"NOW WHAT DO WE DO?"

One of Rev. Teena’s biggest gifts to us was her gift of preaching to our hearts.  We will miss that.  Another was her sense of humor.  We will miss that.  Another was the tremendous leadership development she facilitated in four cycles of Leadership Equipping Sessions.  We will carry that on.  Another was her spontaneity – in certain situations.  We will miss that.  Another was the guidance she gave this church, to the best of her ability.  We will miss that and carry it on.  Another of Rev. Teena’s gifts to us was her openness to her understanding of God's Will for her life.  We respect that and seek to do the same.  In fact as the choir will sing in a little bit, each of our lives is in God’s Hands.  MCCGSL is in God’s Hands.  We don’t have to worry.   We don’t have to be afraid.  We have a Friend named Jesus who will wipe our tears away.

Today’s message though is not about Rev. Teena – in case that is what you were thinking.  That is not what God wants us to dwell on.  What God put in my heart and mind to talk about today, is the reason MCCGSL exists.  Why do we come to church?  And in particular why do we come to church on Sunday mornings?  Some might say, “Teena was a big reason why I continued, or even started, to come to MCCGSL.”  Or “Now that Teena is gone, I am not so certain about the future of the church and whether I will continue to be a part of it.”  As Rev. Teena said on several occasions, and especially so in the last couple of months, “stay in the boat.”  She was not, and never wanted to be the reason to come to church.  The reason we come to church … is to worship God and encourage each other.  Neither of these things is optional for those who profess to have a relationship with God … though sometimes it is easy to think that way.

So it’s Saturday afternoon and you think about Sunday morning and try to decide whether or not you will go to church tomorrow.  Perhaps the question used to be “Is Rev Teena preaching?” and if the answer was yes, then you were more likely to plan to come.  Now the answer to the who’s preaching question may not be as easy to find as we will have different speakers each Sunday!  Or the deciding question might be “Is my name on the worship participant schedule?” and again if the answer is yes, then you will go to church.  Is it going to rain tomorrow?  Is it going to be a nice day?  Are your friends going?  And you know there is nothing wrong with any of these reasons.  They all relate back to the reason we gather on Sunday mornings.  And as long as you choose to make it here, God rejoices and will bless you as you worship God and encourage others.

As you worship God and encourage others.  How do we worship God?  For the answer we look in two places: in the Bible, and to others.  Our reading today from the Book of Revelation illustrates the ultimate example – worship in heaven.  Verse 3 gives us an idea about what the One Who sits on the throne looks like.  Going on to verse 8 we read about the creatures around the throne who “day and night never stop singing: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord, the all-powerful God, who was and is to come.” 

Read verses 9 – 11 again with me: “The living creatures kept praising, honoring, and thanking the one who sits on the throne and who lives forever and ever.”  That is God.  “At the same time, the twenty-four elders knelt down before the one sitting on the throne.  And as they worshipped the one who lives forever, they placed their crowns in front of the throne and said, ‘Our Lord and God, you are worthy to receive glory, honor, and power.  You created all things, and by your decision they are and were created.”  That is what worship is in heaven: continuous joy as we bask in God’s presence.

We create worship here on earth.  That is what we come to do here.  We do not only worship God in church, but it is one of the main things we come to do on Sunday morning, no matter who else is here or not here.  As we come in and hear the background music, we prepare our hearts for worship.  As we greet each other – look for, and see God in others and be thankful.  As we inquire about each other’s lives.  As we hear the announcements.  Have you looked at the back of the News and Notes lately?  What a wonderful number of opportunities to minister and be ministered to in this church: pages and pages.  As we hear the prelude, the responsive readings.  And then the music in which we participate.  We join with all the other saints on earth and in heaven bringing our sacrifice of praise to God.  Holy, holy, holy are you Lord. 

And we continue to worship in the reading of God’s Word … as we hear the message.  At the communion table.  As we remember – and Rev. Teena reminded us to do this – to be thankful for what Jesus did for us on the cross.  Hallelujah.  As we hear special music … Wow!  What gifts we have and what a way to get to a worshipful place in our hearts!  Yes I am in the choir … and part of the reason I am is that every Thursday, and just about every Sunday, my heart is touched by God through music.  The whole service on Sunday morning is planned and then left open to God and the Holy Spirit to work through, in order to help us all worship God in our different ways.

However, it is a choice.  In the big picture most things, whether we think so or not, are a choice.  But that is another message for another day.  Opening your heart to God and allowing God to touch you as you worship is a choice.  Because you might be thinking “I really don’t feel anything.”  Or “My heart isn’t moved or touched.”  Or “My spirit is not filled.”

Well the good thing is that you only have to open your heart a little.  Just sing a little.  Be thankful a little and God will take what you give and run with it ... and give you just what you need today and everyday.  And you will bubble up and fill up and rejoice in worship like I see Bonnie do every Sunday morning.  And Jeannie.  And Kathy.  And Carol. And the tall woman in the middle left side. And I am sure many others who are less demonstrative of being filled by God.

You know why I mention those names?  Not because I want to shine a light on any of these people – in fact they did not know I was going to mention them.  I do so because the other main reason we come to church on Sunday mornings is to encourage one another.  Don’t you find that you are encouraged in your relationship with God, and in life, after you are here?  You see someone who seems to walk and live her faith.  Someone tells you about something God has done in his life.  Someone tells you of a problem in her life, and next week, tells you how God answered prayer.  Or you hear a song.  A communion minister or prayer partner prays just the words you needed to hear.  How did they know?  Hello – it’s God … not skill, not chance, not repetition.  That’s God, and that’s you being open to receiving God.

Encouragement though, is not only about feeling good.  It is also about helping each other live lives that show that we have a living relationship with Jesus.  Please look at our reading from Hebrews.  “Let’s come near God with pure hearts … because of our faith.  Let’s keep our hearts pure.  We should keep on encouraging each other to be thoughtful and to do helpful things.”  I don’t believe this is asking us to go around pointing out the wrong in our brothers’ and sisters’ lives.  God, speaking through the letter to the Hebrews, is challenging us to live purer lives.

For example, when you hear someone (or yourself) start to say something unkind, don’t laugh or encourage him or her.  When you say you will do something, do it.  Start your day asking God to help you serve God and to filter your thoughts, decisions, intentions, actions, and responses by whether or not it glorifies God … and if those in your presence are encouraged by what you choose to do.

And as we encourage each other, let us not forget to encourage our remaining staff.  It is a comfort to know that Rev Sue, Rev. Dale, Rev. Bob, Felicia and Lora are here to continue to minister to us.  We need to support them as they support us.  Support and hold accountable all the leaders printed on the back of your bulletin.  And let us remember to encourage and appreciate all the many people involved in the ministries of MCCGSL.  Folks, Rev. Teena is gone.  Becky is gone.  But God is still here: God who was, who is, and is to come. 

“We must stay in the boat (that is MCCGSL).”  Remember that one? “This is just a turn in the road we are taking on the journey. We must keep moving … pressing on.”  I know you remember these words since Teena said them just last week.   We will not forget Rev. Teena.  God has called her to serve in Georgia (thank you Ray Charles) and we will continue the journey here doing what God asks us to do – listening to God, worshiping God, and encouraging each other.  And all will be well … in fact it is well.  You will see.

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