Reverend Ref +

SERMON
EPIPHANY 2B
JOHN 1:43-51

Another year has passed us by and a new one is just beginning. After the service today, we will gather in the parish hall for brunch and our annual meeting. We will take a look back on 2005 and we will make some projections about 2006. We will give thanks for those who have served and welcome those who have chosen to take on a larger role.

2005 was my first full year as a priest and it was my first full calendar year here. Rick and Dena were married and have become a vital part of our congregation. The labyrinth was installed and is being used by a variety of people in the community. The spring clean-up was a success. Our website is up and running. Our average Sunday attendance is up from 14 to 17. Mike and Kim, Alice, and Jerry and Judy have become active members of the church, and several others are attending service and discerning their role in God's life and in the life of this parish. As the sign out front says, "You are welcome here," and I, for one, appreciate your presence in whatever shape that takes.

We also have room for improvement and oppportunities that challenge us. The building is in need of a paint job and probably new carpeting. It definitely needs a new roof. At this point in time, stated pledges are down considerably from last year; but I believe that that is due more to forgetfulness than an actual decline in pledges. I would also like us to find our niche in the community. Our niche, by the way, is not to compete with the church at the other end of town. We need to find what we are passionate about, as a community or as individuals, find a way to make that happen, and then let God handle the details.

"If you build it, they will come." What do we want to build? When the Bishop was here, he talked about creating as many doors as possible that give people access to our comunity. What old doors do we have that need to be unlocked? What new doors do we need to install?

In the summer of 2004, we developed a 5-point mission statement. Can anyone recite those five points? If you need help, look at the back of your bulletin. They are Invite, Include, Inform, Proclaim and Rejoice. Both our successes of last year and our opportunites in the upcoming year can be tied into those five points. Better yet, those five points can be tied directly back into today's gospel; talk about good timing.

In the first sentence of today's gospel, Jesus says, "Follow me." He is inviting Philip into his midst. In John's gospel, the first thing Jesus does after being baptized is to invite people to join him. The majority of people who walk through our doors will do so because they have been invited. Whether we are talking about Sunday service or a program of some sort or a special event, we must invite people to join us.

The second point, to include people in the life of the church, can be seen at the very end of today's passage: And Jesus said, "You will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending uon the Son of Man." This vision wasn't for everybody to see. This vision was meant for somebody who would be included in the ministry of Jesus and who would later become an apostle. We may not be able to make the heavens open, but think about how we can include people. We ask them to bring food to receptions, sign up for coffee hour, read, be on the vestry, participate in worship, and the list goes on. We include people by extending an invitation and opening doors; it may not be opening the heavens, but that doesn't mean it is any less amazing.

The third point is to inform people. Jesus informed Nathanael that he had seen him under the fig tree before Philip had called him. Jesus told him where he had been in the past and that information shaped his future. We inform people in a variety of ways. One way is through my sermons and coffee hour discussions. It also happens when we tell people why we attend church. And it happens when we sit with visitors and show them which book to use and when.

Our fourth point is to proclaim the gospel. Philip proclaimed the Messiah to Nathanael when he said, "We have found him . . ." How do we proclaim him? When we invite people, do we mention that God is doing something different and important in our lives? You can look around this place and see that God is active and doing something different and importnat. Proclamation isn't standing out on the corner with a sign that says, "REPENT!!" Proclamation is our response to the question, "Why do you go to church?" You should spend some time with that question and develop your own answer.

Finally, rejoice. Nathanael rejoiced that he had found the Son of God. How do we rejoice? Are we excited about a new life found in Christ? Are we happy to be at church? Can visitors pick up on our joy? Or is showing up just an old habit? There's a reason that I make you repeat a response if I don't think you are joyful enough. True, we Episcopalians don't like to get out of line, but try not to forget that we CELEBRATE the Holy Eucharist. Show some enthusiasm!

So let's take this opportunity to find new doors to open and invite people in, find ways to include people and make them feel useful, help inform people about our past and future, proclaim the gospel and rejoice in our life in Christ. We are making progress and we have a lot of work to do yet, but that's what makes this fun. It's going to be an exciting year . . . are you ready?