As of noon today-12:15 at the latest, the world is going to be
a very different place than it was when you woke up this morning.
This is a great day in the story of faith--great for this church--great
for Christ's church--because this morning we celebrate a baptism
where a child is born anew into the body of Christ--and the gift
of the Spirit is poured forth. This is a great day in the story
of faith--because this morning ten young people who were blessed
by that gift of baptism years ago step forward to acknowledge
that gift's presence in their lives and declare themselves open
to the Spirit's presence and power. As of noon today-12:15 at
the latest--the world is going to be a very different place than
it was when you woke up this morning.
There is one name on the baptismal banner this
morning. If I say that name-Payton Michael Shull--for most of
the congregation there is no particular emotion or feeling -no
identification of a face with a name or memory of time together
-that, of course, is understandable because Payton is but a babe
in arms -but ask his parents Lory and Steve and they will tell
you stories -show you pictures-express their feelings and hopes
and dreams and all for a name yet unknown to the majority of
the congregation -to say nothing of the world. Flip to the back
page of your bulletin and you will find other names -some of
these are a bit more familiar to the congregation -especially
if you have taught Sunday school during the past dozen or so
years -or if you have spent time the past two years browsing
through the list of worship participants you may recognize some
names as those of acolytes and nursery helpers Let me assure
you that as these names are read this morning during the confirmation
service there will be not a few in the congregation who will
have some definite memories -feelings-experiential references
to define these names. These confirmands, like every class
I have ever had, have distinct personalities. There already
are stories to be told about each of them-by name. That might
be a most fitting image for this morning-story. When Jesus spoke
with his disciples he regularly spoke in terms of story -in particular
he used parables -a story form the confirms are very familiar
with -but the whole study of the Bible is a study of the story
of faith. When the early disciples journeyed forth they told
the story of Jesus -the story of His life, death and resurrection
-but they also listened to other people tell their stories.
In our first lesson for today we find a certain woman Lydia
listening to the apostle Paul and then opening her heart and
home to Paul. The story of faith in each of our lives is what
this day is about -a beginning chapter called baptism -an early
chapter called confirmation which probably comes right after
the chapter called Middle School and just ahead of the one
called High School. -as we witness the unfolding story before
us we are reminded of similar chapters in our lives. I hope
that many will have opportunity to share their stories today
-for families to celebrate the stories of faith begun-lived -endured-survived.
Most in this congregation have some type of story about their
confirmation. It is important to note that what we have today
are chapters of an unfolding story not the complete
volume of faith. The whole story of faith is not found in the
chapter called baptism -A baptism faith is totally untested and
for most of us a very early chapter -too new and undefined.
The whole story of faith is also not found in the chapter called
confirmation -although there are many who spend much of their
lives making this moment their fullest faith statement. The
next chapters in life after confirmation are some of the most
faith bewildering ever -testing and questioning. If today
concludes the last chapter in the story of faith development
we know that the next chapters are going to take some difficult
and sad turns. A confirmation faith may be a great beginning
but it is only that-a beginning. While the confirmands think
they have demonstrated proficiency in the faith -We have-at best-actually
only established some of the vocabulary of faith -there is much
more to do and discover about the story of faith than to suggest
that the story ends here. When Jesus speaks to his disciples
in our Gospel lesson for today -it is a concluding moment in
a chapter about faith development -You might even say this was
his confirmation sermon before turning the disciples loose from
his instruction. Jesus spoke to his disciples with little concern
for how many of His Words they could recite or remember -what
matters was the doing. Those who love me will keep my word,
he says. -Jesus did not say memorize my words or analyze my
words or even think or feel my words -He said keep my words-do
what they call upon us to do. That is why in the confirmation
program at Holy Spirit we do not just emphasize knowing -we
also strive to help young people to grow and to serve. As of
noon today-12:15 at the latest -the world is going to be a very
different place than it was when you woke up this morning.
Our Gospel lesson has Jesus informing the disciples that He
gives them his peace -but what he gives is not given as the world
gives. We do not know a great deal that is not of the world
-the world, after all, is where we live our lives. But Jesus
wanted us to know that the world is not the only place we live
-there is more to our lives than the world. There is God.
