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Following are recent sermons including the scripture from our visiting Pastors and Lay People. We hope you will find this inspiring. Included are:

“Mustard Plants in Today's Garden” - July 27 - C. F. Wm. Maurer
"Walk in the Spirit" July 20 - Robert C. Maurer
"Sowing Seeds Everywhere" July 13 - Kumiko Ishikura
"Transition Sunday" June 27 - C. F. William Maurer
Biography of Rev. George N. Frederick


“Mustard Plants in Today's Garden” - July 27

OLD TESTAMENT LESSON - GENESIS 2: 8-9:
AND THE LORD GOD PLANTED A GARDEN IN EDEN, IN THE EAST; AND THERE HE PUT THE MAN WHOM HE HAD FORMED. AND OUT OF THE GROUND THE LORD GOD MADE TO GROW EVERY TREE THAT IS PLEASANT TO THE SIGHT AND GOOD FOR FOOD, THE TREE OF LIFE ALSO IN THE MIDST OF THE GARDEN, AND THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL.

NEW TESTAMENT LESSON – MATTHEW 13: 31-32

31 ANOTHER PARABLE SET HE BEFORE THEM, SAYING, THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE UNTO A GRAIN OF MUSTARD SEED, WHICH A MAN TOOK, AND SOWED IN HIS FIELD:
32 WHICH INDEED IS LESS THAN ALL SEEDS; BUT WHEN IT IS GROWN, IT IS GREATER THAN THE HERBS, AND BECOMETH A TREE, SO THAT THE BIRDS OF THE HEAVEN COME AND LODGE IN THE BRANCHES THEREOF.

“MUSTARD PLANTS IN TODAY’S GARDEN”
C. F. William Maurer

LAST SUNDAY I MENTIONED THAT MY BROTHERS WERE VISITING BECAUSE ON SATURDAY SHON HOSTED A BABY SHOWER FOR OUR DAUGHTER IN LAW, JULIE. NOW, GENTLEMEN ARE NOT INVITED AND HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ACTUAL SHOWER. SO THAT MEANS NO WORK AND WE STAY OUT OF THE WAY. EXCEPT, AS IT WAS QUICKLY POINTED OUT TO ME, ANY REPAIRS, SHOPPING, CHANGES TO THE HOUSE THAT HAD TO BE DONE, THE TIME WAS NOW AND WERE TO BE DONE ON A RATHER TIGHT SCHEDULE.

A MONTH AGO, WE FINALLY REMOVED THE SIX TREES THAT THE CONTRACTOR PROVIDED WHEN HE BUILT THE HOUSE YEARS AGO. THEY HAD BECOME OVERGROWN, REROOTED THEMSELVES AND JUST HAD BECOME TERRIBLY MESSY. AS THOSE WHO HAVE SEEN OUR HOME KNOW THAT A YEAR OR SO AGO, WE REPLACED THE RAILROAD TIES IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE WITH LARGE BLOCKS. A DOZEN OR SO PAVING BLOCKS WERE LEFT OVER. THESE WERE PLACED UNDER THE DECK AND WERE BEING USED AS CONDOS FOR THE LOCAL CHIPMUNK POPULATION. SHON HAD THE IDEA TO LAY OUT A WALL AROUND THE CLEARED AREA SO WE BOUGHT SOME MORE BLOCKS AND HIRED A COUPLE OF YOUNG MEN TO BUILD A ONE STONE HIGH WALL OUTLING WHERE THE TREES ONCE WERE. THIS GAVE ME A SPACE FOR THE GARDEN WHICH I HADN’T TIME TO WORK IN UNTIL I RETIRED. WHAT A GREAT SPRING THIS HAS BEEN FOR PLANTING! HOW LUSH EVERYTHING HAS SEEMED TO BE!

THEN CAME OUR TRANSITIONAL PERIOD AND THE NEED FOR “LAY SPEAKERS” TO FILL THE SUNDAYS UNTIL SEPTEMBER. OUT CAME THE LITURGY, OUT CAME THE LIST OF PASTORS AND LAY SPEAKERS WHO WERE AVAILABLE AND DATES WERE ASSIGNED. THE PURPOSE OF THE LITURGY IS THE TELLING AND ENACTING OF THE DRAMA OF SALVATION AS LIVED OUT IN THE BIRTH, LIFE, DEATH, RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IN THE BIBLE AND THE LITURGY PROVIDES THE BIBLE REFERENCES. THE LITURGY THEREFORE GIVES AN OUTLINE TO THE SPEAKER ON A SUGGESTED SUBJECT.

WHEN MY TURN CAME, THE LITURGY DECIDED WHAT MY SUBJECT WOULD BE. .

WE WERE GOING TO TALK ABOUT MUSTARD SEEDS AND, MAYBE, GARDENS.

THIS IS THE NEAT THING ABOUT LAY SPEAKING. USUALLY THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT BROTHER BOB SPOKE ABOUT SO WELL LAST SUNDAY TAKES YOUR HAND AND GENTLY GUIDES YOU INTO THE SUBJECT. LUCKILY HE STANDS BEHIND US AND SUPPORTS US TOO.

THE CONNECTION OF OUR SUNDAY WORSHIP HERE IN THE BEAUTY AND SERENITY OF THE GARDEN, THE ENJOYMENT THAT I HAD WORKING IN MY GARDEN AND THE MUSTARD SEED PARABLE WERE TOO GREAT FOR ME TO PASS BY. I THOUGHT THAT GARDENS MUST PLAY AN IMPORTANT PLACE IN OUR BIBLE SO I WENT TO WORK LOOKING UP THE “MANY” REFERENCES.
A DEFINITION OF A GARDEN IS A SELECTED AREA OF GROUND THAT IS CULTIVATED TO PRODUCE FRUITS, VEGETABLES, FLOWERS OR TREES. ALL THROUGH HISTORY THERE HAVE BEEN GARDENS. DURING THE BIBLE PERIOD, THEY WERE OFTEN ENCLOSED WITHIN A WALL OF EARTH OR STONE, OR A HEDGE, AND GUARDED BY A WATCHMAN AS PROTECTION AGAINST ANIMALS AND THIEVES AND PROBABLY DEER AND CHIPMUNKS LIKE IN A NEW JERSEY GARDEN. THEN I CHECKED VARIOUS BOOKS AND BIBLE REFERENCES TO FIND REFERENCES TO GARDENS THAT WERE FAMILIAR.

