Federated Church of Orleans Psalm 2
February 3, 2008 Matt.17:1-9
Preserving the moment; embracing the future.
My wife, Diane, and I are pleased to be here this morning, along with some of the members of our Mashpee New Church Launch Team. We thank you for your hospitality and also thank you for that same hospitality in 1997 when you hosted me for a candidate sermon.
I first met your Pastor, Diane, while she was serving the Federated Church of Cotuit. Having just completed the second of two back-to-back interims myself, she and I had much to discuss. Naturally, when she contacted me about preaching here, I was quick to say, “yes.” I so value the interim times in congregational life and I am convinced that great things can happen between settled pastors. I often joke that if permanent pastors are “settled” pastors, then interims must be “unsettling pastors.” Under Diane’s leadership you have permission and guidance to be unsettled. New windows of ministry can open during these transitional times. Years ago, interims used to be holding times, like a plane circling the airport or a ship moored in the harbor. Now, interim times are seen as the best times for change and even course corrections.
As much as I would like to continue talking about interims, I come to you to share some of the story of a new church start in Mashpee, and since Pastor Diane has me here on a Communion Sunday, the time for sermonizing is short. I believe she suggested a message of no more than 15 minutes or the same amount of time for one quarter (less time outs) for today’s Super Bowl game. Now that I have already used 2 minutes, let’s shift gears.
What immediately struck me about the chance to preach here this morning is that this church started in 1646 which means that at the time I began to gather a new congregation in Mashpee, you were completing anniversary celebrations for your 360th year! You got just a bit of a jump on us.
360 years…The web site CapeCodHistory.US gives us a little flavor of life back in the days of your church’s origin:
We know that the first one in was Nicholas Snow and in his time Orleans did not exist. The area was known as Nauset which was later changed to Eastham and then finally, Orleans. But listen to this:
1651. The Colony Court ordered that the town of Nauset be henceforth called and known by the name of Eastham.
The same year, it was ordered by the Court, that if any lazy, slothful or profane persons, in any of the towns, neglect to come to the public worship of God, they shall forfeit for every such default, ten shillings, or be publicly whipped…
The early records of the town are brief, and much decayed by time; but they are sufficient to show, that no sooner had the first settlers taken possession of the place, than they organized their township, by the choice of town officers, and elected the required number of deputies to the Colony Court. Mr. Edward Bangs and Deacon John Doane were chosen deputies ; Nicholas Snow, town clerk ; Josias Cook, constable ; John Smalley, grand Juryman and surveyor of highways.
They very early built a small meeting-house, twenty feet square, with a thatched roof, and holes on all sides, through which they might fire their muskets. Near to it, laid out a burying-place, not far from the town cove, which still remains, and is enclosed, though no persons have been buried there for many years. Here are seen the graves, and, in some instances, the stones which denote the particular spot where the ashes of the first settlers remain.
So this has me thinking…this was not a bad church planting strategy, was it? I wonder if I can get the Town of Mashpee to consider at its next Town meeting in October a provision for either a $100 fine or a public whipping for anyone who fails to attend church! We could have our new church building built in no time!
But as appealing as that approach might be, I think there could be some resistance. So, let me tell you from my perspective how things really happen today with new church starts.
A little over one year ago, I walked into Starbucks in Mashpee Commons, ordered up a coffee, sat down, and said to myself: “now what?” There is no building, no office, and most importantly, there are no people. I, an employee of the Massachusetts Conference, was now sitting in the middle of a Town about which I knew very little, but a Town which had been targeted by the Conference as a prime location for a new church start.
As much as we all love the movie, Field of Dreams, staring Kevin Costner, the haunting phrase, “If you build it, they will come” wasn’t doing much for me and so I put thoughts of construction on hold and starting thinking about how I could find some folks who could share in a vision for this new church in a growing Cape Cod town.
I began to meet people.
In April, Diane (wife) and I went to Richmond, VA to participate in what Jim Griffith calls his “boot camp.” Jim reinforced the need for me to connect with as many people in the community as possible. For those of you from this church who attended Jim’s recent workshop, you may know that he refers to new church planting as a contact sport.
Networking is the key to starting a new church. As a settled pastor over the years my intentional networking was fairly limited. After all, in an established church the members are typically connected in many ways, whether as a town council member, a volunteer for the hospital, a member of the School Board, or a Little League Coach. But as a new church start pastor, there is none of that. There are no given connections coming in.
