Community Church Sermons

Year B

August 2, 2009

The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost Sunday

“Knit Together”

Ephesians 4:1-16

Rev. Rhonda Abbott Blevins, Associate Pastor

It’s been busy around the church this week as we’ve been settling into our new offices. Among the 1,000 little things accomplished as a part of the move, I had a light bulb replaced in my office, calling to mind one of my favorite church jokes:

• How many Baptists does it take to change a light bulb? At least 15. One to change the light bulb, and three committees to approve the change.
• Episcopalians? Eight. One to call the electrician, and seven to say how much they liked the old one better.
• Unitarians? We choose not to make a statement either in favor of or against the need for a light bulb. However, if in your own journey you have found that light bulbs work for you, that is fine. You are invited to write a poem or compose a modern dance about your personal relationship with your light bulb, and present it at our annual light bulb service, in which we will explore a number of light bulb traditions, including incandescent, fluorescent, three-way, long-life and tinted, all of which are equally valid paths to luminescence.
• Charismatics? One, since his hands are in the air anyway.
• Methodists? Undetermined. Whether your light is bright, dull, or completely out, you are loved -- you can be a light bulb, turnip bulb, or tulip bulb. Church wide lighting service will be next week. Bring a bulb of your choice and a covered dish.
• Presbyterians? None. Lights will go on and off at predestined times.
• Lutherans? CHANGE?????
• Interdenominationalists? None. We don’t want to make the bulb feel unwanted or uncomfortable.

It’s good to laugh at ourselves sometimes and make light our differences. Here at our interdenominational church, we have people from all of those traditions and more. I thank God for that seminary professor who helped me appreciate all denominations and made a convincing argument that each denomination has its specific job to do within Christendom. The Kingdom of God is so deep, so long, so high and so wide that we need each denomination that all of God’s children might have a home. The challenge, however, in an interdenominational church and within the church universal, is to find unity in the midst of our diversity.

This challenge is as old as the church itself as we learned from our New Testament lesson this morning. Paul, writing to the church at Ephesus, uses a powerful metaphor in his call to congregational unity, saying that the church is, as one translation puts it, “knit together.” With this imagery, we can imagine God as a thoughtful knitter skillfully crafting a beautiful work of art—the church—God’s masterpiece.

When I first read the lectionary text, this phrase, “knit together,” grabbed my attention probably because of the recent launch of our prayer shawl ministry. Here’s one of the beautiful shawls created by the loving hands of someone in our church or community. The idea is simple. With every click of the needles as the shawl is being crafted, a prayer is lifted for the eventual recipient. When the shawl is finished, the artisan presents the shawl to the church and it is dedicated at WednesdayChurch! by simply passing the shawl around, each person lifting a silent prayer for its recipient.

The Apostle Paul compares the church to one of these shawls saying that like a shawl, the church is “knit together.” Consider the symbolism--the interconnectedness of each stitch--how, if you took out a pair of scissors and cut one stitch, it might unravel the whole piece. Every stitch is necessary to hold it together just like the work of every Christian is essential in order for the Church to accomplish her God-given mission: to gather up every person and wrap them up inside the warmth of God’s love. The first order of business in accomplishing God’s purpose “is the unity of the Church.” [1]

So Paul tells the church at Ephesus to “Grow up!” Because mature Christians value unity over personal preference. [2] “Grow up!” Paul says to the Ephesians, because mature Christians cherish harmony over personal triumph. [3]

I think this message is especially fitting for our church right now. It’s an exciting time, but an anxious time for us as we get ready to build. Growth and change are never easy. But from where I stand, we’re going to be OK. Here’s how I see it. When I joined your family a little less than two years ago, you had big decisions to make. Your little family had grown, your house was too small, but you still wanted to find a way to bring in new children. The family appointed some who knew about houses and construction to make their best recommendation, which they did. The family came together to learn about their proposal, and then the family voted. Some voted against it. More voted for it. And here we are today, less than a month away from breaking ground to build a major addition to our house.

