Inscription of Hope
Sermon by Jonathan Firme

     In today's gospel, we are presented with a simple story, in which before he even leaves the synagogue, Jesus is already a sensation because he's backed up his powerful preaching with an equally powerful act, expelling the demon from a man in the crowd. People are talking about Jesus, spreading the word, while he quietly slips into a private home, Simon's home, next to the synagogue. Now Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them. To me, our gospel story illustrates the greatest, most wondrous thing about the bible.

     That is how this story finally struck me. There are many ways to interpret most of the stories and parables in the bible. The same selection can mean many different things at different times in our lives. That is a miraculous thing. And as I wrestled with all the things going on in the church right now, as I read the story over again, there it was. The little piece that dealt directly with our situation here today. Funny how often that is the case. How often there is something in the gospel that seems to be directed right at you, perfect for that particular moment in your life?

     This is a simple story in the same way that a small diamond in a plain setting is a simple ring. Simple, unless you hold it up to the light and notice it's many facets. The way light reflects off it as you turn and examine it. Yet, another person might see it entirely differently. They might notice a different facet, a different reflection, a different meaning hidden in the words.

     Let's forget for a moment all the people outside, waiting, perhaps calling for Jesus to come out. Let's look at Simon's mother in law. We are not told how sick this woman was. She doesn't even play much of a part in the story. What does she do? Jesus raises her up. Jesus heals her illness, which could have been anything from a cold to, well, God knows what. As soon as Jesus touches her life, she takes action! She doesn't call out to the people, “He healed me!”, “Look at me, Jesus is in my house!”, it says the fever left her and she began to serve them. Wow.

     She began to serve Jesus, in this case quite literally, but she sprang into action doing that which she was most able to do at that moment. It was what she was moved to do. What she felt called to do.

It is no secret now that our brothers and sisters, our fellow servants to the Lord, have come to the very difficult decision that it is time for them to step down. Sometimes we feel called to step up, sometimes to step down. I can tell you that this has not been an easy decision for anyone. I can also assure you that this is in no way a dissolution of this church. No one is locking the doors. No one wants that. These people are not quitting the church, they are helping prepare the way for something new. This is a breather, a break. Even Jesus took some time out for a quiet moment with God, to sort things out, to better understand what his role was to be. Jesus could have stayed put, and made a ton of money healing people. That is not what God sent him out to do.

     Just as Jesus, in our gospel story, slipped out at dawn to be alone, collect himself and pray, those who have lead us for the past few years need to find a quiet space. They need time to be alone with Jesus and hear what he wants them to do next. We have to give them that space – we owe them that much, probably more. This has not been an easy 4 months for anyone, and our leadership teams have put in some long hard hours. Be ready, though, because when they hear that still small voice, I am sure that they will spring back into action, taking on mission work, perhaps back into some leadership roles.

     No one likes change. Change is terribly difficult to deal with, everyone in this room knows that. We have been dealing with change of one sort or another for a number of years here. But, change can be good. Change can be refreshing. This change will allow people who have been hearing that voice, to take action. It is no secret that some people have been unhappy with the team concept of church governing. Although, I personally do not feel that simply changing our governing philosophy will rescue our church, some people feel that is a place to start, and this is the chance to do it. Again, to take action. This is the opportunity for someone, anyone and everyone to act. To come to our meeting next month with a plan. A plan that you have been inspired to suggest, implement , take part in. Maybe a tried and true method, maybe something that came to you in a dream. Throughout the bible, God loves and rewards dreamers! A plan or some plans will be offered up that will bring us together and make us stronger and better than before.

     Many of those who are stepping out of leadership roles are admittedly, and proudly believers in Harvey Joyner's message of taking the church out there to the people. And you can bet that, after a pause to catch their breath, we will have church members out there in force, following their own heart bursts, perhaps filling in leadership positions, perhaps doing other, new mission work. They will be the ones we look to to spread the message about the new and improved First Congregational Church of Rock Springs, Wyoming that a new leadership will help create. And that too, will make us a stronger, better church. This is the great thing that we all are doing in Gods name! This is the Good News.

     However, in order for any of that to happen. In order for us to put this together, regain the family that is this church, we need two things. Two things will greatly help us in this difficult task. We cannot go on without trust, and faith. We have to trust each other. We cannot doubt each other's abilities or motives. There can be no more hidden agendas here. We have got to put our faith in each other, and lay it on the table We cannot be Us or Them, Them and Us, we have got to be We. We have to have faith that this role reversal is a great opportunity. Faith that those stepping down will take up other roles, and faith that some new leadership will step up to the plate. I think that being people of faith, having faith should be easy.

     We can rise to this occasion. I believe in Us! We will act when we hear that the still voice, or that kick in the seat of the pants that God is not above dishing out, and know that we will have the support of each other. We will be together as one. Like Simon's mother in law, we will act upon our heart bursts. This will be an orderly transition to something new. It is a fresh start. This is something that we should all be rejoicing. This is going to be good for the church. We will study our bibles in groups and alone, and pray, and we will find ourselves in a better place tomorrow.

     In closing today, I want to read to you a song. I would sing it, but it gets me a little teary eyed sometimes, and I don't sing too well then. Perhaps you have heard it before. This song was written by Z. Randall Stroope, who found a poem written on a basement wall in a house. The house was in Cologne, Germany. The author was a 10 year old jewish boy whose family had been murdered by the nazis. He had been hiding in the basement to avoid the same fate, and wrote this poem. Z. Randall Stroope wrote down the words and composed this song. The song is titled, “An Inscription of Hope.”

     I put it to you that if a little boy, facing what any of us would call a hopeless situation, could find the courage, the faith and strength to etch these words into his former families home, we should certainly be able to find a way through our considerably less difficult situation. Yes?

I believe in the sun
even when it is not shining
and I believe in love
even when there's no one there

and I believe in God
even when he is silent
I believe through any trial
there is always a way

but sometimes in this suffering
and hopeless despair
my heart cries for shelter
to know someone's there

but a voice rises within me
saying "hold on, my child
I'll give you strength, I'll give you hope
just stay a little while"

I believe in the sun
even when it is not shining
and I believe in love
even when there's no one there

and I believe in God
even when he is silent
I believe through any trial
there is always a way

may there someday be sunshine
may there someday be happiness
may there someday be love
may there someday be peace.

     May we all love and bless each other, setting aside small differences that tend to get in the way of the big picture that you, Dear Lord are using us to paint. That is our prayer here today, tomorrow, and every day we are blessed enough to have The First Congregational Church of Rock Springs, Wyoming as a base for your operations here on earth.