Ninety-five per cent of my time in this first year has been dedicated to networking. I called up and made appointments to meet with a variety of people: human services, journalists, town government, school superintendant, business owners. I joined the Mashpee Rotary Club and one week later when I found out that the President could not attend the Chamber of Commerce mixer that night, I offered to attend on her behalf. I met with State Legislatures, funeral directors, artists, musicians, service clubs and spent a lot of time sipping lattes at Starbucks, hoping for someone to make eye contact. Poor souls!
When I met with people, I asked them while taking copious notes:
-What can you tell me about Mashpee?
-How could a new church make a difference in town?
-Are there other people I should meet?
I also folded an inquiry into the conversation at the right time:
-Do you have a church?
But, I didn’t stop there, even if they said they did, I followed up.
-How’s it going?
“Well,” said one gentleman I was interviewing, “ I actually haven’t been going for over five years…the church just is not what I am really looking for.”
“You should consider visiting us, sometime.”
Networking. Networking. Networking.
This is the heart and soul of new church planting. It can also be the way an established church restarts itself. Too many congregations fail to understand the community that surrounds the church building. Too many congregations want to keep things the way they are because they are afraid of change. If they really network in the area around them they may find realities they would prefer to avoid.
Instead of facing the changing demographics and economic realities of that crucial one mile radius around the church, many congregational leaders put their heads in the sand. In the meanwhile, Jim Griffith challenges all of us, whether new or old: if people living within a mile of the church are not coming, why should someone travel, two, three, five or ten miles to come?
On Cape Cod, church leaders need to read the report recently generated by the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce. Our young families are exiting the Cape and yet, how many churches are bound and determined to grow by bringing more young people into their churches. “We need to grow the Sunday School. The children are the future of the church. We need to have some new young people to take over the committee leadership. We’re tired!
The refusal to face the changes of the day, reminds me of today’s reading. When Peter, James and John see Jesus glowing white along side of Moses and Elijah, what do they want to do? Build booths for each of them! Set up shop! Preserve this amazing thing! Stay up in the mountain.
But no, Jesus says, it’s time to head back down the mountain and get to work!
Some churches want to relish in the old days-like the 50’s when if you built it they did come and in droves-instead of facing modern trends. The labor force is moving off Cape Cod. Young people are leaving in droves. If this church or any church on the Cape is counting of young families to be the key to its growth, I suggest that its leaders take a walk in the neighborhood literally and while out, stop by the school and check out the enrollment projections. See what’s going on. Read that Chamber of Commerce report. Do you homework.
I am just beginning to get warmed up and I fear that the first quarter is almost over. My watch says that its time for the two minute warning.
I celebrate with you 360 years of continuous ministry. Obviously, the leadership of this church has been both faithful and effective in meeting the changes. I commend you for eliminating those holes in the walls for rifles! I can see that you have nicely shifted from trying to keep people out to trying to bring people in!
I commend you also for working with Jim Griffith to explore new ways of growing. Continue that process. There are many people out there who are only an invitation away.
One final piece of advice and then a story before the referee blows the whistle for the end of the quarter.
Consider eliminating the word “visitor” from you church language. A visitor to your home may not be expected, nor may he or she be welcome simply because he or she has appeared at a bad time.
Consider using, instead, the word “guest.” Guests are anticipated. You plan for guests. Guests are welcome. If you have visitor’s sign in sheets, get rid of them. Jim Griffith can tell you what to do instead.
The referee is watching the clock. Here’s the story. Building up Christ’s beloved community in both new and established parishes is exciting and inspiring. I have an intercessory prayer team that must work overtime because amazing things are happening.
Recently, a new member of our launch team told me that he had an idea for a worship space and that he would like to set up a meeting with a potential landlord.
I later attended that meeting and found out about the existence of a building in the Popponesset Marketplace in the New Seabury area if Mashpee. When I visited the site, I couldn’t believe my eyes for the building absolutely looks like a church. It has a chancel, seating for 100 and even a balcony which we can call the choir loft. The clerestory windows allow light to flood the room.
As amazed as I was at the blessing of this new space for the beginning of this new church, the owner was equally grateful that we had found him. “I’ve been waiting fifteen years for a congregation like yours to come along” he said, close to tears.
Later we returned to the office to discuss the business of the lease. He said, “Rather than charge you rent, I would like you to consider paying the electric bill for the entire building for the entire summer season.”
Visions of spinning meters flashed before my eyes with the anticipated roar of outdated air conditioning units.
I had to ask: “Given last year’s history, about how much are we looking at?”
“I’ll send you copies of last year’s bills to confirm this, but the cost will be about $80 a month.”
Four and five Sunday mornings a month for six months, $80 a month and no rent in a space God planned for our use over 15 years ago.
Blessings like this come often as we open our hearts to the redeeming love of Jesus Christ and take seriously his mandate to make disciples of all the world!
