so many said “yes” when asked to serve!

Everywhere I looked yesterday, I could see the evidence of that response in the faith:        

 –The Presbytery was welcomed with new signs outside and inside; and  was greeted by our folks with smiles on their faces ready to help;

  –The flowerbeds around the church and the fresh cut flowers placed everywhere  inside had been lovingly arranged;

   –The windows had been washed, the carpet cleaned…even the carpet on the walls in the Educational Building; the tables and chairs wiped down and set, the lights brightened and the cool air everywhere turned on at 6:00am, ready to go;

–Even the sanctuary was de-cluttered and readied for company to        arrive… the  new audiovisual system installed, people trained to use it;  the communion table set, the candles lit, the banners hung; and the pew racks refilled & straightened;

All of these little details and more were given attention to that together made a profound statement of hospitality that went “the extra mile!”

Then at 7:00 yesterday morning, all of our volunteers began to arrive…each with an assignment made, a task to do, a place to serve, a gift to share…whatever it may be from those who parked the cars to those who opened the doors of the church; those who registered the commissioners for the meeting to those who served fresh baked goodies and cut fruit with coffee and juice; those who stood in our hallways to point the way and give information to those ready to give first aid if needed; from those who served as ushers and others who counted the offering to those who helped lead worship.

Everywhere I looked yesterday, people were serving and doing.  My heart runneth over with a great sense of joy. There was this uncanny sense like the flames of the candles dancing on the communion table, that the Spirit was dancing among us, and through us, and around us all! Even the commissioners noticed and commented,

                “Wow! How alive this church is!”

                “This church just warms my heart!”      

                “You all sure are passionate here!”

                “How open and friendly you all are!”

                “Y’all sure do make a stranger feel at home.”

  One even emailed me on the way back home saying,  I will send a more formal thank you to the session this week, but I cannot let tomorrow come and go without asking you to shower our (presbytery’s) gratitude for ALL that our wonderful friends at Spring Branch did to welcome the presbytery.  Today we were showered with your hospitality and kindnesses, and we are all still smiling!”

 This congregation made it possible for our Presbytery to come all together which it does four times a year to do ministry that, alone, we cannot do as well or not at all.

 The Presbytery meeting began with worship to the glory of God…and what glory was given yesterday with Kerry leading us in spirited music and liturgists who were from the various Presbyterian churches– including Iglesia Fuente de Esperanza, the Biyaya Community Church, the Thien An Vietnamese Church, the Pathways Chinese Church, the First African New Church Development and Spring Branch. Singing and praising God in our different languages—it was the experience of Pentecost!

There were over 250 commissioners and guests. Coming together, being many but one in Christ for ministry, in itself, was an experience of the Holy Spirit:   Together, we examined and approved three for ordination; blessed another for candidacy;  honorably retired two pastors and gave God thanks for their 60+ years of ministry; forged the way for a man to be a missionary in Peru; blessed a mission group to Guatemala;  welcomed the president of a Presbyterian Reformed seminary in Cuba and heard about the Church alive and growing; also we  heard an update of the Hurricane Ike Recovery with the Presbyterian Disaster relief efforts still happening — including        a family getting into a place to live just this past week; gave over $40,000 in Vision Grants to 5 congregations to inspire visionary ministry in their communities;   took up an offering for the Seafarers ministry in the port here that touched over 6,000 ships  and crews since last year; discussed and voted on an overture, a confession and a new Stated Clerk of the presbytery; AND said “yes” to the moderator’s Call to Prayer for 50 days for the Church!                      

We would have never been altogether if it was not for Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. We have too many differences, come from totally different walks of life, and cannot all agree on most things.  Yet we keep coming back together because it is not all about us, but rather what God is doing in us by the power of the Holy Spirit.  It is what John meant in his gospel that “out of the believer’s heart shall flow streams of living water!  But we would never have that experience if we had not said, “yes!”

 Hans Kung, in The Church, wrote:  The Spirit opens up for the believer the way to the saving action of God in Christ.  The Spirit does this not as a magic power which one cannot resist…but creates the possibility of each of us replying with a responsible and conscious affirmative.  The Spirit gives us, through the knowledge of the crucified Christ, the realization that in Jesus Christ, God acted for us. The Spirit is the “spirit of faith (II Corinthians 4:13; 5:5,7) The Spirit is not our own potential but entirely the gift, the power and the strength of God.              

 It is because of this kind of experience in the faith, that I won’t give up on the Church of Jesus Christ.  It is not about us but what God can do with the power of the Holy Spirit at work in us…and especially inspite of us!

     Almighty God, by the rush of a mighty wind, by the dancing of flames upon our souls, and by the language of every tongue among us, may Your Holy Spirit be poured out upon Your people this day like the day of Pentecost when the Church was born. In Christ’s name, we pray.  Amen!