FREQUENTLY GARDENS WERE USED AS PLACES OF WORSHIP AND PRAYER (BY THE RIGHTEOUS, AND BY PAGANS), AND GARDENS WERE ALSO USED AS A SPIRITUAL ANALOGY FOR GOD'S BLESSINGS UPON BELIEVERS, LIKE “PARADISE” EQUALING “GARDEN OF EDEN”. GARDENS WERE SOMETIMES USED AS BURIAL PLACES, A SOMEWHAT APPROPRIATE IRONY, SINCE IN ISAIAH 26: 19 READS THAT THE DEAD ARE LIKE SOWN SEEDS WITH THE POTENTIAL OF NEW LIFE.

DO YOU REMEMBER JESUS’ BURIAL?

NOW IN THE PLACE WHERE HE WAS CRUCIFIED THERE WAS A GARDEN, AND IN THE GARDEN A NEW TOMB WHERE NO ONE HAD EVER BEEN LAID. SO BECAUSE OF THE JEWISH DAY OF PREPARATION, AS THE TOMB WAS CLOSE AT HAND, THEY LAID JESUS THERE. (JOHN 19:38-42 RSV)

THEN MARY MAGDALENE ENTERING THE TOMB AND MISTAKENLY TOOK JESUS FOR THE GARDENER

WELL, THE FIRST GARDEN REFERENCE, OF COURSE, WAS MUCH EARLY AS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT LESSON OF GENESIS 2: 8-9 THIS MORNING:
AND THE LORD GOD PLANTED A GARDEN IN EDEN, IN THE EAST; AND THERE HE PUT THE MAN WHOM HE HAD FORMED. AND OUT OF THE GROUND THE LORD GOD MADE TO GROW EVERY TREE THAT IS PLEASANT TO THE SIGHT AND GOOD FOR FOOD, THE TREE OF LIFE ALSO IN THE MIDST OF THE GARDEN, AND THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL.

FRUIT, VEGETABLES, AND FLOWER GARDENS ARE MENTIONED IN 1 KINGS 21, ECCLESIASTES, AND THE SONG OF SOLOMON.
THERE ARE SPIRITUAL GARDENS IN JEREMIAH 17

THERE ARE BIBLICAL PASSAGES THAT ARE ABOUT
SEED, GOD'S GARDEN, ADAM AS EDEN'S GARDENER,
MOSES’ BLOSSOMING STAFF, ALOES AND CEDARS,
THISTLE AND WEEDS, EVEN GARDEN SLUGS,
CROWNS OF THORNS, CEDARS AND FIR,
ROSE OF SHARON AND LILY OF THE VALLEY,
NUTS AND POMEGRANATES, BECOMING A WELL-WATERED GARDEN, GARDENS TO BE PLANTED, MINT, RUE, GARDEN HERBS,
GRAPE VINES, AND, OF COURSE, OLIVE TREES, AND FIGS!

AND HERE IN MATTHEW 13, ALONE, TALK OF SOWING SEEDS, SEEDS AND WEEDS IN A FIELD AND AS IN OUR LESSON, MUSTARD SEED.

PLANTS THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN GROWN IN THE MIDDLE EAST THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO ALSO INCLUDE APRICOTS, CORIANDER, DAISIES, DILL, GARLIC, GRAPES, IRIS, LEEKS, MARJORAM, MELONS, MINT, MYRTLE, OAK, ONIONS, POPPIES, AND ROSES.

THERE ARE 128 PLANTS MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE

MATTHEW 13: 31-33.
ANOTHER PARABLE SET HE BEFORE THEM, SAYING, THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE UNTO A GRAIN OF MUSTARD SEED, WHICH A MAN TOOK, AND SOWED IN HIS FIELD: WHICH INDEED IS LESS THAN ALL SEEDS; BUT WHEN IT IS GROWN, IT IS GREATER THAN THE HERBS, AND BECOMETH A TREE, SO THAT THE BIRDS OF THE HEAVEN COME AND LODGE IN THE BRANCHES THEREOF.

JESUS SAID THAT THE MUSTARD SEED WAS "SMALLER THAN OR LESS THAN ALL OTHER SEEDS," BUT THAT WHEN IT WAS FULL GROWN, IT WOULD BE LARGE ENOUGH FOR BIRDS TO NEST IN ITS BRANCHES.

DESPITE SOME DISPUTE TODAY OVER WHICH PLANT JESUS INTENDED, THE MUSTARD SEED HAD BECOME PROVERBIAL FOR SMALL SIZE. ALTHOUGH NOT LITERALLY THE SMALLEST OF SEEDS, AND YIELDING A SHRUB RATHER THAN A TREE IN THE TECHNICAL BOTANICAL SENSE, THE MUSTARD PLANT CONVEYED JESUS' POINT OF THE INCONSPICUOUS BECOMES MIGHTY, BETTER THAN ANY OTHER

PLEASE NOTE THAT JESUS WAS NOT COMPARING THE MUSTARD SEED TO ALL OTHER SEEDS IN THE WORLD, BUT TO SEEDS THAT A LOCAL, OR A PALESTINIAN FARMER MIGHT HAVE "SOWED IN HIS FIELD," AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE THAT THE BLACK MUSTARD SEED BRASSICA NIGRA = SINAPIS NIGRA WAS THE SMALLEST SEED EVER SOWN BY A FIRST-CENTURY FARMER IN THAT PART OF THE WORLD. SEEDS OF BLACK MUSTARD ARE 2MM IN DIAMETER (8/100THS OF AN INCH), YET IT CAN GROW TO BE 10 FEET HIGH AND CERTAINLY PROVIDE A GOOD PERCH FOR SMALL BIRDS.

I CAN VOUCH FOR MUSTARD SEEDS ALSO GERMINATING VERY QUICKLY. A SEED PLACED IN THE GROUND ONE DAY MAY BE GROWING BY THE NEXT.

THE MUSTARD WE SPREAD ON OUR HOTDOGS IS MADE FROM THE GROUND-UP SEEDS, BUT THE LEAVES OF THE PLANT CAN ALSO BE USED FOR FOOD AND, I THINK, TASTES LIKE HORSE RADISH.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THE BIBLE OFTEN USES EVERYDAY TERMINOLOGY IN ORDER TO COMMUNICATE A SIMPLE TRUTH. THIS IS JESUS’ REASON FOR USING PARABLES. A PARABLE MAY NOT ALWAYS BE TOTALLY OR LITERALLY ACCURATE.

