Sept. 28, 2008 Exodus 17:1-7
Phil. 2:1-13
“Following His Lead”
This has been some week! In the middle of a Presidential campaign, an economic crisis has emerged the likes of which parallels the either the 80’s or the 30’s, depending on which economist, politician, or business person is speaking. We are hearing disturbing language, such as “crisis,” “panic,” “depression,” “,bankruptcy”‘bail outs,” “rescue plans” and “free fall.” Add to that a hurricane watch for downeast Maine.
The mix of these two worlds of politics and economic crisis has created a storm of its own which has many people fixed to the 24-7 news cycles of their favorite networks. Just when you think everything that can possibly happen has happened, some new development comes along and sends the media into another frenzy. There is some really crazy stuff going on out there and it’s going to take some time before we can all begin to figure out what has happened and what it means.
So, although the question of where all this is taking us remains unanswered, one thing is clear: these times are about leadership. Not only are we counting on our country’s leaders to get us through these stressful times, we are trying to decide which candidate will best serve us come January, 2009.the House, the Senate, and the While House.
Leadership. That’s the theme of this tumultuous weekend and it is also a theme for all times. It was a theme in the times of the early Hebrews and the formative years of Christianity. Moses, the reluctant leader; Abraham, the great leader and father of the nations; Isaac, his son; Jacob, his son; the prophetic leaders; Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos, and Hosea; John the Baptist; the disciples; Mary; the great Apostle Paul; and, of course, Jesus. The story of the people of God naturally contains the stories of outstanding leaders. We naturally turn to leaders. We create leaders if there are none.
So, the theme of leadership this weekend in our national setting is nothing new and, in fact, ties in nicely with our recent considerations of Moses in the wilderness with a bunch of grumpy followers. Last week he had to deal with issues of hunger; God helped him work through that one by suprising everyone with manna. This week, the issue is water. Not surprisingly, the people who have followed Moses’ lead to pull out of Egyptian slavery(the good news) and start wondering through the desert for only God knows how long(the bad news, are getting a little irritated that water is in such short supply!
In fact, as we pick up the story today in Exodus 17, we hear about quarreling. Hmmmm….quarelling. That seems also to fit into this weekend’s development, does it not?
In this case, the people are quarreling with Moses. “How could you do this to us? We are near death from thirst! You promised us a better life! You ran a great campaign and you said we would be led to “a land flowing with milk and honey” if we would follow you. Well, we went for it and look at the mess we are in! We have neither our own land or the milk and honey. Empty campaign promises!”
Moses heads back to campaign headquarters and has a little one on one with his chief advisor. “So, now what do I do?” You see the leader, also needs some direction!
God tells him, “Grab that favorite staff of yours, round up a few of your favorite elders and taken them over to that well-known rock at Horeb. Hit the rock with the staff and stand back, because all the water you need is going to come gushing forth! Remember, this is the same staff you used to part the Nile River!
Once again, the people put Moses’ leadership to the test and once again, Moses, with God’s help comes up with the solution to end the crisis.
Every generation has had its leaders; some good and some bad. And every generation to come will need leadership. That is simply an indisputable fact of human nature.
Within the world of religion, the same principal applies. As with any organization, churches need leaders. Some traditions like the hierarchical Roman Catholic church appoint leaders, some elect them as in the case of nominating lay leaders of Protestant congregations, while most of the traditional and long-established churches ordain leaders. We may all be quite different theologically and live by different polities, but we all have our ways of discovering and choosing leaders.
I would like this morning to bring all this down to a very local level, if you will. I would like to share my appreciation for the leadership which is emerging in this new congregation. We are truly blessed by how God has called each and every one of you to be here this morning; we have a growing congregation with gifted people, people who are willing to take time out of their busy weeks to do all kinds of things to help our new church move ahead in its growth and witness.
I would like to give you an example, one of many, of the spirit of leadership emerging from within our own church family.
On Wednesday, nineteen of us attended a meeting of the Church and Ministry Committee of the Barnstable Association of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ. We were there to share our development as the newest Congregational Church on the Cape and Islands. The Committee knew that I would be there; they did not know that 18 others would join me.
Needless to say, we were a little disruptive. We invaded their meeting room.
As I explained to the committee the basic timeline of events since my start in January, 2007 I realized that the people who came with me could do a much better job of telling the story. So, spontaneously I looked around the room to see who could fill the committee in on some of the aspects of our church life. Nobody knew that I was going to do this. But, I can tell you that we have leaders in this launch team, make no mistake about it.
First, I called on Noreen Dutson to speak about the music program. Fantastic! She spoke about Mike and Cathy and how blessed we were to have them on our team. She spoke of music ministry!
Next, I asked Dick Nelson to tell them about Friday nights at the Boys and Girls Club. I knew that Dick has a long history of involvement with the Club and could speak easily of the amazing programs and share his delight in our congregation’s support of the club as well.
I spotted two women in the group and thought of our Prayer Shawl Ministry. Without dropping a stitch, Bonnie Towle told the committee about how she had helped to start this ministry in the New Mashpee Church and how many people’s lives have already been touched by it.
I asked Al Towle to talk about the new building we will be going into in November. He, like the others, did a terrific job.
Leadership. It’s here and it’s making a huge difference in the way we are growing. Don’t think for a moment that God doesn’t have a plan for us or that God has stopped calling people.
Later when a committee member asked of us what we would like from them, Martha Gallo, with great enthusiasm said, “Come visit us, worship with us” after which Sunny Merritt said, “If you do, you won’t want to leave!” Sunny, this took some courage since most of the people on the committee were either UCC Pastors on the Cape or members of UCC churches very close to Mashpee!
Overall, those who came with me for the meeting on Wednesday brought great joy to what had been a rather subdued church committee meeting. That’s leadership! Trust me, the Committee was impressed, if not a little overwhelmed.
Every generation needs leaders, leaders for all kinds of settings with all kinds of responsibilities, and in al kinds of forms. God still has as much a hand in calling leaders as He did back in the days of Moses. Our still speaking God finds ways to bring us the leadership we need and for that we give thanks and praise! AMEN
