Come-Be at Home Together

Grace and peace to you, my sisters and brothers in Christ, and I bring you greetings from Holy Spirit Lutheran, your fellow members of the Reading Lutheran Parish at 4^th and Windsor. My name is Pastor Carolyn and the first thing I want to share with you is that I am not “from here.” In fact we were joking before worship as someone asked me that exact question. It’s one of the ways we all start conversation with someone new. Are you “from here?” I am not. Most obviously because I am not your pastor here at Nativity. And in fact I have only been at Holy Spirit for 21 months. But I am also not from Reading, or even Berks County. And though I came here from Lancaster County, I learned that even though I lived there for 24 years that is not quite long enough to be from there either. In fact I have lived in three different states, and at about 15 addresses, and to be honest I am not sure where I would say I am from. All of our readings today lift up some aspect of the concept of “home.” For almost two years now, I can tell you that I consider Reading to be my home. We have been settling in to a new house, and a new neighborhood and settling in at the church, and as this has been happening in this part of our journey together, I am reminded of a quote from Martin Luther King, Jr. He was speaking to a group of high school students over 50 years ago as they were about to embark on the next part of their journeys, and trying to figure out how they fit into a changing world, and he said, “ We may all have come here on different ships, but we are in the same boat now. “  We are in the same boat now.

I think that not only could be said about our journeys, but also about the part of the Book of Acts we are catching up with today which begins, ironically with a ship story and a journey. Paul and his companions have been traveling around the Mediterranean, and while they have some ideas where they want to go, sometimes God redirects them. Traveling into parts of the world where seaports draw together people from lots of different places, and a mixing of ideas as well as trade. Many people drawn to a particular place from a variety of backgrounds and on journeys. The journey of the earliest followers continuing almost as incredibly as it began, when Jesus said, “Come, follow me.” Now in this chapter, Paul has a dream of a man saying, “Come, help us.” And on the strength of that alone, and very little concrete stuff, they embark upon a several days’ journey. And led by the Spirit, they encounter Lydia and her household and they baptize them.

And in baptism, though they have come on different ships, they are in the same boat now. And so it is for us. We are in the same boat, together with Christ in the power and work of the cross and in our baptism. Even your architecture reminds you- if you look up at those exposed beams that curve like the upended shape of a ship. We are in the boat together. And we as the churches of the Reading Lutheran Parish have been partnering together for a very long time. Recently the leaders of the churches here in the city met to ask the question where God is sending us together now? How can we continue to provide a strong Lutheran witness now? What ministries for the sake of the gospel should we undertake? As a part of that discernment, we are now creating a separate nonprofit group called Reading Lutheran Parish which will allow us to more effectively work together in shared ministries in addition to the ministries we undertake as individual congregations. It is another step in the journey. And in some ways this is already what we do. In fact, Nativity already plays a vital role in a ministry of Holy Spirit. Some of you may know, but others may not. Holy Spirit runs an afterschool program called the Doves Nest, three days a week during the school year in which we provide a meal afterschool, as well as homework and literacy tutoring, and other activities. Most of our food comes from the Food Bank, but on occasion we suspend that food because a yummy meal is provided by some of you here at Nativity. We always look forward to it and it is a real blessing! I want to share my thanks for your hospitality and your gift to others for the sake of the gospel. Everyone knows a home-cooked meal is best!

And today we are sharing in this Pastor Exchange with a chance to worship and share together. And I thank you for your hospitality to me today- pretty much a stranger-graciously receiving me, and providing assistance, a drink of cool water, and directions to the bathroom. Simple but gracious hospitality.  We really are in the boat together.

But as easily as I can say that, and it sounds wonderful, the truth is that sometimes we don’t want to be in the boat together. If you have ever been on the “too long vacation” or had the guests that stayed too long, you know. We know who we are supposed to be, but by nature we want our own space. Even Paul feels that way- Lydia’s invitation was not welcomed at first. Paul and his companions were kind of like, “No, that’s OK.” But she insisted. Just as the Spirit at work in Paul drives him to these new places, at the same time the Spirit at work in Lydia brings this surge of hospitality as she invites them to Come- Come to my house. And finally they give in.

And here is where I think that the Book of Acts gives us some useful lessons for our journey. Lydia’s invitation is more than “come to my house.” She is speaking about relationship. She’s saying- Come be at home.  In baptism we are in a new relationship. She is living that belief. Once my family and I were on one of those “too long” vacations to Prince Edward Island. Partway through we stayed at a bed and breakfast in farm country. And the owner had offered to make us dinner, pointing out that places to eat were few and far between. We reluctantly decided to say yes, and expected a simple meal. But he went out of his way- going to the dock for a bushel of fresh mussels, and to the next farm over for fresh dug potatoes, and to another friend for fresh wild blueberries to make a blueberry crisp. It was overwhelming hospitality for the couple days. But by the time we left we had this sense of belonging. We were changed. It felt like home.

Lydia’s hospitality to basically total strangers is an invitation to be “at home” together. It is a deepening of relationship through the Spirit. In baptism they and we are on a journey, but at the same time we are invited and empowered by the Spirit to be “at home” together. In Christ and with each other. It is a deeper understanding of “home.”  We who believe that Christ is with us, are empowered to live into the notion that while we are on a journey, we are at home because “home” is wherever God calls us and wherever God finds us. *

As we continue on together as the Reading Lutheran Parish and in our congregations, I pray that God will continue to draw us deeper into the notion of being “at home” in Christ together. AMEN.

* Thanks to Dr Kristin Johnston Largen for her work on the concept of "home" and being at home in the world published in the Spring 2013 Seminary Ridge Review of Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary!