EVEN TODAY, WE MIGHT REFER TO A "SUNSET" OR “SUNRISE” WHEN, TECHNICALLY, SCIENTIFICALLY, WE KNOW THAT THE SUN NEVER ACTUALLY 'SETS,' OR “RISES.”

THE CONTEXT OF MATTHEW 13 MAKES IT QUITE CLEAR THAT JESUS WAS ADDRESSING A LOCAL LAY AUDIENCE, NOT AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF BOTANISTS. IT SEEMS THAT NO REASONABLE PERSON WOULD THEREFORE INSIST FOR VERY LONG THAT THIS TEXT PROVIDES A VIABLE BASIS FOR QUESTIONING EITHER JESUS OR THE BIBLE, WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING THE FACTS STRAIGHT -- SCIENTIFICALLY, HISTORICALLY, OR TECHNICALLY.

WHY SO MANY REFERENCES TO GARDENS, SEEDS AND FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AND GROWING?

THE SCOPE OF THE PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD SEED IS TO SHOW THAT THE BEGINNINGS OF SPREADING THE GOSPEL WOULD BE SMALL, BUT ITS LATTER END WOULD GREATLY INCREASE.

IN THIS WAY THE WORK OF GRACE IN THE HEART, AS WE MIGHT SAY, THE KINGDOM OF GOD WITHIN US, WOULD BE CARRIED ON. IN THE SOUL WHERE THIS GRACE TRULY IS, IT WILL GROW; THOUGH PERHAPS AT FIRST NOT TO BE DISCERNED, IT WILL AT LAST COME TO GREAT STRENGTH AND USEFULNESS. THIS TINY, MINUTE MUSTARD SEED OF GRACE WILL AT LAST GROW TO A TREE OF GREAT STRENGTH AND USEFULNESS.

THE BIGGEST PROBLEM THAT OUR SMALL CHURCH FACES IS LACK OF LABORERS IN THE FIELD. WE MUST GROW FROM THAT VIABLE. GREENERY – AND INTO THE SHRUB OR SMALL TREE.

IT TAKES CONSTANT CARE AND ATTENTION BY THE GARDENER AND THOSE WHO THE GARDENER DESIGNATES AS HIS HELPERS. THE CONCEPT/PROCESS OF EVANGELISM IS MUCH LESS SCARY TO CONSIDER IF IT IS COMPARED TO THE PROCESS OF A SEED BEING PLANTED; THEN CARED FOR; AND, FINALLY HARVESTED.

CONSIDER THIS: GOD WANTS TO CREATE THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN WITHIN ALL PEOPLE WHILE WE ARE ON EARTH. WHILE HE OVERSEES THIS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT PROCESS, HE USES US – HIS FELLOW WORKERS IN THE FIELDS - TO AID HIM IN THE SOWING AND REAPING PROCESS.

FIRST A HEART NEEDS TO BE PREPARED JUST AS SOIL DOES. PERHAPS THIS IS THE WORK OF A LOVING MOM, DAD, GRANDPARENT, SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER, LITTLE LEAGUE COACH, BUSINESS ASSOCIATE, CONGREGATION MEMBER, PASTOR, NEIGHBOR, A PERSON NEXT TO SOMEONE STANDING IN LINE AT SHOPRITE, ETC. ONCE THE HEART IS PREPARED - THE SOIL MADE READY - THE SEED IS PLANTED. AGAIN - WHO WILL PLAY THIS ROLE? SAME CAST OF CHARACTERS.

ONCE THE SEED IS PLANTED, THEN IT MUST BE CARED FOR - PROPERLY NURTURED WITH WATER AND EXPOSED TO THE SUN. WHO WILL PLAY THIS ROLE? AGAIN, SAME CAST WITH MAYBE DIFFERENT FACES.

AT SOME POINT, THE SEED WILL BE READY FOR HARVEST. WHO WILL HELP IN THE HARVEST? EVANGELISM IS NOT VERY SCARY WHEN YOU SEE IT AS A PROCESS. EACH OF US CAN PLAY A SMALL AND SOME A BIGGER ROLE - IN PREPARING THE HEART, PLANTING THE SEED, CARING FOR THE SOIL, CARING FOR THE PLANT AS IT CONTINUES TO GROW, A PART IN THE PRUNING, AIDING IN THE HARVEST.

LITTLE THINGS WE EACH SAY AND DO CAN BE PART OF THE PROCESS. WE DON'T NEED TO BE THEOLOGIANS - GOD DID NOT BUILD THE KINGDOM WITH THEOLOGIANS. HE BUILT THE KINGDOM WITH WILLING FOLKS - SIMPLE FOLKS - WHO WERE WILLING TO MAKE THEMSELVES AVAILABLE SO THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT COULD WORK THROUGH THEM - IN ESSENCE THE HOLY SPIRIT DOES ALL THE WORK - TO ULTIMATELY ACCOMPLISH GOD'S MISSION.

GOD DOES NOT CALL THE EQUIPPED. GOD EQUIPS THOSE HE CALLS. AND, HE HAS CALLED ALL OF US TO AID HIM WITH THE HARVEST. HE CALLS US TO BE AVAILABLE AND TO BE VEHICLES THROUGH WHOM HIS SON - THE HOLY SPIRIT - WHO HE EQUIPS US WITH AND WHO ACTUALLY DOES THE WORK. EVANGELISM IS A PROCESS IN WHICH WE ARE INVOLVED - BUT GOD STILL DOES ALL THE WORK - HE JUST WORKS THROUGH US.

NOT SCARY - EASY. AND, AFTER WE HAVE EACH DONE OUR THING AS GOD HAS CALLED AND ENABLED US, THE SMALL MUSTARD SEED WE PLAYED A PART IN PLANTING, CARING FOR, NURTURING ETC, GROWS INTO SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL THAT SERVES GOD'S PURPOSE AND MAKES THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.

DESPITE THE MAGNITUDE OF THE TASK BEFORE US, WE DARE NOT DESPISE THE "SMALLNESS" OF OUR OWN WORKS, FOR GOD'S ENTIRE PROGRAM LONG AGO CAME HIDDEN IN A SMALL PACKAGE LIKE THIS MUSTARD SEED.
I PRAY THAT ALL OF US WOULD RESPOND TO THE LORD WITH A RESOUNDING “YES”. “PICK ME LORD OR GIVE ME THAT ASSIGNMENT WORKING IN THE GARDEN. LORD.

