May 28, 2006, Seventh Sunday of Easter, Celebrating Pentecost, Confirmation and Youth Sunday
First Congregational Church in Thetford, Vermont, UCC
Acts 2:1-4, 43-47
I think some of those we confirmed today were surprised, if not shocked, to
find themselves saying yes, they would be confirmed. Confirmation classes often
struggle with concepts of God and church, but this class struggled more than most.
That is why I am especially happy that five out of six were confirmed—not
because it means that I overcame their doubts with the eloquence of my
explanations. That is not what happened, and it would not have made me happy if
it did.
The reason why I am happy is that the church will be a richer, stronger
place for the presence of these excellent doubters. I hope that the sixth member
will also stay involved in the church and youth group and we will have all six here
with all their theological struggles for years to come.
Let me shock you even more by saying that some of you are so passionate
in your doubts and struggles that I consider you to be good candidates to become
ministers someday. I encourage you to keep doubting, questioning, arguing and
struggling with God and church.
A Swahili song says, “ Life has meaning only in the struggle. Triumph or
defeat is in the hands of God, so let us celebrate the struggle.”
That song is about the struggle for freedom, justice and peace where
triumph and defeat are clear. In the spiritual life, it is wise not to judge or even
define triumph or defeat. The crucifixion proves that what feels like defeat may
turn out to be our greatest triumph. We cannot always know when we are winning
or losing, but we are well aware when we are struggling, and that seems to be what
most of us do most of the time in one way or another—struggling for love or
wisdom or peace. As the song says, we should celebrate that fact. The struggle is
what gives life meaning.
We cannot safely judge triumph and defeat, good luck or bad luck, but we
can see when good things come out of our struggle, and we should celebrate these,
too.
For all our struggle in this church, adults and youth alike, we have done
many good things. Jesus called them fruits—the work that we do—and said you
could judge a person or group by their fruits.
The fact that these five were confirmed today passes a judgment on the
fruits of our struggle in this church. Every year at the last meeting of the
confirmation class I ask that each person decide whether they will be confirmed or
not. This year as we went through the four questions of the ritual, they struggled
with their answers, as usual. But when we came to the fourth question—will you
participate in the life of this church—suddenly one member of the class burst out
with enthusiasm and clarity saying, “This is why I would want to be part of this
church even if I didn’t care about the Bible or Jesus. I would want to be a part of
this congregation because of what it does—all the ways it helps people, all the
money it raises for them, all the meals it makes, all the works for peace and
justice, all the youth programs. What this church does is amazing, and that is what
makes me want to join and be a part of it.”
I heard these words and felt so deeply moved I could not speak. Suddenly
ten years of struggle had so much more meaning: all that it took to become Open
and Affirming and Open to All; the hours and resources and hard work it has taken
to build our Calling and Caring and Youth programs; all the risks and
controversies we have gone though to promote justice and peace. When that
confirmation class member said those words, I saw that the fruit that our struggles
have yielded is even better than I thought. We have become a church that some of
our youth want to join because they want to be part of the good things they see us
do. They want to do them, too.
St. Francis of Assisi said, “Preach the gospel always. If necessary, use
words.” I don’t think we need many more words than that, other than to say, keep
preaching through your actions. Keep up the struggle. And to the confirmation
class, all six of you, I would say, stay involved here. Challenge us with your
questions and doubts, but also help this church do more of the kinds of things you
admire. Then others will see your light and be drawn here to join the struggle, just
as you have seen the light of others and have been inspired. This is the Spirit of
Pentecost. It is what happened in the first church. It is what is still happening
here today.
Preach the gospel always. If necessary, use words. Pass on the good
fruits that your struggles have born.
Let us pray in silence, asking the Holy Spirit to continue to guide and
empower us in the years ahead…
Sermon 05/28/2006