 

Riding the Wave of the Spirit

A year ago today at about this time, I graduated from Seminary and I had no idea who Matt and Carson were. But the Spirit was at work and today one year later, I can say that I’m ordained so that I can baptize my neighbors-Lyle and Dexter- because the flow of the Spirit brought us together in this place. During the Sundays of Easter we’ve begun each week with Thanksgiving for Baptism. As our worship has begun, we’ve turned and faced the font where for us, God has spoken. We’ve watched the water flow and we’ve let the words pour over us. Let’s go back to those words and let them soak in- recall and give thanks for God’s work in the Spirit poured out in water and the word.

If we listen we hear beautiful, stirring language that recalls God in great water stories- “ in the beginning the Spirit moved over the waters” and created, bringing order out of chaos and sprouting forth new life in abundance. “God spared Noah and his family” from being swept away by raging water. God commanded the waters to stand back! And delivered the people out of captivity and into freedom. These are Cecil B De Mille epic movie images.

We’ve also been giving thanks for the gift of baptism for us- through which we share in Jesus’ death on the cross, but also in salvation, cleansing and new life. As you listen to the words, can you hear God’s love splashing forth everywhere, as we listen to the water pouring out of the pitcher? I really hope so.

Yet, I must confess to you that as captivating as this can be most weeks, as I am holding the very full pitcher, I’m keenly aware that water is just about to burst forth and it just might splash everywhere. Especially today as I’m feeling a little jet lagged and the pitcher is heavier than I remembered. It’s the same feeling perhaps you’ve had holding a pitcher of ice water, when you’re sure the ice will all jam up, and you just know that then the water will fly, not just out of the spout. But over and around it. Splashing everywhere!

It's seems to be on the verge of being reckless and messy. A little chaotic and out of control. There are moments when the thought going through my head is what if I can’t hold back the water? What if it really does go everywhere?

This is the dilemma that we hear of in the early church in our lesson from the Book of Acts- what if this CAN’T be contained? The verses we hear are part of an ongoing saga that’s been unfolding ever since the moment the risen Jesus appears to the disciples and breathes the Spirit into their midst. Then Saul has a dramatic conversion as the result of a vision, and Peter has a dream that leads him to a place he never imagined. And each finds himself in a place where he comes to realize that God’s point is not about asking them to hold back the water, or “protect” the Spirit. In fact, they’re being challenged to get out of the way of the flow.

While these verses seem to show us mere moments in the flow of time, they were dramatic changes that probably felt nothing like the orderly progression of the development of faith. They probably felt much more like trying to ride a giant wave.

I don’t know if you have ever tried to ride the waves, but in my younger days at the shore, I did. And I learned it’s tricky business. If you fight the flow, it ends up badly, and you find yourself stranded, or pounded into the sand, wondering what went wrong. But if you hit it right, it’s an amazing ride. It’s exhilarating though short, and the best moments come when it’s obvious you’re just letting it happen.  Whenever I listen to people talk about Spirit-led moments in their lives, it sounds like this. Moments where in spite of our limits, or biases or fears, the Spirit enables us to see God and takes over our lives. This is what the imagery of the roaring wind, the rushing breath and the all consuming fire intend to depict- power and presence beyond our grasp.

Even so, no matter how often we hear these stories, our natural inclination tends to be more like Peter and Saul and to fight the flow. And maybe even grimace when we hear that the pouring out of the Spirit is not according to our dispensing instructions. The pouring out of the Spirit isn’t like using an eyedropper and selectively parsing out here and there as we wish. It really is that giant out of control wave. One that will toss us around whenever we too say things like “ anyone but THEM!” And God’s real answer to the question of whether anyone can hold back the water is NO!
To proclaim we believe in the power and presence of such a Spirit means we are challenged to trust that the same God who created order out of chaos also offers the way and the hope we need to live in spite of the tension. It’s found in Jesus’ words- “Abide in me.” The vision and the dream of these words is a wonderful new relationship, yet one that is seen most fully when we lay aside our lives as we envision them- for a love as all encompassing as the Spirit. “Abiding with” is deeper than just putting up with- it’s swimming in the same water with those whose lives look nothing like the life we want to abide in. The only way we can do it is by that same Spirit.

As we’re again reminded of this all encompassing love for us and an equally broad call to mission, the best place to become is empowered is in remembering with thanksgiving the work of the Spirit in us, and the power of that Spirit continually poured out over us. Perhaps I’m biased, but for me the clearest image of this comes by seeing the Spirit as a mothering influence. Part cheerleader, part nurturer, part comforter. Part “get off your butt and clean up this mess I’m tired of living in.” Add a dash of “you did what?!”

But then add the phrase that I’ve said more than once as a Mom- “not everything can be fixed, but there is nothing that can’t be forgiven.” Because everyday I am swept away by how much I love you. “I’ll help get you there.”

This is how I envision the Spirit and what I remember when I give thanks for baptism.  And I believe that God uses the love of mothers and others to show us this- in times that kind of love has swept over us; times we’ve abided things for those we love; and times when the Spirit has enabled us to set aside the “Me” for a deeper love together in Christ.

That same love must flow forth beyond us,

as the Spirit continues to move in us and through us.

Today the Spirit pours, or perhaps better, gushes forth, not only in our memory but as we pour the water and word over Lyle and Dexter in baptism. It’s a day for which the Spirit has been at work. Today it’s more than a dream or a vision, it’s a loving reality. As we hear God say- I chose you. And God has chosen each of us and chooses all people. Words that lead to the water. Water that speaks of the Word.

May we celebrate this day! And continue to ride where the Spirit is flowing. It’s the ride of our lives. It may sometimes be chaotic, uncontrolled or even messy. But as one of my classmates has said- we take the ride. And then one day it hits us- we wake up and see- that the Spirit has poured all our waves together and we’re really all awash in God’s giant sea.

Then our joy will be complete.

Amen