WE ARE READY IF YOU THINK WE ARE” YOUR WORD SAYS “I CAN DO ALL THINGS THRU THE POWER OF CHRIST. HE GIVES ME STRENGTH.” PHILIPPIANS 4:13.
AMEN. C. F. William Maurer

314 In the Garden
275 Kingdom of God
593 Here I am, Lord


"Walk In the Spirit" (July 20, 2008)

Old Testament Promise: Ezekiel 36: 25-28
“I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people and I will be your God.”

A Reading from the Letters of Paul: Romans 8: 5-17
“Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful man is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

You however are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Christ from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

Therefore brothers, we have an obligation – but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received a Spirit of son ship. And by him we cry “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. “

Gospel Reading: John 14: 15-18 and 23-26
If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But, you know him for he lives in you and will be with you.
I will not leave you as orphans. I will come to you. If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you.

Walk in the Spirit
Robert C. Maurer

Many of us know a fair amount about God the Father and Jesus Christ his Son. But, there seems to be a lack of knowledge or a lack of understanding regarding the third member of the Trinity and that is the Holy Spirit. Or at least I know that I myself lacked that knowledge. So I began a personal study on the Holy Spirit. What I would like to share with you during our time together this morning are some of my thoughts and some of my “findings.” I know that I have only “touched the surface” and that the Holy Spirit will reveal more about Himself overtime, yet let me share some preliminary thoughts with you. We have had four readings from the scripture this morning. Each one dealt with a promise regarding the Holy Spirit or a characteristic of a life led by the Holy Spirit. And, I can think of no better place to go to learn about the Holy Spirit than the Book that He co-authored with the Father. I can think of no better “words to listen to regarding the Holy Spirit” than His own Words. For this reason, all of the things I share with you will have a Biblical text as their source.

Let start by answering a very basic question: Who is the Holy Spirit? Some older translations speak of the “Holy Ghost,” and that can make Him seem a little frightening and perhaps a mere fantasy. Yet the Holy Spirit is not a ghost - He is a Person.
He has the characteristics of “personhood.”
He thinks – Acts 15:28 –
He speaks – Acts 1:16 –
He leads – Romans 8:14 –
He can be grieved - Ephesians 4:30 –
He has desires – Roman’s 8:6 –
He testifies Roman’s 9:16 –
to name just a few.

In our text from Roman’s that we read this morning He is described as the “Spirit of God” and then as the “Spirit of Christ” then as the “Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead.” In Acts 16:7 He is described as the “Spirit of Jesus.”
In our reading this morning from John, Jesus Himself describes Him as the “Spirit of Truth.” He then goes on to describe Him as “another Counselor” who the Father will send who will live with us and in us now and forever. The original Greek translation uses the word “parakletos” which translates as “one along side,” a counselor a comforter and an encourager. Note Jesus said: “The Father will send you another counselor.” The word for “another” means “of the same kind.” In other words, the Holy Spirit is just like Jesus. He is the way that Jesus is present with His people. In John 14: Jesus promises His disciples as He promises us that even though He is going to the Father, He will not leave us as orphans; He promises that He will come to us. The schoolchild’s definition of the Holy Spirit might be Jesus’ other self. And Jesus is God amongst us – God’s other self.
We remember those somewhat confusing words that Jesus spoke to His disciples in John 14 when He said: “I am in the Father and the Father is in me.” Then He adds when the Holy Spirit comes you will realize that “I am in my Father – and you are in me – and I am in you.” Through the Holy Spirit the Father and the Son come to us and make their home within us. This is truly awesome! Think about it: The Spirit of the risen Christ lives within you – The Spirit of God the Creator of the Universe lives in you.
Lately it seems that the Holy Spirit has been the “property” of only a few Christian denominations. He is hardly spoken of except for a few words from the Creed in many denominations. However, the Holy Spirit belongs to all of us. He dwells within all of us. It is time that we open our hearts and minds to this wonderful gift that God and His Son have given to us. The gift of their presence and all that can mean.
The Holy Spirit is not just a New Testament phenomenon. He existed during the creation of the world: Genesis 1: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” This Spirit of God caused new things to come into being and brought order out of chaos. He is the same Spirit today. He brings new things into our lives and into our churches. He brings order and peace into chaotic lives, freeing people from harmful habits and addictions from the confusion and mess of broken relationships. He brings to us the abundant life and He brings us into a new relationship with God and His Son.
He existed during the creation of man: Genesis 2: “When God created man, He formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the ‘breath of life’ and man became a living being.” The Hebrew word used here for breath is “ruach” which also is the word for “spirit.” Therefore the “ruach” of God brings physical life to man formed from dust. Likewise, He brings spiritual life to people and to churches today. This “ruach” this God breathed “Spirit of Life” is most likely what Jesus was alluding to when He told Nicodemus in John 3: “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the Kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” This is our new birth, our new life in Christ through the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit was present during the development of the Hebrew nation. The Old Testament is full of examples when the Holy Spirit of God came to special people during special times to enable them to accomplish special tasks. He did not dwell with them for long. He enabled or revealed and then left. Yet God promised a new relationship with His people and this new relationship would come as a result of a new Spirit that would come to us and dwell with us and never leave us. In our Old Testament reading this morning from Ezekiel, God made us a promise: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you…”
And again in Joel God promised: “I will pour out my Spirit on all people.”
Yet, before we could receive the Spirit – before we could become the permanent dwelling place of a Holy God – we had to become a people without sin – a people who were Holy in the eyes of God. We first needed a Savior.
Jesus himself was a man who was completely filled with the Spirit of God. In Luke 3:22, we are told that the Spirit of God descended on Jesus in bodily form during His baptism. He then returned to the Jordan “full of the Spirit” and was “led by the Spirit in the desert.” When He returned to Galilee, He returned “in the power of the Spirit.” Luke 4:14 - There in a synagogue in Nazareth He read the lesson from Isaiah 61:1, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me” and said “today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” We were first told by John the Baptist in Luke 3:16 that Jesus would be the one who would ultimately “baptize us with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”
Later in Luke 24:49, Jesus told His disciples “I am going to send you what the Father has promised; But stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

Just before He ascended into Heaven – Acts 1: 8 – Jesus once again echoed the Father’s promise when He told His disciples “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.”