Being fairly new to the family, I’ve mostly watched and listened as the family worked the process together. I’ve learned a lot about you—this is what I’ve discovered: you’re the kind of Christians Paul would like to have seen in Ephesus. Because, overwhelmingly, you’re the kind of people who value unity over personal preference. You’re the kind of Christians who cherish harmony over personal triumph. Some of you weren’t on the winning side of that vote last summer. But here you are anyway! Singing hymns of faith with joy in your heart. Serving on that committee. Working in the kitchen. Still using your God-given gifts to build up the church, gathering up every person and wrapping them up inside the warmth of God’s love.

You know why I know we’re going to be OK? Because in your maturity you’ve chosen unity over preference and harmony over triumph. This is the kind of church that can weather the storms of change. Why? Because you do it together! I love this church!

There’s another reason I know we’re going to be OK. It has to do with the other part of the equation that Paul gives the church at Ephesus. In addition to laying down individual preferences for the sake of the whole, Paul urges each Christian to use the gifts God has given. God gifts each of us for specific works of service. Without each stitch working properly, the whole fabric just might unravel. But when every “stitch” works together as it should, it’s a beautiful sight to behold.

Two months ago, our church lost a beloved soul named Barbara, a little red-head with lots of spirit and even more opinions. Barbara spent the final days of her life in a care facility. She couldn’t come to church, but she sure experienced church because the body of Christ stepped up! Every stitch pulled together around this frail life!

Lots of you gifted with friendship visited Barbara. Those of you gifted in prayer prayed for Barbara. In healthier days, some of you gifted in planning led fun day trips that Barbara enjoyed. Folks with cars gave Barbara rides. Some of you with the gift of generosity put money in the offering plate, and by doing so, you were right there with Pastor Tim and a precious Stephen Minister when they took communion to Barbara.

And when Barbara went home to be with the Lord, many of you, gifted with compassion, came to her funeral. Did you notice that someone with accounting skills had paid the electric bills? Someone crafted a beautiful program on a computer fixed by someone else earlier that week. Someone with the gift of service had straightened the pews. Someone who knows about sound systems turned on the microphones and someone gifted in music played the organ. A gifted speaker talked about her friendship with Barbara. A gifted organizer rounded up folks to bring cookies, and many of you proved your giftedness in the art of cookie baking! Someone with muscles set up tables and chairs. Someone with a compassionate smile stood at the guest book and welcomed those who loved Barbara into our church.

Every stitch pulled together and wrapped this frail life up inside the warmth of God’s love.

A few days after Barbara died Pastor Tim received an e-mail:

Dear Tim, My name is Tom and I am a Hospice Chaplain. I recently had a patient who had a blanket made by some caring person in your congregation. She recently passed away, but that blanket meant a lot to her. I would like to say thank you to whoever was responsible for this kind gesture.

One person “knit together” that precious shawl, but it took a church to “knit together” the kind of loving farewell most of us can only hope for.

Church, we’ve got work to do! People like Barbara are all around us . . . people who need to know God’s love expressed in tangible ways. This is no time to rest! We’ve got a church to build! So let’s pull together and gather up every person and wrap them up inside the warmth of God’s love. You ready? Let’s go!

__________

[1] Rollin Russell, “Pastoral Reflection on Ephesians 4:1‐16,” http://www.nccouncilofchurches.org/Acts_of_Faith_Year_B/Part_2_Year_B/ecumenism_pastoral_reflection.pdf

[2] Paul V. Marshall, “Ephesians 4:1-16: Pastoral Perspective,” Feasting on the Word, Year B, Volume 3. David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor, eds. Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, KY, 2009, p. 304.

[3] Jaime Clark-Soles, “Ephesians 4:1-16: Exegetical Perspective,” Feasting on the Word, Year B, Volume 3. David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor, eds. Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, KY, 2009, p. 303