Do you know what a constant is? A constant is a number used
in mathematics, physics and business to complete or balance
a formula. The constant is always the same but without the
constant the formula makes no sense-no possible answer even
comes close. Some examples of constants are numbers like pi-and
the speed of light -and Planck's constant. The constant makes
solutions possible -gives meaning to what seems meaningless.
In the formula called the story of our lives there are very few
constants -friends come and go-jobs change-the social structures
change About the only constant is God -but which God? -The
baptism God or the Sunday school story God or the confirmation
class God -or the God we sought in a moment of crisis or at
the moment of a loved ones death. James Forbes refers to a
"holy ratio" -the key is keeping God in the denominator
-that all life is lived subject to God's activity. We live
in a terrible neighborhood if you want to talk about faith. It
is a terrible neighborhood because it makes faith development
and prayer so difficult I don't mean that anyone gets arrested
for praying-at least not privately And certainly no one gets
arrested for attending church or doing good works -in fact our
government strives to protect and even encourage such activities
What makes this neighborhood such a tough place to talk about
faith is that life here is so good. If we give thanks to
God for the meal we are about to eat it is usually pretty routine
thanks -there really was little doubt that there would be food
on our table. And it is probably very rare to give thanks for
a bed to sleep in -certainly God hardly crosses our minds as
we get into our cars or as we walk through the stores, pick
the phone or punch up the computer. We are a blessed people
whose faith is tested rarely by questions of survival. We actually
have to create artificial experiences to help us better understand
the trials of life that truly test the hope and dreams of people
-CROP Walks-Habitat for Humanity Projects-Volunteering at the
PADS shelter. In our daily lives it is almost impossible to
seriously pray for food or shelter when there is no shortage
of any want and most needs in our lives. "Give us this
day our daily bread"-the prayer almost begs the question,
"In what form?" -bagel-muffin-donut-Krispie Kream-homemade
or store bought What our confirmands are about to learn is
that faith grows where hope is needed There are some who hope
they get good grades but we know that grades are about doing
the work -that real hope has little to do with it-study is the
answer There will be hopes to make a sports team or play a certain
role in school But students quickly learn that ability and
hard work are the stuff of success in school and in life -before
long faith and hope can be overwhelmed by our efforts to succeed
by our own hard work and striving. But the next chapter in life
faced by these young people might also be called "Finding
your limits"-there will be great days of joy ahead -but
also days filled with frustration -moments when you discover
that you simply aren't cut out to be the great mathematician
or entertainer or writer or athlete that you thought you were
going to be. What faith tells us in that moment is that we
still have value -we still have a place in the world -In fact,
we have an even more special role to play because we are not perfect.
What we do each Sunday in worship is not so much gather with
our friend Jesus -He gave us something more-something much grander
-He gave us something that the world could not give us-the Holy
Spirit -the divine gift that is beyond us -the hope that lifts
us into the eternal and says there is always one more chapter
to our faith story. But our eyes seldom see beyond-into the
constant eternal of God. The mystery and power of faith is found
in those times when God seemed so close you thought you could
touch him -certainly God touched you. Today may be such a moment-but
already there should be others. Ann Weems puts it this way-
When we were younger we used to lie on our backs in the yard
and look up at the night sky-our eyes filled with the stars
-and as we stared we would be lifted to the stars -we would
wonder what was there -we would float into the night. Then
our mothers would call us in and we would return to earth where
our backs itched from the grass and we felt that great thirst
but our eyes-oh, our eyes. The Spirit is poured forth this
day-in baptism -in the laying on of hands during the service
of confirmation -in the gift of Christ's body and blood -faith
chapters are being written and the world is going to be a different
place. Faith matters-it changes the way we see the needs of others
-it reorders our lives and priorities -it challenges old ways
of thinking about prejudices and values -it calls us to embrace
forgiveness and tempers justice. By noon today-12:15 at the
latest--the majority of church services will be over and the
faithful should be back on the streets--the faith filled
will be on the streets -and that should make the world a little
bit different as a new chapter of faith begins.
Amen.