The event of Pentecost – like the resurrection of Christ Himself – changed the world and changed our relationship with God for all time. The Holy Spirit of God, the Spirit of the living Christ, the Spirit of He that raised Christ from the dead, the Spirit of Life was poured out upon God’s people as He had promised. And never has anything been the same since that day.
Let’s turn now to the work of the Holy Spirit. Let’s look specifically at how the Holy Spirit changes lives in the Post Pentecost era.
The very first person in whom we see the power of the Holy Spirit to change lives is Peter. Remember Peter during the Passion. He denied he even knew Christ three times. He was a confused and broken man. He was scared and full of guilt. When he first heard of Christ’s resurrection he didn’t believe it. Then he met the resurrected Christ face to face. He became a forgiven man – yet he was not yet a changed man.
Then came the Holy Spirit. Acts describes the new Peter. He was articulate, confident and bold. He was a common fisherman who had become incredibly knowledgeable about the scriptures and the promises of the Old Testament and the reality of the Messiah. There was no confusion regarding who Jesus was. He stood strong when ridiculed by the crowd and did not waiver when confronted and persecuted by the Sanhedrin. He was full of wisdom and discernment. He was able to heal. He had finally become the leader that Jesus had predicted – the rock of his namesake.
This is the power of the Holy Spirit - the power to bring new life. In essence Peter had become a new creation. He was born from above – born anew – born of the Spirit as Jesus had described. The truly Good News for us is that this same Spirit that brought life to Christ; this same Spirit that brought a new life to Peter can and will bring a new life to us – if we allow Him to.
A second example of a profoundly changed life through the Holy Spirit is Saul of Tarsus. We know him better as Paul - arguably one of the most influential men in the entire history of the Christian church. However, we first meet Saul in Acts 7: 58 as he was gleefully giving his approval to the stoning death of Stephen – the first Christian martyr. Later on in Chapter 8, Saul is described as destroying the early church, going from house to house dragging off men and women and putting them into prison. His persecution of the early church was widely known as he imprisoned many and breathed out murderous threats against early Christians and even the Lord’s disciples.
Then came his confrontation with the Spirit of Jesus on the road to Damascus. A new creation emerged from that encounter - one who became Jesus’ chosen instrument to carry His name before the Gentiles and their kings and before Christ’s people of Israel.
These are only two examples from nearly 2000 years ago of how God changed lives through the power and presence of His Holy Spirit. Yet, He is still very active today. I am sure that many of you gathered here today could speak personally about becoming a new creation in Christ or could speak about the profound impact the Holy Spirit has had in the life of a friend or acquaintance. And the reason He continues to work in our lives today is very simple – He loves us; He wants to be loved by us; and, He wants us to love one another.
The more we study the scriptures and the more we experience the presence of God in our lives, the more God reveals Himself to us as a God of relationships. Overtime we learn that the things that matter most to God center around the relationship we are to have with Him and the relationship we are to have with one another.
God created us to have a love relationship with Him that is very real, very personal and one that lasts forever. Through God’s awesome grace and mercy He has given us His very own Son - Jesus the Christ - to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and to restore us to the relationship that God always intended for us to have with Him. But, the story doesn’t end there. He has sent His Spirit to dwell here within each of us so that we can live out the life that He always intended for us to live. This is the abundant life – the Spirit filled life – the Spirit led life – that Paul described in our Epistle lesson today and the Spirit led life that David in our responsive reading yearned for.
The life that is Spirit filled and Spirit led is in stark contrast to the other kind of life that we can choose to live. This other life is not a Holy Spirit led life. It is a life that is led by a different kind of spiritual influence and that is the spirit of flesh or the spirit of this world or the spirit of our old sinful nature. When we choose to be led by the Holy Spirit – or perhaps better said – when the grace of God enables us to be led by the Holy Spirit – we discover this wonderful relationship that God intended for us to have with Him – we become children of God. Through the Holy Spirit God reveals Himself as the Abba God – our papa, our daddy – we become heirs of eternal life and co-heirs with Christ in God’s Kingdom.
And through the Holy Spirit, God gives us a new personality - the personality of Christ. Led by Christ’s Spirit we become more Christ like. We are no longer self-centered – we are Christ centered. We are no longer self reliant – we are Christ reliant.
The Christ within us enables us to think and act differently. In Galatians 5, Paul calls the attitude and the behavior created by the Christ within us the “fruits of the Spirit.” We no longer produce the “fruit” of the world – the fruit of our old sinful nature. We bear Christ-like fruit. And that harvest includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
In that same letter, Paul makes several other important points as well. Our natural self – our old sinful nature – is constantly fighting with the Holy Spirit. They are in conflict with each other. Our natural self – our old sinful nature – desires and does things that are the polar opposite from what the Holy Spirit desires and does.
I think it is critically important to understand that by ourselves we cannot become the people God desires us to become. No matter how hard we try – no matter how much we may desire to change – we cannot change our natural self. Even though we are forgiven of our sins – we go on sinning and our attitude and behavior remain relatively unchanged. Why? Because that is our nature. We are broken and we are in constant conflict with God, His will and His ways.
Let me say it another way. We find it difficult to forgive. So we ask God to help us be more forgiving. We find it difficult to be patient so we ask God to give us more patience. We find it difficult to love unconditionally so we ask God to give us this ability. We lack peace in our life so we ask God for peace. God answers all these prayers in one way and one way alone – He sends you His Son. God is not a retailer dispensing out new attitudes and new behaviors in individual packets. He does not give you the ability to forgive, or patience, or unconditional love, or peace. He gives you His Son. And in His Son are all these things and more. In His Son is all you will ever need to experience the abundant life.
Often we think of the Christian life as a changed life. But, it is not a changed life. What God offers us through the Holy Spirit is an “EXCHANGED LIFE” or a “SUBSTITUTED” life and the Holy Spirit – Christ Himself – is our substitute within.
That is why Paul states: “I live; and yet no longer I, but Christ who lives in me.” This new life is not one that we have to produce – this is important – it is Christ’s own life reproduced within us that creates the new life.
.This is why the gift of the Holy Spirit is so special. Jesus’ death and resurrection truly was and remains an awesome act of God’s grace and mercy and I do not for one moment detract from its importance. Yet it was but the first step in our Loving Father’s plan for restoring our relationship with Him and gaining the abundant life. The coming of His Holy Spirit to live within us and to be the source of a new life within us was the second and equally necessary step in restoring us to the relationship God created us to have with Him and all His other children.
Think of it this way: “God loves us unconditionally.” Said another way, “God loves us just the way we are.” Unfortunately, we are sinful beings. That is why He sent His Son to die for us and remove our sins from God’s sight. Yet our nature is still that of a sinful being. And, God loves us too much to allow us to stay that way. So after He wiped away our sins through His Son, He sent the Holy Spirit to live in us and to produce in us a new life - one that can truly enjoy a fellowship with God that leads us into an abundant life. ”
When we begin to think of the Christian life as an Exchanged Life or a Substituted Life – a life of change produced by the indwelling Holy Spirit and not by anything we ourselves can do - then we begin to understand the difference between trying and trusting. And, the difference between trying and trusting is the difference between living in Heaven or in Hell during our time on earth. We acknowledge a new truth: And, we speak the words “Lord, I cannot do it. Therefore, I will take my hands off it. From now on I will trust you to do what I cannot.” We refuse to act independently of the Spirit. We depend on the Spirit to do so and then we enter fully and joyfully into the action He initiates.
This is not a life of passivity – as some often think – it is a most active life of trusting our Lord in all things, of drawing new life from Him, taking Him to be our very life, letting Him live His life in us as we go forth in His name. This is what it means to walk with the Spirit or to be led by the Spirit.
We all have the same Spirit of Christ dwelling within us. However, in some lives it is a pilot light that is lit but has not yet truly ignited – it has not yet been called into action – it has not yet been turned on to the fullest. How do we turn up the pilot light and allow it to truly ignite our life? We look to grow in our walk with the Holy Spirit as we increase our awareness of our own needs and of our own deficiencies. This occurs as we ask God to reveal to us our true nature. It occurs as God shows us the many areas within our lives that are ripe with new possibilities and ready for radical change and His new leadership. Remember, Jesus called The Holy Spirit the Spirit of truth and this Truth can set us free to live the abundant life.
Remember also, the Holy Spirit is God Himself. He does not dwell within you just to be your companion. He dwells within you because He loves you and wants to bring you into the abundant life. He dwells within you because by yourself you cannot have the abundant life. He dwells within you because He and He alone must do the work and live the Life. He dwells within you to be the Lord and new leader of your life.
The only way we can really grow spiritually is by growing in God’s grace. And, grace is God doing something for us. The revelation by God through His indwelling Holy Spirit of a new need in our attitude and a new need in our behavior leads us to trust Him to live out His life in us in such a way as to produce that change when we cannot. As a result we let go and we create a new opportunity to trust in Christ. The pilot light ignites and our lives begin to burn with the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit.
I would like to end our time together this morning with some of Jesus’ words – better said - His promises – promises that were recorded in both Matthew and Luke. I have chosen to read from Luke chapter 11. I think it is a fitting way to close a discussion of the Holy Spirit and our desire to be blessed with the fullness of the Holy Spirit in our lives today.
Jesus was teaching His followers about prayer and the power of prayer when He said this:
Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or, if his son asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good things to your children, how much more will your Father in Heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?
So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and, to him that knocks, the door will be opened.”
May you invite the Spirit of God your Father who loves you so much that He gave His only begotten Son to die for you; may you invite the Spirit of Jesus the Son your Savior who was obedient unto death;
May you invite the Spirit of Life, the Spirit of the Risen Christ, to dwell within you as Lord and source of a new and abundant Life within. AMEN.

