1 Peter 3:13-22

13 Who can really hurt you if you are dedicated to doing good?

14 If you’re derided for your faithfulness to the covenant,
you’re blessed.
Don’t fear your opponents;
don’t be intimidated.

15 But revere in your hearts the Messiah as the Holy Lord.
Always be prepared to explain your hope
to anyone who asks you about it,
but do it with tenderness and respect,

16 keeping a clear conscience,
so that, when you are mistreated,
those who malign your Messiah-led faithfulness may be ashamed.

17 God’s will is:
It is better to suffer for doing what’s right
than it is to ever do evil.

18 For the Messiah also suffered once for sins –
the one faithful to the covenant
for those unfaithful to the covenant.

In order to bring us to God,
he was executed in the flesh but made alive again in the Spirit,

19 by which he went and proclaimed to the imprisoned spirits

20 who in long ago times
did not obey the God who waited patiently while Noah built the ark,
in which a few people – eight – were saved through water.

21 Baptism is an echo of this,
and now saves us
not by washing dirt from the body
but as a promise of God’s faithfulness
through the resurrection of the Messiah Jesus,

22 who has gone into heaven
and is at the right hand of God,
with angels, authorities, and powers
under his command.

- translated by KHM, 5/17/2017

I Took A Vow

In July 1991, I took a vow.

I stood before God at the altar of the local church in Johnstown, PA which had first nurtured my faith and I vowed to God and to a breathtakingly beautiful young woman that I would live with her in holy marriage. I took a vow that I would love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others be faithful to her as long as we both shall live.

The striking lady who miraculously became my wife that day and the presiding pastor both graciously affirmed my vow and permitted me to enter into a new covenant.

At various points in the 1990s & 2000s, I took a vow.

I stood before God, my wife, and gathered disciples of Jesus Christ at the altars of three different United Methodist churches and I vowed to nurture the children with which God has blessed me in Christ's holy Church, raise them in the Christian faith, teach them the Holy Scriptures and give reverent attendance upon the private and public worship of God, that they might be guided to accept God's saving grace for themselves, to profess their faith openly and to lead Christian lives.

My wife and the various presiding pastors all graciously affirmed my vow and permitted me to enter into a new covenant

In June 2003, I took a vow.

I stood before God and the clergy of the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church and I vowed that I would preach, support and maintain the doctrines, teachings and polity of The United Methodist Church.

The presiding Bishop, Hae Jong Kim, and the gathered clergy members of the Conference all graciously affirmed my vow and permitted me to enter into a new covenant.

A few days later, I took a vow.

I stood before God, my wife and children and extended family, clergy colleagues, and members of various United Methodist congregations as Bishop Kim charged me "to serve rather than to be served, to proclaim the faith of the Church and no other, to look after the concerns of God above all." I confessed, among other things, that "the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments contain all things necessary for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and are the unique and authoritative standard for the church’s faith and life."

I vowed "to lead the people of God to faith in Jesus Christ, to participate in the life and work of the community, and to seek peace, justice, and freedom for all people," - not as I define those terms, but as the Church defines those terms. I went on to vow "to be loyal to The United Methodist Church, accepting its order, liturgy, doctrine, and discipline, defending it against all doctrines contrary to God’s Holy Word," and committed to be accountable with those serving with me, and to the bishop and those appointed to supervise our ministry.

Bishop Kim along with the gathered clergy and laity members of the Conference all graciously affirmed my vow and permitted me to enter into a new covenant.

A vow is, "a solemn promise, pledge, or personal commitment made to a deity, person or group of people committing oneself to an act, service, or condition." It is a reflection of a person's character. One's keeping of vows demonstrates how trustworthy one is.

If I deliberately, unrepentantly break one of the sacred vows I have willingly made, all of my vows may be called into question, as my word would become utterly worthless. My wife and children would have every right to distrust me and to be filled with shame that I am their husband and father. I would be completely without honor as a man and as a human being.

There is no reason to believe that if one breaks their marriage vows, they will be faithful to their ordination vows.

There is no reason to believe that if one breaks their ordination vows, they will be faithful to their wedding vows.

There is a crisis of vow-keeping in the world today as persons freely break vows which they made before God at their wedding.

There is a crisis of vow-keeping in the United States today as persons freely break vows which they made before God at the baptism of their children.

There is a crisis of vow-keeping in The United Methodist Church today as clergy at every level of ecclesial life freely break vows which they made before God at their ordination and/or consecration.

This is the case whether one is teaching that homosexual behavior is acceptable (in clear violation of Church teaching), presiding at a wedding between two persons of the same gender (in clear violation of Church teaching), denying the efficacy of infant baptism (in clear violation of Church teaching) or rebaptizing a person who is already baptized (in clear violation of Church teaching).

The paramount issue is not whether homosexual behavior, gay marriage, infant baptism or rebaptism are theologically acceptable; the issue is whether one will be true to the vows they have made before God, even when they may struggle with those vows. This isn't just a question of inadequate or at times even non-Christian theology; this is a question of a person's character.

May God grant me grace to keep the vows I have made, that my wife and children might know I am a man of my word, and that Jesus will be proud of me. May God grant me grace to stand strong in the vows I have made, to hold accountable in love those who struggle with their own vows, and to maintain a heart of mercy and reconciliation when working with sisters and brothers who have broken their vows.

So you want to be a rock 'n' roll star?

In a few days, I'll be participating the in Western PA Congress on Evangelism. Because I'll be gone for a few days, I'm trying to get a load of work done, including putting the finishing touches on next Sunday's sermon.

I'm preaching on the lectionary reading from Acts 2...sort of. The Acts reading stops at verse 41, with the rest of the chapter in the readings for April 13. But, since I'm focusing on Psalm 23 on April 13, I've combined the two Acts readings for use on April 6 (I'm sure you find this fascinating).

At any rate, it's been a good exercise for me, since much of the passage from which I'm preaching deals directly with evangelism.

In January 1967, one of my favorite bands, the Byrds, released the song "So You Want to Be a Rock'n'Roll Star". GREAT song. The first part of the song chronicles what one needs to do in order to become a rock star. "If you want _____, then do _____."

"So you want to be a rock 'n' roll star?
Then listen now to what I say
Just get an electric guitar
Then take some time
and learn how to play
And with your hair
swung right
And your pants too tight
It's gonna be all right
Then it's time to go downtown
Where the agent man
won't let you down
Sell your soul to the company
Who are waiting there to sell plastic ware
And in a week or two
If you make the charts
The girls'll tear you apart"

- McGuinn/Hillman, 1967

I've loved that song for years. But, like this legendary Hall of Fame band can teach us what steps we need to take to become stars, so, in my view, the Acts 2 passage can teach us the steps we need to take to evangelize.

"...they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved."

- Acts 2:42-47 (ESV)

The end of this passage shows the remarkable success of the baby Church regarding evangelism. We Methodists, who at one time prided ourselves on approaching things methodically, can learn much from this passage. Indeed, once we did, I think. I personally need a reminder of that...and often.

What were some of the key elements in this evangelistic success?

* DEVOTION TO THE APOSTLES' TEACHING - We may not have direct access to Paul, John, and Peter, but we have the inspired Holy Scriptures, and 2000 years of interpretive tradition, including doctrinal standards which Methodist pastors have taken sacred vows to uphold. How often do we refer to Wesley's sermons, our General Rules, or our Articles of Religion in our preaching and teaching? It seems to me that inasmuch as we embrace, obediently teach, and faithfully embody our doctrine, the Spirit just might bless our evangelistic efforts.

* FELLOWSHIP - Just being together and hanging out with our sisters and brothers in the faith is a tremendous blessing. Last night was "Spirit Night" for JUMC at our local Chick-fil-a, and we gathered together for dinner and had a joyous time (and were probably a little too loud for some of the other patrons!). In fact, just hanging out with my sisters and brothers is, for me, the highlight of Annual Conference. Inasmuch as we seek fellowship with one another, the Spirit just might bless our evangelistic efforts.

* THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD - Gathering for worship is an essential part of our Christian life, and we ought to be regularly celebrating the Eucharist. General Conference 2004, in its adoption of This Holy Mystery as an official Eucharistic statement of the UMC, encouraged congregations to move to weekly celebration. To my knowledge, the only community in our Conference which celebrates every week in every service is Hot Metal Bridge. Shame on me. Inasmuch as we break the Bread and share the Cup, the Spirit just might bless our evangelistic efforts.

* PRAYER - Certainly we all agree that we need to be a people of prayer. The congregation that sent me out into ministry, Trinity UMC in Indiana, PA, held weekly prayer meetings. During that hour, they didn't gather primarily for Bible study or fellowship; they gathered to pray - for one another, for the Church, for this broken world. What a wonderful practice! We need to say our prayers, individually, as married couples and families, and communally. Inasmuch as we faithfully pray, the Spirit just might bless our evangelistic efforts.

