Celebration of Service
Rev. Daniel N. Schowalter, Th.D.
February 20, 2005
{text: Genesis 12:1-4, Psalms 121,122, 1 Corinthians 12:4-13}

Imagine for a moment, what it was like for Abraham, when he received his call from God in Mesopotamia almost 4000 years ago. He and his family were quite comfortable in the city of Haran, but as we read in Genesis 12, God didn’t necessarily want them to be comfortable. God asked Abraham to collect his loved ones, sell his land, and move to the land of Canaan almost 500 miles away. Now a 500 mile move might not seem so drastic to us today, but remember that Abraham and his family didn’t have the option of calling Beacon Van lines, they had to load their possessions into carts and hike.

Why did he go? Why did he say yes when the Lord called? Why was he willing to risk everything? Genesis tells us that he did so because he believed. Abraham believed that God would make of his descendents a great nation. Abraham believed that the Lord would be both protector and guide for his offspring, and Abraham believed that God had a plan that would result in great things if only he would respond to the call.

Christians today consider themselves to be spiritual descendents of Abraham, and part of that community of promise. As such, we should not be surprised that the call which God made to Abraham so many years ago continues to sound forth to us as modern believers. God still calls us, but don’t worry, you may not have to start packing up your belongings just yet. The call that each of us receives today is not necessarily a call for relocation, but rather a call for vocation, a call to service. Our belief in God and commitment to Jesus Christ requires that we open our ears, our minds, and our hearts to hear how God would have us serve.

For some people, the call to service means a commitment to ordained ministry, and requires that one devote oneself to the training and practice necessary for professional service in the church. Today as we mark the 20th anniversary of my ordination in this church, I want to focus a little on my particular experience of ordination to teaching ministry. But more importantly, I want to make it clear that all of us, each and every person in this church is called to minister and to serve God in their own unique and significant way.

In our busy 21st century world, it is easy to lose track of this call to service. In some ways the presence of ordained ministers leading the congregation can cause us to forget our own call to ministry. Groups like the Quakers who usually do not have specially designated ministers in their meetings may have a built in advantage in creating a Christian community. Without ordained leadership, it is obvious that the meeting only exists if everyone is willing to contribute their particular gifts to the growth and betterment of the community. As soon as there is someone “in charge” someone who is paid to lead and serve, then it is always tempting to defer serving to that person; to let the minister take care of it.

Thankfully, I would say that most of the time, most of the people in this church do not succumb to this temptation. We tend to understand that the church will only be in a strong position to do Christ’s work as long as we, the members, contribute our time, our treasures, and our talents. At times, however, all of us fall into the trap of asking how well the church is serving us, rather than how well we are serving God and the gathering of God’s people in this place. If we need a reminder of how important this service can be, we need only look at the example of Paul and his interaction with the Jesus followers at Corinth.

The church at Corinth was a very troubled congregation. There was diversity of belief, of practice, of social status, and of ethnic background. It was a mess. I remember preaching a sermon at the ordination of Doug Gray at North Shore Church, probably 10 years ago now. In that sermon, I tried to impress on Doug that no matter what challenges he faced in his ministry, he would never have to deal with a congregation as difficult as the Corinthians. It is very instructive to see how Paul approaches this unruly bunch? How does he respond to their fighting, their controversies, and their factions?

Instead of lecturing the congregation about all of the things they are doing wrong, and calling out the troublemakers, Paul talks to them about service. He talks about the fact that God has given each person special gifts for ministry. He makes it clear that the body of Christ is only whole and effective when all the members are working in harmony. There is no reason to hold up certain gifts over others, no cause for boasting over certain abilities. Everyone in the church has a gift and those gifts are from God.

The same is also true in the modern church. We do not all have the same gifts. Some of us can sing in the choir. Some of us can stand up in front of a group and speak. Some of us can sit at the bedside and comfort a dying person. Some of us can chair a committee. Some of us can paint and design decorations. Some of us can teach Sunday School or adult classes. Some of us can cook. Some of us can plan fellowship events. Some of us can calculate the budget. Some of us can bring words of encouragement for faith. And so on.

This list is not the same as the one in 1 Corinthians, but it has one thing in common with Paul’s list. Notice that the gifts are all said to be “activated by one and the same spirit” (12:11). The Greek term translated “to activate” here comes into English as “to energize.” The spirit gives us these gifts and energizes us to use them for the building up of Christ’s body.

As individuals, we cannot be all things to all people. But as a church we can combine our individual gifts of the spirit, and be energized to live out our Christian faith in this community and in the world. To paraphrase Paul from another letter, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Phil 4:13). There is no limit to the potential for this gathering of God’s people.

I would suggest that one indication of this potential is the impressive list of members of this church who have gone on to ordained ministry. Of course we could make up many other extensive lists of people who are serving their fellow human beings in all sorts of professions. But this list is especially instructive as we celebrate service this morning.

As we look at this list, I think everyone in the congregation should be amazed, should be proud, and should be challenged. We should be amazed because it really is a remarkable list of great people serving in a variety of significant ministries all around the world. If you want to be even more amazed, think about all of the individuals whose lives have been enhanced through the service of these ministers. We should be proud, because the members of this church provided, the love, support, and nurturing that contributed to the development of these successful ministries. And we should be challenged to continue the legacy of professional ministry represented on this list, and to use our gifts for ministry to expand the many ways in which this church serves God and the community.