Robert C. Maurer

Sowing Seeds Everywhere (July 13, 2008)

Isaiah 55:1-3
The Lord says, “Come, everyone who is thirsty – here is water! Come, you that have no money – buy grain and eat! Come! Buy wine and milk – it will cost you nothing! Why spend money on what does not satisfy? Why spend your wages and still be hungry? Listen to me and do what I say, and you will enjoy the best food of all. “Listen now, my people, and come to me; come to me, and you will have life! I will make a lasting covenant with you and give you the blessings I promised to David.”

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
That same day Jesus left the house and went to the lakeside, where he sat down to teach. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it, while the crowd stood on the shore. He used parables to tell them many things.
“Once there was a man who went out to sow grain. As he scattered the seed in the field, some of it fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some of it fell on rocky ground, where there was little soil. The seeds soon sprouted, because the soil wasn’t deep. But when the sun came up, it burned the young plants; and because the roots had not grown deep enough, the plants soon dried up. Some of the seed fell among thorn bushes, which grew up and choked the plants. But some seeds fell in good soil, and the plants bore grain: some had one hundred grains, others sixty, and others thirty.”

And Jesus concluded, “Listen, then, if you have ears!”

“Listen, then, and learn what the parable of the sower means. Those who hear the message about the Kingdom but do not understand it are like the seeds that fell along the path. The Evil One comes and snatches away what was sown in them. The seeds that fell on rocky ground stand for those who receive the message gladly as soon as they hear it. But it does not sink deep into them, and they don’t last long. So when trouble or persecution comes because of the message, they give up at once. The seeds that fell among thorn bushes stand for those who hear the message; but the worries about this life and the love for riches choke the message, and they don’t bear fruit. And the seeds sown in the good soil stand for those who hear the message and understand it: they bear fruit, some as much as one hundreds, others sixty, and others thirty.”

Sowing Seeds Everywhere
Kumiko Ishikura

Jesus often used parables when he talked to the people. They understood the concept of how plants grow. They understood how the seeds could be eaten up and how young plants could die because of weeds or lack of water. But they had trouble understanding how these seeds were like the Kingdom of God. They didn’t understand the parable’s spiritual point.

So the disciples came to Jesus and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?” and Jesus explained.

The explanation that Jesus gave sheds light on the parable and makes its application easier. The seeds themselves represent the Message of the Gospel: the message that God loves us, and that he gave us Jesus. The different soils represent the different ways that people receive the message of the Gospel.

There are really two levels on which we can apply this message to our lives. The first we will call the cosmic level. On the cosmic level, God is the sower. And God sows the seeds everywhere. In other words, God sends the good news to everyone, no matter who they are.

When Jesus came, he preached the good news for all to hear. He even talked to the Pharisees, children, and women. Once, Jesus offered the kingdom to a rich young ruler who was begging for it, who said that he would do anything for the kingdom but cared more for his wealth than God. And Jesus called tax collectors like Matthew and Zacchaeus. Even though they were professional traitors, they became loyal to Christ. No one would have expected it, but Jesus did. And their deeds produced fruit for the kingdom.

