SERMON
at
Christ Church, Watertown, Connecticut
Christmas I
December 26, 2010
by
The Rev. Stanley C. Kemmerer, AHC

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God….And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.

The Savior of the world is reduced to a particle of a sentence. The core of our religion is reduced to a two component proclamation: “The Mass is celebrated; the Word is preached.” And Yahweh God, Yahweh God’s self, reduces in response to father Abraham’s question, “Who shall we say you are (since in ancient Hebrew tradition God’s name cannot be uttered)?” “Say ‘I AM,’” but two words.

We grow up flinging back at playground taunters, “Sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me.”

And we learn, all too soon how naïve our little chant is:
“Fatty, fatty, two by four….”
“Four eyes”
“Nigger”
“Different”
“Queer”
“Kike”
“Mick”
“Frog”
“Dago”

We grow older and we learn the power of other words:
“rejected”
“denied”
“does not meet expectations”
“non performing asset”
“lost confidence in”
“Communist”
“does not play well with others”
“cancer”
“terminal”

Have you been monitoring your emotions as I’ve spoken these words or phrases? Who says words will never hurt us?

But, then, there are other words and phrases, like:
“friend”
“soul mate”
“hope”
“trust”
“member”
“colleague”
“accepted”
“approved”
“selected”
“exceeds expectations”
“over the top”
“Yes, we can!”

And, sometimes, a word or phrase that meant one thing, elicited one response, comes to mean another, comes to elicit another response.

I saw an editorial cartoon a few days ago. It was of President Obama in what appeared to be the Oval Office. Outside the window was a crowd shouting, “Yes, we can!” Beside the President was a figure the viewer would take to be a staffer. The President is saying, “They’re still with me!” The staffer is responding, “Those are Republicans!”

And, then, there are the “farewell discourses,” of whatever form. Jesus talks to his disciples before he goes to Jerusalem for the final time. There is his “High Priestly Prayer,” “…that they all may be one.”

Though, in a far lesser form, my thoughts turn to such things as these two years we’ve spent together draw to a close. What thoughts would I leave you with? So many words have been spoken over this time, so many thoughts shared, issues debated. Let me offer but a few final thoughts:

First, “Thank you.” And, most of all, to Mary. For her presence on this team. For her excellent and transparent, down-to-earth preaching. For her quiet and happy presence. For her hard work and “can do” spirit. For her willingness to extend herself to walk with you into this next chapter when she already has an overfull plate. And for her support and wise counsel to me over these many months.

And to all of you, for such willingness as you have displayed to “push the envelope” of your respective comfort zones. For your patience. For stepping up to the plate in so many ways to share the ministry in this place. For staying with one another as the physical surroundings of your worship has changed and the details of our life as a community has changed. For investing your time, your talents and your treasure in the enterprise, without assurance where it all will lead. For your support to me and this ministry over these many months. To borrow from the language of the confessional, “Whatsoever good you have done or evil you have endured be unto you” for good as you write this next chapter in your community life.

Next, I leave you with the colorful words from I Peter, used in the Office of Compline: Be sober. Be vigilant. For your adversary, the devil, lurks about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Whom resist, steadfast in the faith.

Regard these two combinations of words, these two phrases, as red flags, as signs of the devil lurking about as a roaring lion:

“I’ll try.” That statement includes its own loophole. It is not “can do.” It is self-defeating. It lacks confidence. Substitute, “I will.” Substitute, “I’ll do it.” Substitute, “Consider it done.”

“How can I, when…..” That’s a blocking phrase. Nobody wants to hear it. It excuses failure. It displaces taking responsibility. Substitute, “Help me with…” Substitute, “this much I’ve got well in hand. Where would the resources be to address this lack?” Substitute, “I’ll give it a try. Let’s see what happens. I’ll pay careful attention to the details so we can work with them to get to goal.”

I leave you with this “last word” from this pulpit, “Prevail.” You can, you know!