Pay Attention to What? To Ministry??

The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost (RCL, Year B, Proper 13)
Summer Sermon Series (7 of 11)
August 2, 2009

Loretta W. Veney

Good Morning St. Marks! I’m Loretta Veney, co-chair of Worship and I’m honored this morning to bring you the seventh installment of our Summer Sermon Series. When this series started six weeks ago, we all listened intently as Susan focused us on “Paying attention to the present.”^[1] While I was very excited by the potential impact this series could have on us, I’ve been stunned by how riveted to it many of us, myself included, have been. When I missed part of the series, I couldn’t wait to read it when it was published. This sermon series has truly forced me to pay attention.

It may not surprise you that I actually asked to preach today – but that was before I realized that I was preaching the second round of the series that Paul preached on June 28th. Those of you who were here that Sunday probably remember how great a sermon it was, and you may even remember that Paul sang as part of his sermon. Lets all be thankful that I will NOT be singing this morning… Instead, I will attempt to provide some reflection on today’s theme - Pay Attention To What ?? to Ministry!!

In his sermon on this same theme, Paul said, and I quote “We are to pay attention, to minister, to serve those unlike us. Those from whom we stand divided by life’s differences, and by the barriers we build because of those differences – age, class, creed, culture, ability and disability, economics and education, race, sex and orientation. We are to pay attention to them, “the others,” especially those in need.”^[2] That my friends, is a brilliant quote from our Rector and I wanted to repeat it so we could feel its poweragain. Using today’s Epistle, I want to build on Paul’s quote from a slightly different perspective. I believe that we also need to serve and minister “with the others”, those who are different from us right here within St Mark’s.

Today’s Epistle fits perfectly with our Pentecost theme – it’s all about the work of ministry, it’s about recognizing and using our gifts. One of the best things about Pentecost being such a long season is that it gives us plenty of time to reflect and most importantly I believe, to act. The Epistle says “we are all called to ministry.”^[3] We only have two clergy here, and they can’t possibly do all the work there is to be done at St Mark’s. As Susan said to us a few weeks ago “they need our help.”^[4] So I ask you, what ministry are you called to at St. Mark’s and are you actually fulfilling it?? If not, what’s holding you back? The Epistle tells us that “the gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry.”^[5] In your ministry are you more like an apostle, a prophet, an evangelist or a teacher? I’ll answer my own question by sharing that I relate most to being a teacher. In my time at St. Mark’s, I’ve both taught and learned.

Since becoming co-chair of Worship last month with my sister-in-Christ, Jan Lipscomb, I’ve had to face my fear of failing at such an important job as the Worship Pillar. I’ve talked to many parishioners over the last few months about their ministry and gifts in attempt to recruit them for the many opportunities to minister here at St Mark’s. I learned that people are reluctant to use their gifts because they are afraid of failing, or being criticized or working with others they don’t know or like.

I’m going to ask a favor of you. Pick one of these windows in this Nave and throw any fear or worry about using your gifts and ministering to others right out that window. The Apostles were often afraid during their ministry too, but they carried on, even if reluctantly at times. As part of paying attention to our ministry let’s all focus on working together, even if it sometimes feels uncomfortable. Don’t keep your gifts and your ministry to yourself because you’re worried about working with a particular person, or what people will think about the job you’ve done. Sometimes in carrying out our ministry we have to laugh at ourselves and our fear and press on anyway, even if there is a chance we might fail. Jan and I have already had several opportunities to laugh at ourselves while learning the job of Worship, and I’ll share one story with you that occurred as we prepared for the Maundy Thursday dinner a few months ago. We were unaware that we needed to pay Ed Green’s team for setting up the tables and chairs here in the Nave and we didn’t find this out until the set up was almost finished.

Amid the panic of realizing that the worship budget didn’t have the money to cover table and chair setup, my first thought was to ask Ed, “can you take the tables and chairs down?” but that was silly because where would everyone sit? Then I thought that since everyone attending the dinner was responsible for supplying their own table cloths, tableware and food, maybe we could also ask that they bring their own table and chair too. But after realizing this probably wouldn’t go over too well, we learned that we needed to get the money for the Nave setup from Kathryn Powers. Not five minutes later, we saw Kathryn walking down 3rd Street and literally chased her down to request the money we needed to pay our debt. Kathryn tried not to show that she thought Jan and I were two crazy parishioners, both for wating until the last minute with our request and for chasing her down in the middle of the street. Yet in spite of that, Kathryn helped us willingly and immediately. Why do I share that story? I share it because the Maundy Thursday dinner at St Mark’s is a huge deal and if Jan and I failed to make it a successful event, namely by not providing tables and chairs for our community, we may never have lived it down. But we pressed on with our ministry and all turned out quite well. Many people have quoted my first sermon here from two years ago back to me, where I said I loved all things Worship – and now, I’m one of its co-chairs. In spite of my initial fear, being part of worship IS my gift, so I thank Paul and Susan for allowing me to both pay attention to and to act on my ministry.

In my research for this sermon, I found a very interesting reflection from Wayne Barber, Senior Pastor of Hoffmantown Church in Albuquerque, NM, where one of my college friends is a member. Pastor Barber says that “our gifts rise up in us and that when we begin to function in our gifts, the Spirit begins to fill us with divine ability.”^[6] I pray that Jan and I will experience this “divine ability” as we carry out our worship duties, and I pray that you will receive “divine ability” for the ministry you are called to as well.

As you enjoy the rest of your summer, please make a little time to Pay Attention to and focus on the gifts that Pastor Barber says are “rising up” in you. And lets all promise to carry out our ministry, “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.”^[7] I promise you that Jan and I are committed to carrying out our Worship ministry with love and in peace, even when the going gets tough. Last week, Paul wisely cautioned us that, “there is a cost to paying attention because everything that looks, sounds, smells, tastes, and feels good isn’t good.”^[8] In paying attention to your ministry however, I’m hopeful that it will not only feel good, but that the only cost will be that you may have a little less time on your hands.

I’m confident that our success can be unlimited here at St Mark’s and beyond If we work together with Paul, Susan and with “the others” in our midst, and if we use our gifts without fear. One reason for my confidence is that in my three years at St. Mark’s, I’ve seen many of the gifts in action that all of you in this community possess. But the main reason I am so confident that we will all begin to Pay more Attention to our Ministry, is simply because We are…St. Mark’s. Amen

[1] The Reverend Susan Beth Pinkerton, Assistant Rector of St. Mark’s

[2] The Reverend Paul Roberts Abernathy, Rector of St. Mark’s

[3] The Epistle appointed for the day is Ephesians 4:1-16

[4] The Reverent Susan Beth Pinkterton, Assistant Rector of St. Mark’s

[5] The Epistle appointed for the day is Ephesians 4:1-16

[6] Wayne Barber, Senior Pastor Hoffmantown Church, Alburquerque, NM

[7] The Epistle appointed for the day is Ephesians 4:1-16

[8] The Reverend Paul Roberts Abernathy, Rector of St. Mark’s