Sermon: "An Ending and a New Beginning"
The Right Reverend Charles G. vonRosenberg
Third Bishop of East Tennessee

[This sermon by Bishop vonRosenberg was delivered using the following notes.]

Today represents an important landmark on the journey of St. Mark's Church, this community of faith in Copperhill. Indeed, this moment is especially significant, as a landmark, for two reasons.

First, we celebrate today the ministry of the Rev. Matilda Dunn here at St. Mark's - a ministry that is concluding after nine years of faithful service. Matilda has been your ordained leader for these years - a faithful and caring pastor, a celebrant of the sacraments of the church, and a preacher and teacher of Christian doctrine and tradition, on behalf of this community.

In the bishop's charge at the time of priestly ordination, Matilda heard these words, "In all that you do, you are to nourish Christ's people from the riches of his grace, and strengthen them to glorify God in this life and in the life to come." (BCP, p. 531) During these years at St. Mark's, Matilda, you have fulfilled that charge, to the benefit of the people here. And so, we give thanks to God today for your faithful ministry at St. Mark's, Copperhill.

Secondly today, we also begin a new chapter in the history of St. Mark's Church. Today marks the beginning of a period of time in which lay members of this community will be expected to take more active and significant leadership roles. You may enlist clergy supply priests from time to time … or perhaps one clergy person will be identified for an interim period at St. Mark's. However, it will be the laity who will write the most significant part of the next chapter of the history of this community of faith.

Listen to these words in our church Catechism: "The ministry of lay persons is to represent Christ and his Church; to bear witness to him wherever they may be; and, according to the gifts given them, to carry on Christ's work of reconciliation in the world; and to take their place in the life, worship, and governance of the Church." (BCP, p. 855) You - the community of St. Mark's - are being called today into the fullness of the practice of lay ministry in this part of God's Kingdom on earth.

Today's readings from Holy Scripture provide us interesting perspectives on this moment in St. Mark's history, this landmark on your faith journey. And, it seems to me, the readings speak clearly to each of the two matters of special significance on this occasion.

The first reading, from the book of Job, describes the encounter of Job with God, in a setting identified as "the whirlwind." (38:1) Now, the precise location of the whirlwind is impossible for us to know. However, we can imagine - from the book of Job itself and from the circumstances described - that the whirlwind represents a time and a place of uncertainty and of change. The foundations of safety and security are not reliable, within a whirlwind. One message from this reading, though, is that even in situations of change and uncertainty, God is there. "The Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind" (38:1), we read. The message from life's whirlwind is not always one of comfort and assurance - as Job himself discovered - however, God is there. God's presence is therefore not in question, and that is the point from our first reading today.

Then, in the second reading, St. Paul writes to the church in Corinth about the love of Christ and about the results of the knowledge of that love. In particular, St. Paul reminds his readers of the work of Jesus in his life, death, and resurrection - and of the entirely different perspective we must have on Jesus as a result. St. Paul writes, "Even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. " (II Cor 5:16) To followers of Christ, therefore, we do not look at things the same way - indeed, we cannot! In St. Paul's words, "If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!" (5:17)

Finally, in the Gospel reading, we hear of the calming of the storm by Jesus. Remember that he had been asleep in the boat. However, the disciples became fearful of a great storm, and they woke Jesus up as a result. Jesus then rebuked the wind and the sea, with the words, "Peace! Be still." (Mk 4:39) And we read these results: "The wind ceased, and there was a dead calm." (4:39) The disciples, who were amazed and awe-filled, said to themselves, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" (4:41)

With these readings as timely perspectives, I think there are helpful messages for us here today. Both for you, Matilda, and for you, people of St. Mark's, I encourage you to pay special attention to God's Word today. There are lessons to be learned here, as any one of us faces the whirlwind of uncertainty and change in life; or, as we try to be faithful to the One who changed the world, even as we would often prefer to keep things the way they have always been; or, as we come to terms with the One who is in charge of this world and who can even still the storms of our lives.

Therefore, in conclusion, may all of us know God's presence with us, even in the whirlwinds of life. We cannot find ourselves apart from God, in spite of all life's uncertainties and challenges. May we also realize that we have nothing to fear from change, for Christ himself has transformed the world in his life, death, and resurrection. Indeed, "if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation." (II Cor 5:17) Finally, may we find our comfort in the One who calmed the sea … the One who created us, who saved us by His grace, and who sustains us in this life and in the life to come. Amen.

Copyright © 2009 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee