SERMON ~ 06/08/2014 ~ Day of Pentecost ~ Seeing Visions; Dreaming Dreams

06/08/2014 ~ Day of Pentecost ~ A Celebration of the Rite of Confirmation ~ Baptism of Corey Johnson ~ Music Sunday ~ Acts 2:1-21 or Numbers 11:24-30; Psalm 104:24-34, 35b; 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13 or Acts 2:1-21; John 20:19-23 or John 7:37-39.

Seeing Visions; Dreaming Dreams [1]

“Your sons and your daughters will prophesy / and your young people will see visions / and your elders will dream dreams.” — Acts 2:17b.

I, personally, do not doubt God wants us to see visions and dream dreams.  More particularly, I believe God wants us to see the visions God has for humanity and God wants us to dream the dreams God has for humanity.  That begs the question: how do we humans get there, get to a place we are and can be empowered to see the visions and dream the dreams God would have us see and dream?  (Slight pause.)

We will confirm three teens and one adult today.  And, given our Protestant heritage— the priesthood of all believers— I, personally, think every adult should seek to be confirmed— seek to be confirmed— at least every fifteen to twenty years.  Why?  Well, why would any of us not want an opportunity to mature, to learn, to grow, to engage, to grapple with our faith?

After all, how else might we come to a place we are and can be empowered to see the visions and dream the dreams God would have us see and dream, if not by growing, if not through growth?  Now, in fact, when we strive toward a maturity of faith, strive to learn, to grow, to engage, to grapple with our faith might that be just a little frightening?  Perhaps— but is that a reason to not do it?  (Slight pause.)

Theologian and Pastor, Rev. Brian McLaren says this (quote:) “You are not finished yet.  You are ‘in the making.’  You have the capacity to learn, mature, think, change and grow.  You also have the freedom to stagnate, regress, constrict and lose your way.  Which road will you take?” {unquote} (Slight pause.)

It seems to me, as Christians, we have a pretty clear choice.  Growth may sometimes be painful but I think we are called to growth by the Holy Spirit.

Or, in the words of Saint Catherine of Sienna, “Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.”  Setting the world on fire: last time I looked that is supposed to be why we, as a church, practice the Rite of Confirmation.  And that is why I, as a pastor, recommend not just Confirmation for our youth.  I recommend adult Confirmation.  Adult Confirmation is, you see, an opportunity for growth in the Spirit.  Who would want less?  Amen.

06/08/2015
United Church of Christ, First Congregational, Norwich, New York

ENDPIECE— It is the practice of the Pastor to speak after the Closing Hymn, but before the Congregational Response and Benediction.  This is an précis of what was said: “Author H. G. Wells said this (quote;) ‘Human history is more and more a race between education and catastrophe.’  On the more optimistic side, Winston Churchill said this: ‘Success is not final; failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts.’”

BENEDICTION
The love of God is abundant and steadfast.  When we give God’s love away, it returns in breathtaking abundance.  Let us willingly participate in the grace God offers.  May we love God so much, that we love nothing else too much.  May we be in awe of God enough, that we need be in awe of nothing and no one else.  And may the Word of God be on our tongues, the wisdom of God be with our thinking and the love of God be present in our hearts.  Amen.

[1]   Given that in this service there was a Baptism, Confirmation and we celebrated Music Sunday, this is a short Homily.