* SIGNS & WONDERS - My charismatic friends have specific views on what these things are. God bless them; they're one up on the rest of us...who generally have no idea what the writer of Acts means by these words. But we do know that these things were present in the infant Church. My own view is that "signs" and "wonders" are, among other things, seeing lives transformed by the gospel...and being a part of that transformation. Inasmuch as we are seeking the signs and wonders of transformation, the Spirit just might bless our evangelistic efforts.

* SHARING - No one in the Church should ever go hungry, go without health coverage, or not have access to quality education. In spite of what politicians believe (appealing to our own self-centeredness, in my opinion), it is not the government's job to provide those things...it is the job of the Church. When we celebrate the sacrament of baptism, I make it clear that when the congregation takes their vows, they are making a promise to God to see that the needs of the child are met. If the child needs food, it's the congregation's responsiblity to provide. Shelter in the storm? Heat in the winter? Clothes in the cold? Camp in the summer? School supplies in the autumn? A ride to worship or Vacation Bible School? We need to be a people of sharing and responsibility, who take our vows seriously. If a member of our congregation is lacking any need, we should take it personally. Inasmuch as we care for one another's needs, the Spirit just might bless our evangelistic efforts.

The end result? "The Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved." So, it's a wonderful thing to learn new ways of telling the old, old story, but evangelism begins, it seems to me, with the Church being the Church.

"O gracious God, we pray for your holy Church universal, that you would be pleased to fill it with all truth, in all peace. Where it is corrupt; purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is amiss, reform it; where it is right, establish it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of him who died and rose again and ever lives to make intercession for us, Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen."

- The United Methodist Book of Worship (1992), #501

Holy Thursday 2008

"Come and partake the gospel feast,
be saved from sin,
in Jesus rest;
O taste the goodness
of our God,
and eat his flesh
and drink his blood.

"See him set forth
before your eyes;
behold the bleeding sacrifice;
his offered love make haste to embrace,
and freely now be saved by grace.

"Ye who believe his record true
shall sup with him and he with you;
come to the feast, be saved from sin,
for Jesus waits to take you in."

- Charles Wesley, 1747

Feasting at His Heavenly Banquet

On Sunday, we were blessed to celebrate the Lord's Supper at JUMC. Following morning worship, I drove to our local hospital to share the sacrament with a patient and his wife who are part of our congregational family. It was a blessed time.

As I shared with these precious souls, I was reminded of the power of liturgy. Typically, I use a "Great Thanksgiving" from our Book of Worship, or one I've written or adapted, and the laity follow along with the printed liturgy found on pages 15-16 in our Hymnal. When sharing the sacrament in a hospital or nursing home, as an extension of our congregational celebration, I usually use the service found on pages 7-10 of the "pocket edition" of our Book of Worship.

As I led the man and his wife in the liturgy, the power of the ritual took on a significance far greater than my own eloquence (or lack thereof) could provide. Early in my ministry, I often simply uttered informal words of institution as I shared in "out of sanctuary" settings, but I've learned that disciples who are sick, suffering, or feeling isolated are reassured and comforted through the familiar words of a more formal liturgy. Liturgy, in great measure, forms our discipleship. In times of need, we will likely not remember what the pastor preached about six months earlier, but we may well remember such oft repeated phrases as...

"Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again" or

"Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen."

Certainly, the two souls I shared with in the hospital on Sunday could relate to and draw strength from these words, which, because of liturgical repetition, they know so well.

I sometimes fear that in our efforts to be "current" or "contemporary", we too quickly reject the important liturgical practices which have formed God's people for centuries. As Pope Paul VI wrote, "Liturgy is like a strong tree whose beauty is derived from the continuous renewal of its leaves, but whose strength comes from the old trunk, with solid roots in the ground." A balance is needed between the depth of traditional liturgy and 21st century notions of worship and practice.

At any rate, Sunday's excursion was a good reminder for me, for which I thank God.

What are your practices regarding Eucharistic celebration? When you celebrate the sacrament with dear folks in hospitals or personal care homes, how do you do it? How can I be more faithful in my own pastoral journey?

Holy Thursday 2007

"Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, 'Take, eat; this is my body.'

And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, 'Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.'"

- Matthew 26:26-29 (ESV)

It's always been a big deal for me that Jesus said, "...this is my body..." and "...this is my blood...". Nowhere does he say, "This represents my body" or "This symbolizes my blood". Despite that, far too many Protestants are quick to make the claim that the Eucharist is only a memorial meal, albeit one in which grace may be imparted to those who partake in faith.