Aren't we glad that God sows the seed everywhere, no matter what the soil looks like on the surface? After all, some of us were pretty rocky soil, or so it seemed. Looking at us, our prospects may not have been great. Who would have thought to call you and me to be growers of love? But that is what God did. And the glorious thing is that God keeps sowing the seeds. God keeps throwing seeds at soil that hasn't produced before.

Some of us have let our relationship with Christ wither because of our business or preoccupations. But God is gracious and keeps giving us his love, and over time, the roots of his love overcome the obstacles in our lives, if we will only let it.
………………………..
That is the cosmic level. The second level is the earthly level. On this level, you and I are the sowers. Christ, the master of the garden, has given us some seeds and has told us to spread it. Some people would think that we should only spread it in the best of soil. In a world where most of us talk about things like effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity, that would seem logical.

But God tells us to spread his love everywhere, even where the prospects of its growth are not great.

Some would have said we were wasting our time on those deadbeats. But God knows better. God tells us to spread the seed of his love everywhere. Sometimes it will be stolen or it will die. But we should not worry about the results; we should just be faithful to our master.
…….
Jesus died for all humanity. Not just for those who were religious or receptive. Jesus died so that anyone could enter the Kingdom of God. Anyone means just that—anyone. Not just the ones who lived in nice houses and neighborhoods. Not just the ones who were nice and polite to everyone. Not just the ones who had time, talent, and money to give to the church. Jesus died for everyone - even you and me!

In closing, I would like to share the poetry written by Mother Theresa. The title is “Do it Anyway”:

Do It Anyway
By Mother Theresa

People are often unreasonable,
illogical, and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind,
people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful,
you will win some false friends
and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank,
people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building,
someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness,
they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today,
people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have,
and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis,
it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.

Let us pray.
Gracious and loving God,
We praise your name.
We thank you for this moment together in this beautiful garden of yours. Some of us had a rough week and it was hard to come to church this morning. Some of us just lost loved ones and would rather have been alone. But you gathered us this morning to worship you. Because you want us to know that you love us no matter what, no matter when.

In this coming week, help us to remember your constant love. Help us to spread our love to others. We will be the sowers like Jesus taught us. When we are discouraged, give us strength and help us to remember one more time how you spread the seeds to everywhere.

In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.


Transition Sunday (June 27, 2008)

Ecclesiastes 3: verse 1
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.

Corinthians 12:4-6 and verse 13
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same god works all of them. And in verse 13 is the comparison of the church congregation to the body and that reads for as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ.

Transition Sunday (June 27, 2008)
C. F. William Maurer

Wow, where do we go from here!
As a congregation and as individuals, we said goodbye to Pastor Jun and Izumi last Saturday and Sunday officially with a farewell party and gift, and for those of us who saw them during the week, again, we said goodbye and God speed.

As scriptures and song say, every ending is a new beginning. We must move on – not to forget – but to move on. The conference calls this, transition, and this Sunday is meant to be “transition sunday”

The definition of transition is a • passage: the act of passing from one state or place to the next

For example, moving from inside to worship to out here in the garden. Or in our case this morning, from one pastor to another. From one leader in worship to another.
I would like to talk with you this morning about the immediate plans for the next two months as far as the ministry here is concerned and, most importantly, prayer.
It happens in every church sooner or later. Eventually, the beloved pastor that many have looked to for spiritual guidance and instruction will depart for one reason or another. Occasionally, a minister may have the opportunity to devote his entire life to one particular congregation until he retires or is promoted to heaven, but the Methodist church pastoral transition occurs with far greater frequency in most churches.
First, when it comes time for our pastor to leave, remember to keep your eyes on the lord, not the man. It is understandable how people can become attached to their pastor. He is rightly viewed as God’s representative to preach and teach his word, and must be a trusted counselor and friend, a father figure of influence in our faith, a servant who sacrificed time and energy to love and care for us and our family. However, as remarkably important as god’s servants are, we must always remember that he or she are merely mortals and that our faith must be rooted in Christ alone, not in a man or woman or any one of his servants.

To be sure, no one will ever truly be able to replace a departed, beloved pastor. He was a unique person and will always be one of a kind and probably will be remembered around the dinner table by family and friends for a long time.

But his position as pastor is indeed replaceable. God has another genuinely unique servant that will be sent to lead our congregation.

Change is a part of life – maybe we became too lackadaisical up with Jun’s way of preaching and pastoral care - and although there will probably be a need for some extra patience and flexibility by everyone in this congregation, you and our church will get through this… especially if we follow these several tips:

1. Be faithful to attend services – the lack of a permanent pastor can make some feel less enthused or connected with the church, and may promote more frequent absences or visitations to other churches. However, if there was ever a time your church needed you, this is it. Instead of finding more excuses to stay away, this should be a time to increase your faithfulness in every area. Don’t be a fair-weather friend of the church… but remain faithful even during such cloudy or uncertain times. My way of looking at the summer services are that we will experience a number of preachers and laymen who bring several different testimonies and witnesses and even – in some cases – a brand new freshness from his or her ministry.

Excitingly we have a young woman friend of pastor Jun’s coming; we also have another young woman who is a trainee, groomed and counceled by pastor jun. My brother bob is coming up from New Orleans to again share with us his personal ministry. We will visit the congregational church twice this summer and enjoy rev. Heather Cherrey’s style of preaching. The rev. Jobby John of the church of south india will lead a service and our friend Rev. Thomas Willingham will also preach on Labor Day weekend. Even I wilI get to preach one Sunday. And one more point talking about Sunday mornings,

This is the time of year when people new to our community are looking for a church home. It is important to follow-up with each visitor because you have a very brief window of opportunity.

People new to the community are ready to get settled. Get their kids into a routine before school starts. They also want to make friends--especially church friends.

When someone visits our congregation for the first time they have taken the first step. In effect they are saying, "We are interested in this church family."
Now the ball is in your court. Are you going to meet them half-way or is the unspoken message, "we don't really need newcomers. If you want to become a part of the church here fine; but don't expect us to go out of our way to help you."

Now, i know you would never say that...you would not even think that. But, when someone visits a sunday morning worship service and no one from our church follows up with them, that is exactly what you are saying. We, of course, must welcome visitors and must visit them and assure them of their welcome here.

