Happenings
Sunday, March 2nd, was a 'Happening'
I had prepared a text for the sermon based on the healing of a blind man (John 9:1-41). I had decided the night before that I would not present the sermon in its written form because I wanted to share the material more informally. It paid off for the feed back was excellent. The text of the sermon is posted on the web site under the news section (http://www.stmartins-omaha.com/news/default.aspx ). A cartoon of a fish with blackened glasses appears there. It was also used on the cover for Sunday's bulletin.
Informally the presentation was in three parts. The first part was basically an intro to the text for the adults, and the second part was for the youth using the cartoon and the dark glasses to talk about seeing in the way that some who are totally blind see matters with great clarity, as did the blind man healed by Jesus who saw the fullness of truth as the text came to its conclusion. Seeing fully was the segue into the third part, and at this point I turned to address all, youth and adults, by saying, do you see how this story of reversal in constructed?
It begins with a marvelous thing happening to this blind man, and for the reason that Jesus states, that the glory of God might be manifested. But the way in which it unfolds is as critical for us now as it was for the blind man then. So, the blind man had a great thing happen, he could see. But what did this experience of gaining sight produce?
It brought conflict, not once, not twice, but three different times, and after each episode of conflict, he, this blind man who could now see, had to reflect back on his initial "marvelous thing that had happened" and as he did so, he moved to a deeper level of seeing, until finally, at the end, he was moved to announce in the presence of all, the very Presence of God in their midst, a presence in flesh, in the Son of Man.
So it would seem it happens for us. Early on, maybe later than we'd like, we get a clue as to what's going on. It fills us with awe, wonder, and gratidude. Then comes conflict, and we reflect back, now from the present context of conflict. Throughout life it seems this is the pattern by which our growth in grace and healing happens. What is more, it's still going on. We are all as the saying goes, "works in progress."
Speaking of works in progress, here's another reflection on the day:
We had 20 in church today, and what makes this all so special is that it included two new Hispanic children who had never been there before, and one new adult, who has expressed interest in becoming part of our renewal effort. He's not Hispanic, but when visiting with him earlier this week and sharing with him our vision and draft plan book, at the end he said, "I can't tell you how truly refreshing all this is to hear." I said, "Well, come, be with us, service time is 9 AM Sunday morning. Also, you can check us out on the web site to learn more." His reply, 'I'll do that, and I'll be there Sunday." And, he was.
Not that I am all that much into statistics, but when you consider that on August 5th, the core group was 12, and today, with all that were there (7 youth and 13 adults), and who certainly appear to me set to become another expression of our core group, we numbered 20. That, statistically, is I'd say significant . In percentages it means we've grown 40% in 7 months. What is most pleasing to me is that we are doing this with a focus not on survival, but on developing a center, open to all, for mission and ministry to South Omaha.
Fr. Ron Whitmer, Mon., Mar. 3, '08