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Back to Sermon ArchivesJuly 5,
2009
Rev. Judith Bither
“See, I Am Doing a New Thing”
God is so amazing, full of surprises and always doing a new
thing if we have eyes to see, ears to hear and an inner sense of knowing.
This day is one of new beginnings for both of us—pastor and congregation. What new
thing does God have planned for us in this place? I’m excited to find out! In the
scripture today from that last part of Revelation we are given a hopeful image of
a future time. "And the one who was seated on the throne said, 'See, I am making
all things new'.
In this vision of John of Patmos, God proclaims something
we mortals have a difficult time comprehending. God does not say, "See, I am
making all things better." God does not say, "See, I am making all
things bigger . . . " or "different" or "beautiful"
or, even, "perfect." God does not say, "See, I am changing
all things." God says, "See, I am making all things new; see I am doing
a new thing."
God is saying that everything we have understood about the
creation where we are currently living will be no longer valid. God is describing
the creation the prophets were trying to tell us about when they spoke about the
lion lying down with the lamb.
This is the creation that doesn't make any sense under the
rules as we understand them. This is the creation that Jesus was trying to explain
to us when he talked about the owner of the vineyard hiring the workers at different
times of day, but paying them all the same (abundant) wages, and about the first
being last, and about a servant-ruler. This is the creation that just doesn't compute
in our worldly economies or earthly power structures.
It's hard for us to understand this new universe because
we have only our human experience to inform us. No matter how hard we try, we can't
imagine something beyond the laws of physics of the universe where we live. We may
think we are imagining truly new things, but I defy you to start from nothing and
create something that you don't have to describe as "like an armadillo but with
eight arms and fur." But new means a creation without fur or eight or
sound, and we simply can't get there from here via our brain synapses and neurological
pathways! "And the one who was seated on the throne said, 'See, I am making all
things new'."
It has been a ritual of mine to give each member of the congregation
a different and unique word at the beginning of every liturgical season. I ask people
to look up the word in the dictionary even if they think they know the meaning;
to hold this word in prayer throughout the season and hear how God might be speakingthrough
this word. No two words are alike. I could tell you many amazing stories about what
these words have produced, but you will have your own stories soon enough. This
past Lent the sermon series was on The Big Questions of Faith,(such as “Why
does God allow evil?”)so the words were each written on a question mark. I reached
into the basket that first Sunday of Lent and the word new was written on
the question mark. Ha, I thought, what could possibly be new in my life as I approached
the end of my 50s? But I put the word on my desk where I could ponder it anew
everyday.
A few weeks later I had a dream that woke me up and I wrote
about it in my journal:
The night before last I had a very vivid dream that
I gave birth to a 9-pound boy. I delivered him myself. I woke up wondering what
is about to be born in my life. The District Superintendent called me a few
hours later and asked if I were to move this year, where would I not serve.
I told him Nevada or further south in the Valley.
Did I want to move, I wondered? The questions for
me become: can I start over here with a healthier schedule so I’m not killing
myself? Can I make the necessary changes in my personal life that would include
exercise and a healthier schedule? My entire life I have looked for geographical
solutions, so that’s what I am tempted to do once again. What is Godtrying to
birth anew in my life? Is it about ‘here’ or somewhere new?
I didn’t think much about it for the next six weeks as I
became immersed in Lent and then Holy Week. On the Monday night after Easter I received
a call from the District Superintendent, Jerry Smith who said he was calling on
behalf of the Bishop to ask me to serve as the pastor at 1st United Methodist
Church, Reno. I was literally speechless. I thought I had made it clear that if
I were to move it would be closer to my family in Sacramento. He told me told that
Reno was “only” 135 miles from Sacramento. Jerry explained to me why the
cabinet thought I am the pastor needed in Reno. His argument was compelling, but
I was still skeptical. My only images of Reno came from driving through it on my
way to somewhere else. I thought of casinos and wedding chapels. He described another
side that sounded intriguing and a community that matched many of the ideals of
a place where I wanted to live:
a university church with a variety of arts and music
venues; small independent shops and restaurants and a church who describe
themselves as “Progressive and reconciling with a heart for mission.”
But what touched me the most was that the church was looking
for someone who could help form them spiritually. You, I was told, have the outreach
part of your faith down really well: housing the homeless in the church every few
months, a food pantry, mission trips to New Orleans and numerous ways of reaching
out. The Auers have been pillars in the community with both outreach and connecting
to the arts. I don’t have their experience with community organizing, yet hopeto
build upon their work with my training in spiritual formation and church administration.I
was given 48 hours to pray about it. Of course I checked out your web site right
away and called my daughter and emailed my son.Annie’s impression of Reno was pretty
much like mine, so she and her family joined me later that week when I came to meet
with the Staff Parish Relations Committee. As I met with the committee they walked
along the river with their toddler and were pleasantly surprised by all they experienced.
See, I am doing a new thing.
As lovely as I found the walk along the river, the historic
church and grand parsonage to be, it wasn’t about any of those physical things that
drew me to this church. It was the people I met and their directness of expressing
their desire for spiritual formation that confirmed God’s call to the Biggest Little
City. They told me you are ready for change and I took them at their word!
God must have laughed when I listedplaces where I would not
go. I should have known better after all these years. Just like Abraham and Sarah,
Jonah, Ruth and Naomi and Paul on occasion, the decision is really not mine to make.
I am simply called to be faithful.
But enough about me. What about you? What are your hopes
and dreams as individuals and as a church? What is calling you to do and be? I am
eager to hear from you in the next few months. I firmly believe that God is doing
a new thing here. You have started the Vitality Journey with the Annual Conference
and I am prepared to lead us to address our weaknesses and build upon our strengths.
You will soar to new heights and bring new people to this place.
The United Methodist Church believes in moving pastors so
that God can do something new in each place. And yet changes and transitions are
daunting for all of us. I am still unpacking, have to find a new bank, dentist,
doctor, get a new driver’s license and register my car in yet another state—(this
will be the fifth) and all those details that take time and challenge patience.
But all in God’s time! God is doing a new thing here with us if we will just get
out of the way.
Of course I could not tell you about words without giving
you one. They are very simply printed and cut on strips of paper this morning. When
you come forward for communion, please take a word and use it in your devotions
throughout the rest of Pentecost. Again, don’t assume you know the meaning of the
word, but look it up: you may be surprised! (My word is “form”!)
We are each called to trust, to let go and let God be God
in all our comings and goings. For on this our faith depends and declares: God is
good all the time…all the time, God is good! Amen
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