Rector's Annual Report
Matthew 4:12-23 (Click on the scripture to read it)
Inquirer, Admirer, Follower
Today is a big playoff day in the National Football League, and the Super Bowl is
just around the corner. Because of that, you get a football sermon illustration.
Where I grew up, football was not just a sport, it was a religion. My earliest memory
of football was when I was 5 years old. I was the crown bearer for the high school homecoming coronation. High school homecoming was a really big deal for the
whole town, and the students got to vote on which Sr. boy and Sr. girl would be the homecoming king and queen. There were special floats, main street pep rallies, special performances, special music, special dresses and flowers, and a special arch that the king and queen got to walk through. This event could almost be compared to a wedding, and as the crown bearer of the big evening, I was the prince. (the prince got the chicken pox that night, but that’s a different story)
If you didn’t play football it was seen as if something was wrong with you; so many young boys were forced into service. As small children, we were inquirers about the football religion. We were given toy helmets and shoulder pads, which instantly got our attention. Initially we got to watch from a distance which led to us asking a lot of questions; learning the rules was important… no one wanted to get flagged for crossing the line.
As we grew up we became more than inquirers, we became admirers. We admired
the older players and we admired the way the really good players were honored and respected… you could almost say, they were worshiped.
As time went by, many admirers moved on into the next level and became true followers… These people lived and breathed football. They knew the history of the team…all the stats on the current players as well as players of long ago. They even,
on occasion, would stage a rebellion against the coach if things weren’t going as well as they had hoped. These were true followers of the high school football religion, and their king was only found on the Friday night grid iron.
Like in modern times, during John the Baptist’s and Jesus’ ministry there were a lot
of religious options out there. John had a loud voice and stirred up a multitude of inquirers. These inquirers came from all across Judea and gathered at the river Jordan, listening to this new message of repentance and learning the rules and expectations.
As people listened and learned, many became admirers of John. They found a sense of truth within his words, though to publicly commit to his teachings was dangerous…not knowing which secular or religious leaders were watching them. They admired John and his message, but being an actual follower was too much of a commitment.
Many did publicly commit and began to follow John’s message of repentance. Jesus was one of them; and upon his baptism into this message, the heavens opened up and the voice of God reigned down from the heavens saying, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”
In today’s Gospel, we hear that John has been arrested, and how Jesus stepped up to his commitment and began to proclaim a message of repentance,… but Jesus was called to be more than a just preacher… Jesus said, “Follow me”. Jesus invited people into a journey… a journey that transforms people from inquirers, to admirers, to followers.
Jesus said, “Follow me”.
As the rector of St. Paul’s, my responsibility today is to report to you the spiritual wellness of our parish. This is not an easy thing to do since looking well and being well are two different things.
As I have journeyed with this community since our last annual meeting, I have experienced excitement and energy, and I have witnessed so much goodness within these walls and a goodness that extends outward into the world. This goodness is healthy.
As I have personally struggled with stress from the financial difficulties of the parish,
I have found strength and comfort in experiencing your prayers for me. I have been invited into many of your struggles, and I have been allowed to walk by your side as Christ’s healing worked within you. Being open enough to reach out to others during times of need is healthy, and I have watched as you have asked for help and given help to each other... Reaching out to each other is good, reaching out is healthy.
I have experienced your generosity within our stewardship drive in response to your understanding that all we have comes from God and giving back to God is a part of following Christ. Offering our gifts back to God is good, this is healthy.
I have been a witness to the 22,627 people who were fed in 2010 through our food pantry, and I am witness to the $95,000 that was generated from this community to help the ministries of the diocese and to help those in need within and beyond our walls. Being the hands of Christ is good; being the hands of Christ is healthy.
I watch as St. Paul’s reaches out with sincerity to those whom God sends us; some of whom are inquirers of Christ, others who are admirers of Christ, and others who joined us as followers of Christ…not only followers, but leaders helping others on their journey. This welcoming of inquirers, admirers, and followers is good; welcoming people where they are is healthy.
By most outward and visible signs, I would say we are spiritually healthy, but I can only speak to what I am able to see… Only you know the spiritual wellness that is within you...only you know where you need to grow. Knowing and acknowledging your need for growth is good; responding to your need for growth is healthy.
My challenge to you for the coming year is twofold:
First I challenge you to be more present during worship. As I look through the attendance records of 2010, what I see on regular Sundays is a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs; peaks reaching the mid 160’s to the valleys of the lower 50’s. I have never been one to insist you be in church every week; it’s just not my thing… However, I know the importance of being spiritually healthy, and to become and remain spiritually healthy we must consistently come together and be fed by the Word and Sacraments. We must consistently come together and be fed by the Christ in each other.
The second part of my challenge is to not only be followers of Christ, but to call others into the journey. We all enter this journey as inquirers, we can become admirers, and I feel we all have a yearning to be followers. As followers of Christ we are called to invite people to St. Paul’s and to share our experience of the healing that Christ has to offer. Inviting people into the church is good; inviting people into a journey of faith is healthy.
May your year be blessed and may your spiritual journey be filled with much health
and goodness.
No comments:
Post a Comment