The Incentive of Love

Scriptures: Exodus Philipians 2:1-11
September 30, 2007


Now where were we?
Garrison Keilor opens his weekly monologue on his radio show, A Prairie Home Companion by saying, “It’s been a quiet week on Lake Wobegon.”
Considering the Exodus story that we are learning and living I feel like saying, “It’s been a week of miracles and complaining in the wilderness”
But I kind of like, “Now where were we?”

Now where were we?
Last Sunday we were asking questions in the wilderness. And I said things like, “What we learn in the wilderness we take with us into the promised land.” And “Moses was able to see things that others couldn’t, like the bread of heaven, simply because he was full of trust and the people were full of anxiety.” And I also said that “Trust is a active verb, an activating verb, it should make us want to move.”
I came across a quote this week that I wish I had had last week. The quote is,
“You can’t steer a parked car.” Trust is an activating verb. Let’s get moving.
And that reminded me of an old quote from the great Will Rogers, spinner of ropes and spinner of yarns who said, “Even if you are on the right track you still are going to run over if you are not moving.”
Trust is an activating Verb.
But where are we going? We understand the worries of those people that Moses was trying to lead through the wilderness. Are we going to survive this in between time where we are strangers in a strange land? Is God with us in the wilderness just like we experienced God back home?
And since we can understand their worries I suggested that The Exodus story can be a guide for us if we see that these people were in a wilderness discovering new blessings in the midst of hunger and thirst just like we are today. The wilderness may be a new job or no job. It may be the call to leave something secure and known into something never tried before. It may be a congregation and a new Minister getting to know one another. It may be spending a perfectly beautiful day in the Sierras attending a Planning Retreat like 28 members of this church did yesterday. Whatever that wilderness is The Exodus story can be a guide for us.
What did we learn last week from the Exodus story? It’s alright in the wilderness to have questions, to be hungry and thirsty. The story tells us to direct our questions to God. When we call out, when we question, God responds. When we are full of anxiety, but don’t cry out, it’s a sign that we have lost hope that there is anyone who will respond. To cry out to God is a sign of hope not despair.
It is OK to ask questions, such as “What is this? Is it safe? Will I die of hunger or thirst? Will we lose members if take a controversial stand? Why have you brought me here? Part of the answer to these questions is in trusting that God is providing bread and water, guidance and new life, in ways that are unexpected, and at first mysterious.
What we learn about trusting God shapes how we will experience the promised land. How we learn to trust one another forms how we will experience promised land. And likewise what you all learned about yourselves as a church in the interim time is essential to entering the beginning of our life together in partnership-ministry as we live into the mission of this church.
That is some of what I have learned so far in this Exodus story. What did you learn about yourselves during the past two years? I don’t know yet all that you learned. I know one thing. You found out that there are styles of ministry different than that of Rev. John Randlett’s and that is a good thing. Rev. Steve Shepherd’s style and approach to ministry was different than John’s and the building is still standing, the programs continued to meet people’s needs, and new ministries were.
As one who has served many churches as an Interim I have always found it to be a time of growth and vitality, fresh perspectives, and new ideas and new people. One misconception that people often have of the Interim time is that it is a doldrum time, a time when the church is on hold, a time when no one joins the church. Well that hasn’t been my experience.
You have been having some very cool visitors attending worship here in the past couple of years and since I have been here. What has been my experience is that people do begin coming to church during the Interim time. They don’t know you have an Interim when they walk in the door. There is just something they heard about the United Church of Christ, maybe from the news, maybe from the God is Still Speaking ad on TV. Maybe they heard something about the amazing mission trip that our Youth Group took to Costa Rica. Or maybe they met someone on the golf course.
Or maybe one of you invited them!!!
Who knows?
But do you know what kind of visitors stick around during an interim time or when a new minister arrives and things are kind of confused and up in the air. They are people who like to be welcomed. AND they are pioneers, early adopters, cultural creatives, adventurers, people who don’t need to have everything all in place but are ready to try something new. As long as they can feel a sense of loving spirit that cares for them and welcomes them, as long as they find a church that is authentic in its thinking and loving in its service to the community, they are ready to jump on board.
But don’t take my word for it. Go talk to one of our visitors and see if what I say isn’t true. This church has some very cool visitors. And it has very interesting members. My first experience was when I met the Search Committee. What a crazy bunch that was. Just what I was looking for.
In August, in the small group meetings, I had the opportunity to hear your stories, what you value about this church, what challenges you have lived through, and what wishes you have for this church.
