Christ Episcopal Church
Red Wing, MN
January 8, 2013
The Installation of Michael Way
On Christmas Eve, our choir anthem at Christ Church in Springfield, Ohio where I serve was "What Sweeter Music" by Anglican composer John Rutter. The piece ranks fairly high on the difficulty scale, with 5 or 6 vocal parts, a string quartet accompaniment, and some a capella sections. But the piece was chosen in early November with plenty of time for rehearsal. As is often the case, however, a couple of choir members would be out of town for the holiday, and another choir member needed surgery just before Christmas. Ours is not a large choir-a dozen people when everyone is there. So, when they are down three, this is serious. I haven’t sung in a church choir on a regular basis since high school and the art of reading music utterly escapes me. When the choir director patiently says, "no, that’s an F," I have no idea what sound he would like me to produce, but apparently not the one I just made. I sing soprano because most of the time, that is the melody line, perfect for someone who does not read music and needs the accompaniment to know what to sing.
The Rutter piece had no melody line. There is a brief part that does repeat several times, but in my book that does not count as a melody. For someone who relies on the accompaniment, a capella is a bit of a challenge. Over and over again, we rehearsed the piece. And over and over again, we rehearsed the individual parts. Much to my astonishment, the parts did not sound at all good individually. Because there was no melody line, even the two soprano parts did not sound good alone. But together, all the parts came together in a way that was breathtaking. My brief choir career reminded me of three things. One: We are much better together than we are apart. Two: Together we triumph over the shortcomings of any one person. And three: A lot of work, patience, and deep respect for one another is required to come together well.
Tonight we gather to welcome the Rev. Michael Way as your rector. I understand that we also come together in the midst of significant grief over the loss of your beloved Katie Jeske, and so we gather in that peculiar tension of excitement, grief, joy, and gratitude that is the Christian life. You may think I have come all the way from Ohio to regale you with stories about Michael’s escapades as the seminarian at our Christ Church in Ohio. In response, I say the same thing to you that I say to brides who want a top 10 hit played as they walk down the aisle. That is what the reception is for! Or you may think I have come to tell you what wonderful work your search committee has done in bringing Michael to you. And that is true. You have called a first rate priest and a dear friend as your new rector and I am quite blessed by the privilege of preaching tonight. But really what I have come to Minnesota to do is ask you to listen carefully to the reading we just heard from Ephesians.
In the reading from Ephesians we are reminded that each of us, every single one of us, is given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. We are given that grace in baptism. All ministry-yours, mine, Michael’s, Bishop Pryor’s- is grounded in the grace we received through baptism. Through that grace, some of us are called and equipped to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, and if I may take some liberties with the text, some vestry members, some choir members, some outreach coordinators, some priests or bishops, or secretaries, or book keepers, or medical professionals, or plumbers or electricians, and you can fill in the rest. The point is that all of us are given gifts to build up the body of Christ. Our prayer book tells us that the ministers of the church are lay people, bishops, priests, and deacons. Our prayer book identifies the ministry of lay people as "to represent Christ and his Church; to bear witness where ever they may be, and according to the gifts given to them to carry on Christ’s work of reconciliation." The ministry of the priest is also to represent Christ and his Church, but particularly as pastor to the people, to share with the bishop in overseeing the Church, to proclaim the gospel and administer the sacraments. In other words, the work of the priest is to nourish and strengthen you to use the gifts God has given you to build up the body of Christ. Michael’s role as your rector is a supporting role. The supporting role is a very important role-providing the sacraments, teaching, preaching, encouragement, a prophetic voice, administration. Without the supporting role of your priest and rector, the body will look little different than the many secular organizations that do much good work. But there is one of Michael. You are the main characters in the story of Christ Church, Red Wing and the work of this congregation to build up the body of Christ. Tonight is about welcoming Michael as your rector so that your ministry as Christ Church, Red Wing can be unleashed anew.
In the wisdom of the prayer book, the Psalms appointed for a celebration of new ministry and the gospel reading all call us to love one another. "How good and pleasant it is when brethren live together in unity," writes the psalmist. "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you....And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last...." say Jesus. For those who have been given the gift of teaching to come together with those who have the gift of music, with those who have the gift of administration, with those who have the gifts for outreach, with those whose ministries are anchored firmly outside the walls of the church and all work together as one to build up the body of Christ requires the work of patience, respect, and love. Not cheesy, sentimental love, but the radical self-giving love Jesus describes. You will not always agree with each other, or with Michael, about the form building up the body of Christ should take in this place. You may not always agree on what kind of fruit God calls you to bear here. But Jesus tells us that when we live out of radical self-giving love, his joy will be in us, and our joy will be complete. Out of that joy, much fruit will be born as the world sees how deeply people who disagree with each other can also love each other. The world is starving for this fruit. As you bring together your many and various gifts and passions for ministry and live together in the love Jesus calls us to, the part of the body of Christ known as Christ Church, Red Wing will grow and flourish, perhaps in ways you have never imagined.
In the words from Joshua, as you move forward from this night, be strong and very courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed. Love one another with the love Jesus has for us. Offer the gifts God has given each of you as your measure of Christ’s grace. And the people of Christ Church, Red Wing, together with their new rector, will build up the body of Christ and bear much fruit. And remember, the Lord your God is with you where ever you go and whatever you do. Amen.
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