That is nothing short of textual eisegesis, which should always be avoided, especially by those who value the authority of Scripture.

Methodism has historically rejected transubstantiation, the Thomistic doctrine which has become the official teaching of the Roman Catholic Church. Also rejected have been ubiquitarianism, taught by Lutherans and sometimes erroneously referred to as consubstantiation; virtualism, taught by Calvin; and memorialism, taught by Zwingli.

What's a Methodist to do? The answer is simple: trust Jesus. Take him at his word, and don't worry about how it all works. Sacrament, after all, is the Latin translation of the Greek word "mystery". We are free to let it remain a mystery. The Eucharist is a sacred meal to be celebrated and enjoyed, not a puzzle to be solved.

Aside from that, sacraments are, according to Article XVI, "...not only badges or tokens of Christian men's profession, but rather they are certain signs of grace...". There is a difference between a sign and a symbol.

A symbol is a stand-in, a replacement. A sign, on the other hand, is a mark, an image, or a seal...something which confirms, and/or something which directs one in a certain way. The word is rich with meaning.

So, when we share the sacrament, we become a part of the story, and the Spirit is among us doing miraculous things. The bread, as Jesus claimed, is his body; the cup is his blood. Let us partake faithfully as we celebrate this holy evening.

Do This; Remember Me!

In 2003, I wrote a hymn text on the theme of Our Lord's Last Supper, entitled “Do This; Remember Me!” I've used it in worship every Holy Thursday since then; this will be the first year I've used it at Jefferson church. Other congregations have also used it.

The hymn has been featured on the worship site of the General Board of Discipleship (see here), and is listed again this year as one of their "official" recommendations for Holy Week use. The hymn is also part of the great Cyberhymnal site (see here), which in my opinion is the top hymnal on the web (I use it often in my planning and prep, along with the more UM-oriented Hymnsite).

I share this info here because I really like the hymn, which, as with most things in my life, is more a result of God's grace and Robyn's patience than any gifts of mine. I think the text effectively communicates, in a very simple way, the barest meaning of the Blessed Sacrament, and can be used in a traditional or contemporary setting any time the bread and the cup are shared, not only on Holy Thursday. If anyone is interested in obtaining the sheet music for the hymn, let me know, and I'll get it to you.

A Great Thanksgiving During a Time of Fear in the Holy Land

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is right, and a good and joyful thing,
always and everywhere to give thanks to you,
Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
You created all humankind to live together
as one family, at peace,
serving you and one another
with mercy and grace.

During this time of worldwide strife and fear,
when misunderstanding, hatred, and violence
seem to reign in your world,
remind us of your intent at creation,
and give us your vision for the future,
that your people might effectively call all peoples
to live in peace,
working toward the possibility of harmony and understanding,
for our sinful hearts are filled
with confusion and selfishness.

When we turned away and our love failed,
your love remained steadfast,
working through your people throughout history
to call all creation to peace, justice and reconciliation.

And so,
with your people on earth
and all the company of heaven
we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ.
Through Jesus Christ, you have taught us a new way,
a way which favors turning the other cheek
and loving our enemies,
finding our security only in you,
rather than seeking a false security through violence,
or vengeance through gunfire, bombs and death.

By the baptism of his suffering, death and resurrection
you gave birth to your church,
delivered us from slavery to sin and death,
and made with us a new covenant
by water and the Spirit.

On the night in which he gave himself up for us
he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread,
gave it to his disciples, and said:
"Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you.
Do this in remembrance of me."

When the supper was over, he took the cup,
gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said:
"Drink from this, all of you;
this is my blood of the new covenant,
poured out for you and for many
for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this as often as you drink it,
in remembrance of me."

And so,
in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving
as a holy and living sacrifice,
in union with Christ's offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of faith.

Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here,
and on these gifts of bread and wine.
Make them to be for us the body and blood of Christ,
that we may be for the world the body of Christ,
redeemed by his blood,
and called to the ministry of reconciliation.

By your Spirit, make us one with Christ,
one with each other,
and one in ministry to all the world,
until Christ comes in final victory,
and we feast at his heavenly banquet.

Through your Son Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit in your holy church,
All honor and glory is yours, almighty Father,
Now and for ever.

Amen.

- written by Rev. Keith H. McIlwain of Jefferson Hills, PA, 7/06, released into the public domain, and free to use by any and all who desire to go on to perfection in love