2. Be a person of prayer – people in the church must always be persons sincerely devoted to prayer… but even more so during a time that their church is without a pastor. If possible and if he can, the adversary will attempt to use the pastoral vacancy to incite mischief, conflict and discouragement in the flock, so prayer and spiritual vigilance is especially important during this time. I truly believe that there is an opposite of the loving god that will have his feet in the aisle attempting to trip us during this time.

3. Be extra patient and understanding – an interim period for any church may become tense and stressful, creating the possible atmosphere for any number of misunderstandings, so it is very helpful for everyone to add an extra seasoning of patience and even sweetness to their attitudes. Tasks may fall through the cracks or be forgotten about. It is not a time to criticize or find fault, but understand and pitch in and help make up the shortfalls. Any needs we have like for pastoral care in the hospital will be taken care of by our church’s leadership and by coverage arranged with two local pastors the rev. Tom Korkuch of the Westwood united Methodist church and also rev. Frank Kowar of the Hillsdale UMC for emergency situations.
And we can always depend on the district superintendent for his help.

4. Continue to contribute financially – during a time of leadership transition, church finances can often become one of the first casualties to suffer. So it is vitally important for you to remain steadfast with your tithes and offerings. Remember, the tithe belongs to the lord, and continue to be faithful to our heavenly father regardless of the changing nature of his church.

One facet of the pastor’s job that Pastor Jun and we did not concentrate on was “giving” or mentioning the word, “tithing.” One of the problems we now have is the conference feels that we can not support a full time pastor because of our lack of money and not totally supporting our benevolences.

5. Volunteer more than usual – I would ask that each person present this morning who is on a church committee to please raise your hand. I would now ask that those who are on more than one committee to raise their hand. And i now have the nerve to ask you to volunteer more than usual.

Sometimes people look at changes in church leadership, as an opportunity to make changes of their own... Perhaps to leave the church or to give up a position or responsibility. Not only is this a poor time to abandon the church, but is a critical time to step up and volunteer more than normal. And my friends each of us is needed now.
The church is not merely an agency to provide a service or benefit to you… the church is a relationship-based community, a family, where people serve and bless “each other” mutually… and it takes everyone’s participation to make it work the way it should. Another way to look at it, the church isn’t as much like a restaurant, where patrons are “served” and “pampered” …but is more like a pot-luck dinner where everyone brings a dish to share and pitch in with each other.

6. Help contribute to unity – during times uncertainty within an organization, voices of discouragement and discontent can often be heard in the ranks… but this is a moment that your influence of support and encouragement is so needed. Help promote peace and unity in the body. “talk up” the church among your friends, speak encouragement and help promote harmony. Again, maybe the experience we are having with a variety of preachers this summer might be just the thing for you to invite someone to our church to hear this speaker and, more importantly, meet our church members.
There are a variety of outstanding leaders in this church who will undoubtedly help bring unity and stability. The chairs of the various committees have made a commitment to that committee and the members of their leadership gifts. He/she needs to make sure that their respective committees are organized, up to date, and, pardon the vernacular, doing their thing.

7. Avoid church politics – politics is essentially a competition or struggle for control, influence or leadership, associated with promoting one’s self, opinions, or striving for position. Something that is quite contrary to the theocratic philosophy of leadership that god ordained for his church. Unfortunately, power struggles are frequent in many churches and do far more harm than good. Do your best to contribute to the harmony of the body of believers and cooperate with those who are duly authorized to lead. Do not contend with those in authority, but support and pray for them… and let god make whatever changes that are needed.

If everyone will seek to humble themselves, love and serve, god has an amazing way to bring people together with an obvious awareness of those whom he has chosen to lead.

8. Don’t waste the opportunity – what about the interim time between the pastor’s departure and the new pastor’s arrival? There is often a prevailing attitude that the spiritual focus and ministry of the church is suspended or stagnant during this period… but this shouldn’t be. God still intends for every service, guest speaker and then the ministry of a new pastor to have vital purpose… and it is important for the congregation to remain faithful and engaged, so that god’s intended work can be accomplished.
In god’s system of values, every scenario that comes our way is an opportunity …to learn, to grow spiritually, and an interim period between pastors is no different. God let’s nothing go to waste. He uses the experiences of both “blessing” and “necessity” to benefit us… and ironically, we usually learn more from the latter.

Among other things, when a church is in between pastors, it can help people become more responsible… for their own spiritual growth, as well as the several duties and tasks of the church. And often, it helps a church to more fully appreciate and value the role of a minister

Friends, this is transition. A change. A looking forward to a new way of doing things. Maybe a new emphasis on others. What we have to keep in mind and prayer is the belief of why we are together, how we can share that experience with others, and find the peace and happiness promised by our Lord and Savior. Amen

C. F. William Maurer

Bio for Rev. George N. Frederick

The Rev. George Frederick was born in Georgetown, Guyana. He is married to Marjorie Worrell, originally from Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. The couple has a son, Ronald, two daughters, Carla and Simone, and three grandsons. The Rev. Frederick did his early education, including High School, on the Island of Tobago. He worked for five years as an Exchange Technician with the Telephone Service in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, before going to Jamaica to study for the Ministry at Union Theological Seminary.

The Rev. Frederick received a Master’s degree in Theology from Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, Indiana, as well as an M.S. in Education, with a minor in Communications from Purdue University, Indiana.

He did studies in communications in Nairobi, Kenya, as well as in Birmingham and London, England. He received a World Council of Churches Scholarship and did research in ten countries in Africa on Evangelism and Communication.The Rev. Frederick, over the years, has provided leadership and training in a variety of areas including Audio Visuals, Broadcasting and drama. He has also provided outdoor education in conjunction with Rustic Camps, Health and Welfare Ministries. He has served with the Caribbean Council of Churches as Coordinator of its Communicarib program as well as Assistant Director of its Audio-Visual Center in Georgetown, Guyana. He headed the communication’s commission of the Guyana Council of Churches for four years and served the Methodist Church in Guyana for ten years in various positions, including Secretary of the Synod and producer of its weekly radio program.

In Indiana, Rev. Frederick’s served on Conference Boards and Committees of the North Indiana United Methodist Conference, as well as on the Board of Directors of Methodist Hospitals in North West Indiana. He also produced weekly Radio programs for the church in South Bend, Indiana. Currently, the Rev. Frederick is in his ninth year in the Northern New Jersey Conference at the 400 membership Calvary-Roseville UMC in East Orange. Recently, he spearheaded a four-year rebuilding program of Calvary-Roseville Church. This $7 million project replaces the previous landmark structure, which was destroyed by fire in April 1992.