Psalm 23

John 10:11-18

One Shepherd, One Flock

I have in my sermon files a list of “Great Truths from small children.” It is reminiscent of the, Everything I Needed to Know, I learned in Kindergarten, book. I don’t know who created this list but there is some humor in it and lots of plain good advice. In some ways, the list takes us back to basics. I won’t read all of them because the list is too long, but here are a few that caught my eye:

“No matter how hard you try, you can’t baptize cats.”

Some things in life are just givens that you have to learn to live with.

“You can’t hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.”

If you are having a problem, deal with it openly, don’t try to hide it.

“Sometimes your best move is blocked by your own checkers.”

Sometimes you are your own worst enemy.

“It’s easier to see the mistakes on someone else’s paper.”

I think Jesus has something to say about this one: “ You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.” Matt. 7:5

“Don’t expect your friends to be as excited about your ‘100’ as you are.”

I think the lesson here is one of humility.

Some basic truths of life as revealed by children.

Speaking of basics, one of the truly exciting aspects of starting a new church is dealing with the basics of faith and witness. Before we started holding worship a year ago, we had already engaged ourselves in the community and had extended a hand of outreach to our sister churches. We were doing things that did not require a formally established church. We didn’t have any boards or committees; we simply pulled a plan together and acted on it. Friday night dinner teams started to form. We made preparations for our fifth Sundays, including our first-ever overseas mission trip. We had no long meetings; we simply pulled it together and made it happen. We were more a movement than a traditional established church.

But today’s message is not really about the past two and half years; today we think about what is yet to be and I must tell you that this is exciting stuff! For those of you who have had the opportunity to read my vision statement, you understand some of my hopes and dreams for our emerging congregation. We have the opportunity to grow together in our witness and faith as we welcome people into what has become a most loving and supportive community.

So, this is where we are: we have provisional standing in the Barnstable Association which they call, “In Discernment.” This important step occurred after some twenty of us appeared before the Church and Ministry Committee. One of our bulletins on the wall has a picture of the delegation. We are the first congregation of our tradition on the Cape and Islands to have achieved this standing in over 80 years!

As a result of this standing, many of you following the signing of the charter have sent for letters of transfer. In some cases, transfers are available. In some cases they are not. That’s not a problem. We will sort all that out later. The important thing is that you are participating in the life of this new church.

We are the recipients of significant financial support by the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ. This support will subside as we become self-sufficient. In the meanwhile, I publish some basic financial information in the bulletin so that you can see a picture of our operating income.

When the right time comes, we will take the steps to organize. No doubt we will have plenty of discussions to discern how we want to do this. It’s clear that we will have some day a Church Council, Diaconate, Trustees and Education groups, but beyond that it is also clear that most of us would prefer to work in teams and not committees. There is no need to have meetings for the sake of having meetings. Right now, as a matter of fact, most of our work is done through email!

Once we are organized, incorporated and self-sufficient, we will return to the Church and Ministry Committee and request full standing. After it is granted, we will have a huge celebration ! This will be a great day for us, for the Association, the MA Conference, the United Church of Christ and for the Town of Mashpee.

Perhaps at that same time, we might just be ready to move ahead with our discussions with the principals of Mashpee Commons. As most of you know, we have been in serious conversation with them for about two years. Certainly given these economic times, I doubt that East Steeple Street extension will start soon, but I am confident that it will happen.

Some of you have seen the basic plan. Just imagine our permanent building sitting at the head of a new town green and adjacent to a spectacular amphitheatre. Just imagine us jointly planning community events in that outdoor venue with Mashpee Commons. Just imagine us worshipping outdoors in the summer time.

I see a church of traditional New England meetinghouse architecture, sitting in the very center of the East Steeple Street/Trout Pond extension of Mashpee Commons, filled with activity. This will be a real community church, a religious and moral anchor for the Town; an integral part of life on Cape Cod. I see dozens of opportunities for people to participate in the church: discussion groups, outreach programs, concerts, educational and community forums; and, of course, worship. This church will become a cornerstone of the community; after all, we are both the oldest and the newest church in town!

The building will seat comfortably 250 people. With two services that means a congregation of 500-700 people.

Today’s texts talk about shepherds. For some this is Good Shepherd Sunday, Jesus, of course, being the Shepherd. In another sense, this story is not only about Jesus being our shepherd, our leader and guide, but it is about us in His name becoming a leader and a guide for this community.

Our Conference leadership had the wisdom to see what was happening here in Mashpee with the boom that started in the early nineties. They understood the spiritual needs of the town. Incredibily, God has led us to this place and has found a way to merge the vision of the church with the vision of Buff Chace, the owner of Mashpee Commons. This is not a shopping center we are talking about here. Mashpee Commons is a total community concept. Yes, there will be more shops, but there will also be much more housing and there will be more civic buildings to support community activities and causes. This is how Christ the King ended up in the Commons, this is how the library ended up in Mashpee Commons. This is how the Police Station, The Fire House, The Senior Center, and the Boys and Girls Club of Cape Cod, ended up where they are: because a visionary named Buff Chace understands what the word “community” means!

God has led us with our vision into that vision! This is truly a remarkable development. Just think about it. God’s hand has been in this entire new church start before the Church Growth teams in Framingham even saw the demographic studies. Just try to convince me that we are not part of God’s master plan. Too many extraordinary things have happened to us to think any different. God is leading His flock.

I thank each and every one of your for being part of this new church and I look forward to sharing your spiritual journey. God has led us to this moment and now, we press on with renewed commitment to leave a legacy for future generations.