Annual Meeting Epiphany 3 C Going His Way

 Annual Meeting Epiphany 3 C Going His Way

January 26, 1992

By Rev. Ernest F. Campbell

I’ve been a priest for 40 years and I’ve been to my share of annual meetings. To be perfectly

honest, I have not particularly enjoyed the responsibility of standing in front of a widely

diversified, and in some cases, highly opinionated group of vote packing parishioner who now

have the opportunity to talk back. I used to have this nightmarish fantasy that someone would

jump up at the meeting and tear into something, or somebody, or me with breath taking

precision. It never happened. In forty years, it never happened. But I submit to you that chairing

the annual meeting was for me an annual test of my faith. I can see our Lord smiling at me, a

teacher of faith, and saying, “Remember: I am with you always… no matter what… even at

annual meetings.”

The annual meeting, as I remember, with the smallest attendance, was at St. marks in Evanston,

Ill. There the Rector insisted that everyone read their report word… for…. word. can you

imagine how stimulating that would be, in the month of January, in a dimly lit, overheated room?

In contrast, the Annual Meeting at St. George’s in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was “standing room

only.” I remember a new parishioner arriving a little late and wondering if in fact this could be at

the church annual meeting. What drew them out? Each year, before the meeting called to order,

the members of the parish presented a highly entertaining musical in which the clergy always has

a part.

I think what I’ve learned is that Annual Meetings are serious business, but it helps if we don’t

take ourselves too seriously. We are finite human beings, and it is not easy for finite human

beings to come up with divine leaders, who produce a divine budget, which supports a divine

program. The challenge, it seems to me, is that working together as God’s people, we can, with

God’s help, move in the direction of being God’s church. (We are always somewhere on a

continuum called “being the Church of God”)

In a few days our President, George Bush, will deliver his ‘State of the Union’ address. I would

predict, given some of the domestic problems we face, that a lot of Americans will be listening.

If the speech goes according to form, the President will point out some directions that he and his

advisor believe will get this country back up to speed. After his speech, critic will tell us what

they liked or didn’t like about the Presidents ideas. Some of the criticisms will be along the lines

of reason, and some will be along the line of political posturing. Finally, after the speech and

after the critic, the work of implementing the ideas begins. Words (as we know) without hands

and feet and hearts, are merely… words.

    Ex) Peanuts Cartoon – Charlie Brown and Linus tell a shivering Snoopy who is sitting in the

            snow, to “Be of good cheer.” And then walk away… leaving Snoopy just the way they found

            him.

Words without action… promises without delivery bear cruel fruit.

In todays Gospel, at the very outset of His ministry, our Lord reveals the true identity and

mission of the Messiah. The Messiah’s mission will be: to free humanity from every sort of

oppression. Wherever people are being unjustly kept down, there is our mission… in the name of

Christ….to respond. We are called with Christ, to be liberators.

If the people at the bottom of the hill eat the garbage of the people who live at the top of the hill,

while the people at the top of the hill will not lift a finger to give some aid and encouragement to

those less fortunate… or…. worse smother their hope; there is a call for the followers of Christ to

put words, our Lord’s words…. God’s words …in to action!

The messiah’s mission will be: to heal those who have been afflicted. A Lutheran pastor wrote:

“Giving money to good charities is a wonderful step, but should never be a substitute for

pursuing power of governmental justice in the world… in the long run, justice is much more

potent than financial charity.

Ex) St. Geroge’s and Minnesota’s drunk driving laws. [a St. Geroge’s parishioner lost both legs

when they were crushed by a car being driven by a drunk driver]

When we know in our hearts that there is a better way, a more just… fair way to live in our

society; there is a call for the followers of Christ to put words into action.

The Messiah’s mission will be: to set captives free. Captives of destructive addictions… captives

of pride, anger, lust, envy, gluttony.

Whenever we see desperate people trying to make themselves worthy by devious means (the

seven deadly sins), there is a call for the Followers of Christ to bring others to know their

worthiness in Christ.

Jesus is God spilling Himself out in language that man can understand. Jesus is His word!

The Vestry, and Vestry elect, have the responsibility to see that his place functions: to keep the

building in repair, and to see that the staff, and the bills, get paid. But… there is also a

responsibility to follow Christ in His mission to free humanity from oppression… to heal the

afflicted, and to set captives free. We are called to be His word!

As we stay close to Jesus Christ; His word, and His people, His Sprit, will show us those needs,

and provide the means by which we can put His words into action.