WHAT AM I DOING HERE?

Galatians 5:16a, 22-23a, 6:8-10; Matthew 20:25-28

What am I doing here? When Jill Cifelli called me two years ago and asked if I would consider being the Vice President of the Deacons in the coming year, I asked her what the duties were, she told me, and I said, yes, I guess I could do that. Then she said that means that I would be the President the following year. I asked her what those duties were, and she told me. I said, yes I guess I could do that. Then she said, Well, it's customary for the President to give the sermon on Deacon Sunday. I said, hold it right there. Well, we talked for a bit, and I thought, well in two years I would surely think of something.

I thought maybe there is something in my DNA that will help me out. After all, most of my ancestors for hundreds of years were preachers. Even the women married preachers. Surely some of that must have come to me. Well, as I investigated my genealogy, I found that I was related to Timothy. No, not Timothy of the Bible, but Timothy of Connecticut. Timothy "The "Farmer." (He was the only one not a preacher). It seems that he was forever referred to as "The Farmer." Now I know why I can grow great roses, but still do not know What Am I Doing Here!

Then, one Sunday when I was sitting in one of the pews, just as you are now, Patti Daley was performing a Baptism and she said something to the effect that we are all ministers of God. And I thought, well--maybe there is something in that.

So, how did I get here and what am I doing here? Shortly after I moved to Lawrenceville five and a half years ago, I found myself on my own. It seemed suddenly, but it wasn't. I only knew one person in all of Lawrenceville. So I said to myself, well, you had better make a life for yourself. But where to begin? What better place to begin but church? But what church and where? At the time I was not strongly attached to any one church. I did know, however, that it would be a Presbyterian church.

Something compelled me to come to this church. Was it God speaking in my head? Was it the fact that the building itself reminded me of my childhood church in Mahwah? All I knew was that I felt the need to come here. So one Sunday morning I squared my shoulders and set forth. After all, it is a little daunting to just come alone, not knowing a soul. Or so I thought.

Well a wonderful thing happened.

After the service on my way out (I was not brave enough to go to the Fellowship Room then) someone spoke to me! It was one of the Deacons. John Haymond to be exact. I was so impressed I remembered who spoke to me. He said welcoming words to me and encouraged me to come back. The following week I received a phone call from Joan Semenuk because I had filled out one of the visitor cards. We talked for a while, and I felt encouraged to return. So the next Sunday I came again. This time I actually recognized someone from my own community, Ruth Barringer. We talked a little and shortly afterwards she called on me at home and brought materials from the church telling about the many programs at the Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville. I was really touched by this attention. I soon started to go to the Fellowship time after the service, tagging along after Ruth, who graciously introduced me to many of her friends.

Coming here was a turning point in my life. I felt then and still feel grateful for my life. Has it been an easy life? No, not really. There have been many "bumps" along the path of my life. You come to a point where decisions have to me made as to how you are going to continue on life's journey. When you come to these hard places, you can either bow down to them and withdraw from what life has to offer, or you can live life, as Jesus would have us do. He wants us to "Live" our lives, not just exist through life. I am grateful that my challenges are those that I can meet and pray that I will be able to continue to do so. I am not any different than anyone else when it comes to coping with life's challenges, but I am grateful that I heard when God spoke to me.

So, I felt that I had much to be thankful for and it was time to give back. But how? In what way? There is a big need in this world for volunteers--everywhere you look there is a need. But I was particularly grateful for the church--it was here when I needed it most. So when I was called and asked to be a Deacon, it was an immediate yes. You will see many references to Deacons in the Bible. Deacons model their work after Jesus, but you don't have to be a deacon to help others. After all, we are all ministers of God.

Today is Deacon Sunday. Just what is a deacon? According to the pamphlet, The Board of Deacons--Ministry of Hospitality, Fellowship, Pastoral Care, Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville, 2006, I quote, Deacons are directed, by the Book of Order, "to minister to those who are in need, to the sick, to the friendless, and to any who may be in distress," following the example of Jesus Christ. The 24 Deacons on the Board of Deacons share the responsibility for the oversight of our church's pastoral care, fellowship, and hospitality. With this goal, Deacons attempt to assure that through some group or activity in the church, members are nurtured and have an opportunity for fellowship, and that visitors and prospective new members feel welcome here at Lawrenceville. Deacons carry out their work through ministry teams.

One of the ministries I have had as a Deacon is to be a part of the Prayer Team that meets around the piano after the service. When I was first involved I thought, you mean I have to pray Out Loud, off the cuff? This was new to me. How do I put into words what I felt in my heart? What will I say? What will the others say or think? I soon realized that I was not what was important. What is important is that we lift up the prayers and concerns that are on the Blue Prayer Cards. People are counting on us to add our prayers to their concerns. The prayer team is not just made up of Deacons. All who wish to participate in lifting up these prayers are more than welcome at any time.

I'd also like to mention that one of the things I have enjoyed greatly is the "Year of the Bible" program. Something I have always had in the back of my mind to do was to read the bible, but it seemed like such an enormous task. Years ago when this country was being settled, many families only had a bible for reading and it was an integral part of their everyday life. So, when Jeff Vamos introduced this program to our church, I saw it as a wonderful opportunity, and have found it to be most interesting and rewarding.

There is a passage in the Bible from Deuteronomy 22.4 which says, "If an Israelite's donkey or cow has fallen down, don't ignore it; help him get the animal to its feet again." In the Upper Room booklet of February 2, 2006, Can Sin Ming writes, "Suddenly I realized the main point of the story in Deuteronomy is not the stray cattle or sheep, it is our attitude when we see others in need. Whether the matter before us is cattle or clothes, we are called to give a helping hand to our neighbors."

Do I always think to offer to help those in need? No, but the important thing is to try. We can only do the best we can with what we have. In John 14, "Jesus said, Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these."

This may seem like the story of just my life, but it really isn't. I doubt there is anyone in this room who has not had a fork or crossroads in the road of life, when you come to a point when a choice must be made--do you live life and continue on life's journey, living it to the fullest--or do you withdraw from all life has to offer. This is really the story of Deacons and Christians everywhere who go through what life has to offer with a firm belief in God.

So, What am I doing here? I think perhaps I have figured it out. There are three main reasons for what I am doing here. They are: Witnessing to my faith, showing gratitude for my life, and ministering to others. Amen

Let us pray a prayer of thanksgiving from Psalm 118:
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his steadfast love endures forever!
Out of my distress I called on the Lord;
the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.
With the Lord on my side I do not fear.
What can mortals do to me?
The Lord is on my side to help me;
....I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord.
This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
And all the people shall say, Amen

 

May 21, 2006

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