Let me share with some of what I learned. I shared this yesterday at the Planning Retreat, and I would like all of you to hear this. What are some of things that you most appreciate about this church?
Everyone is welcome
Progressive message
Caring support and friendship
How comfortable the children and youth are in this church
The quality of the worship service, especially the great music
We’re different -- open, accepting, and religiously present in today’s world
Our outreach to the community through programs such as the Heifer Project, Habitat for Humanity, and Caring Kids
And last but not least, two of my favorite statements to come out of the small group meetings,
We are strong because we have survived and
Laughter is abundant.
That is something that I now know about you, namely, what you value, why you are here.
And I also learned from those small group meetings what some of the challenges have been for this congregation and what wishes you have. Both the challenges and the wishes are doorways to the promised land, if you base your life on trust not fear.
How do we bring together this all together during this wilderness time, transition time, time of new beginnings. This trusting in God, trusting our questions, trusting one another and welcoming cool visitors with new visions, and this litany of values, challenges to face, and dreams to achieve.
Well, that is what yesterday, the Planning Retreat was all about. And I have good news. We have a plan! and we are not retreating! We are going forward. We are moving through the wilderness, learning its lessons, and keeping our eyes on the promise of the peaceable kingdom.
Our guide through yesterday’s wilderness was not Moses, it was Bob Henning, who did a masterful job of gathering ideas and keeping us on task and on time.
But thinking of today’s passage when Moses got water from a stone we could have used Moses yesterday, because when we got to our meeting room up at Forest Meadows we discovered that the water line was broken so we had no water for coffee, tea or restrooms.
There were many good ideas and commitments made for the coming year. Without going into specifics I can say that I perceived a real sense of hope and enthusiasm for the future of this church, as we looked for procedures and programs that would help this church be ready and set to grow! You will begin to see evidence of the yesterday’s planning in upcoming Council and Board Meetings, the Nugget, and events throughout the next year.
Which reminds me, if you ever want to attend a Council meeting, or a Board meeting, just to see what is going on, or to share an idea, you are always welcome. The calendar lets you know when those meetings are taking place.
One thing that I would like to draw your attention to this morning is this passage from Paul to the church in Philippi and now to the church in Murphys, California
“So, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive in love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.”
You have been witnesses to that affection and sympathy here in this church.
Can I get an Amen!
Looking to the interests of others is something that members of this church are good at. And that is such a great encouragement to me and should be to you as we begin this wilderness journey time. It is right out of the passage from Paul’s letter to Philippi, Murphys, and surrounding areas.
Reading from a translation of the Bible known as The Message this time, “Be energetic,…That energy is God’s energy deep within you, God’s self willing and working at what brings God pleasure.”
What excites me is, that given your strong foundation, I wonder what is going to happen next here at this United Church of Christ Congregation in Murphys, California. What are we going to be called to say and do together? What gifts and visions are about to find a home in this place? How are we going to take care of this corner of the garden we have been given and make it a better place for more people. What structure will enable you to get the highest level of involvement of the membership of this church in the ministry of this church?
I don’t know the answer to those questions. Remembering the bumper sticker that says, “All who wander are not lost” I say let us trust this energy that God has placed within us and let us step forward and each day do the next right thing. Let us remember that God hears us when we are hungry and thirsty and that we would do well not to give into anxiety but instead give into trust. Let us remember the words of Paul, that we are to seek a deep-spirited friendship with one other, helping each other to get ahead. How counter-cultural is that?
I am honored to be among you at this time. I anticipate learning a lot from you. I hope to share with your what I have learned from other churches that have been my teachers. And most of all, I seek to be open to the Spirit that hovers over my chaos and gives me direction, purpose and meaning. A church is fundamentally a safe place for everyone to work out their own healing transformation for the good of all life.


I want to close with something seemingly very far afield from anything I have been talking about so far. I dedicate it to all each of you, who at one time were a visitor and walked through that front door for the first time.

The Rodeo at the Mendocino County Fair.
Barrel Horse racers. Little girl bouncing up and down.
The announcer calling the event yells out as the young girl rounds the third and final barrel before heading for the the straightaway,
"Don’t you dare weaken!"

We are all little children riding on the back of a big horse that turns sharp, runs hard, and knows the way back home. To God’s loving embrace.