This list is a tremendous testimony to the power of God working in this place. What a strong indication that everyone in this church is committed to doing God’s work, to serving as God has called, and to going where God will have us serve. Those of us who have gone on to serve as ordained ministers are literally, just the tip of the iceberg. We are supported by the ministry of every member of this congregation. Call to ordained ministry doesn’t develop in a vacuum. Preparation for ministry doesn’t start when someone walks through the door of a seminary. On-the-job training for ministry doesn’t begin when you start an internship or step into your first parish. The nurturing and challenging environment of the home church is the foundation on which God can build a professional minister of the Gospel. Your ministry is that foundation, God’s work through your service is what has made it possible and will continue to make it possible.

Remember the message from Paul that people serve through a variety of different gifts. I want to mention a few of the people whose gifts have had an impact on my life and ministry. I do this with some hesitation, first of all because some of it is ancient history, but also because I know I will be leaving out far more people than I am able to mention. Please know that I am grateful for the gifts I have received from each of you. These are just some classic examples that came to mind.

Betty Davis and Dale Engstrom teaching Sunday School in 7th and 8th grade respectively and very respectfully

Ralph Ehlert, the first director of the bell choir, and a man of unending patience

Rich Raymond leading the boy scouts even after a winter campout at Wareham’s farm where we froze his underwear

Lee Jacobi, putting up with endless monkey business in choir as the PF boys in the tenor and bass sections focused more on the altos and sopranos than on the music

Or how about Roger Jacobi, a serious musician having to sit next to us (of course in those days Roger was also singing in waterbed commercials)

Steve Hayes, and many other people speaking at PF career nights and talking honestly about how faith was a factor in their life and work

Dave Swanson helping out with P.F., and with career counseling. (If you come to the Sunday Symposium, you might see a picture of Dave playing volleyball at Camp Lucerne)

Cathy Werwath serving as a summer camp counselor

Bruce and Alida Smith letting me hang out with their daughter, for going on thirty years now

The Smarts hosting PF retreats at Wheeler Island

Les Grube, supervising my internship at the church where it became obvious that parish ministry was not my calling

Dick and Marilyn Vitek, giving me a job after college, and training me for two years before I figured out that I did have to go to seminary after all

Betty Dethmers playing John Bull’s Rhondo for our wedding even though she knew her arms would ache after doing so

The whole congregation providing financial support while I was in Divinity School

The Buchtas visiting us in Massachusetts

Dick Buchman inviting me to guest preach at the Grafton church. After we returned to Wisconsin

Cindy Payette greeting us with great enthusiasm when our noisy family returned to the church in 1997

Carrie and Carla, and the countless Sunday School teachers who have dealt with our wonderfully energetic children

Paul Stein talking with high schoolers and even their fathers about “Life’s Big Questions”

Rabbi Landis providing support for a questioning heart and mind

Don Doud giving steady and encouraging words and funds to support my archaeological work

Everyone from the Sunday Symposium, a group that appears to have no end to their desire to learn and grow in faith

That’s quite a list, and I could already augment it based on the faces I see in front of me now. In fact this is only scratching the surface of the myriad ways that my life and ministry have been affected by the service of all the people in this church. Twenty years ago when I knelt in this spot and had hands placed upon me in a service of ordination, it was the result of fifteen years of love and support--of God working through the people of this church. As I stand here again today, I feel incredibly fortunate that God has continued to bless me, my family, and my ministry through your many acts of service. But wait! The best is yet to come.

We aren’t finished yet! In fact, we may be at a whole new beginning. Because of its history, its members, and its excellent professional staff, this church stands poised to become an incredible center for sharing the love of God, the knowledge of God, and the power of God in this community and in the world. This is why I wanted to preach today. I have felt the power of God working through the members of this church for over 35 years, and I know what that power can do. Why not energize and expand our ministry? Why not become an even greater force for God’s love and God’s power in the world? Why not become an even greater voice for compassion and rational discourse in a society that seems interested only in who can talk the loudest, or make the most outrageous claims.

Why not? Because it is hard. It takes effort, it takes time, and it takes money. There are so many things crying for our attention and our funds. So many great and not-so-great ways to fill up our Sunday afternoons (and sometimes even our Sunday mornings). Why not? Because we’re busy, we’re over committed, we’re short on cash.

But let’s not forget about Abraham! When God called him to move to the land of promise, he could have made excuses. He had a nice life in Haran; he didn’t need the headache of moving his family and all his possessions to the land of Canaan. He didn’t even like the Canaanites. But he obeyed the Lord. He carried out his ministry, and so should we.

God is calling us today to do great things, as individuals and as the body of Christ gathered in this place. We are called to share the bounty that we have been given, and to serve. Look for an opportunity to serve, to use the gifts that God has given you, and if you don’t see that opportunity, make one up. Find a way to represent the love of God to people around you. Using all of our many and diverse gifts, let us continue to build this community into a true body of Christ, where all are welcome, where all are energized, and where all are led to celebrate the service to which God has called us. Thank you, and Amen!