UNSUNG SAINTS

 

A sermon by the Rev. Dr. James G. Kirk

Harundale Presbyterian Church

Glen Burnie, Maryland

 

April 25, 2004

 

Text: “Here I am, Lord.” (Acts 9:10)

 

First Reading: Revelation 5:11-14

Second Reading: John 21:15-19

 

            After worship we’re all going to go to the fellowship hall, enjoy a nice lunch, hear from our children, have an old fashioned sing-a-long and enjoy the musical renditions of the Harundale Harmonics.  In other words, it’s “unsung saints” time, that time of year when we pause to recognize and honor those in our midst who’ve gone above and beyond on behalf of the church.  Since 1989, each year two people have been chosen to be recognized and honored.  The list reads like a virtual honor roll of those who’ve given of their time and their talent: Hector and Jean McCrea; Jim Lowe and Blance McCormick; Sam Shaffer and Agnes Alcott; Charlie Clauss and Mary Snyder; Mel Caulk and Ruth Herwig; Warren Via and Helen Jones; Ada Fleming and the Kollar Family; Jim and Chris Wolfe; Bob Sharpe and Beverly Hartzell; Frank Couper and Martha Elliott; Al Kellner and Jean Sutton; Carleton and Kaywin Bryant; Becky Smith and the McDonald’s Ministers; Doug Martin and Janet Lloyd

            Last week you received this year’s time and talent booklet.  It’s sort of like your invitation to join that list of “unsung saints.” Its pages contain every activity Harundale’s engaged in, the commitment necessary, what qualifications are needed, the responsibilities expected and who to contact.  In the middle is a tear out sheet for you to indicate your willingness to serve.  On Sunday, May 2nd, the Stewardship Committee will receive them during worship accompanied by a prayer of dedication and thanksgiving to God for your commitment.  The office will then enter your responses in a data bank that committee and chair people can use to gather you together and get the work of the church done.

            Now all of that is by way of introduction to this morning’s reading from Acts.  We all know the first part of the story, how fire brand Paul was intent on bringing anyone claiming allegiance to Jesus to justice.  He was on his way to Damascus when not only his trip, but his whole way of life was radically changed.  Now not many of us have had a conversion experience like his.  It’s probably a good thing.  Suddenly there’s a bright light, which is very common when God comes calling and Saul hears his name mentioned.  Similar to God’s appearance to Moses the voice repeats his name twice and then comes Luke’s idiosyncrasy we mentioned two weeks ago.  After God gets his attention we hear, “but get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”  You’ll remember on Easter how I mentioned that Luke has a way of introducing a life changing epiphany or disclosure that’s sure to get the people’s attention and that’s with his use of but.  So, here we have it again.  Saul, later to become Paul, gets his preliminary marching papers.  “but get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” What you have here is the fire brand who was intent on marching into Damascus and arresting all those who called on the name of Jesus and before he get there he ends up on the ground, unable to see, having to be helped into the city and for three days unable to see, eat and drink.

            That’s just for starters!  Now we get to the unsung saints in the episode.  It’s as though God had some time and talent booklets of his own and had two qualified people in mind to hand them to. The first one we hear about is Ananias. This is the only place in the Bible where Ananias is mentioned, so you know he has a mission.  He’s to go to Straight Street and find Judas’ house where Saul’s staying.  This is also Judas’ cameo appearance as well, since no where else is he mentioned in the Bible.

            When God calls, Ananias’ response is classic.  Just like we often do when God calls Ananias argues back.  “Wait a minute God, this Saul character is mean-spirited and I may get hurt.”  Ananias is not much different from us.  We have a tendency to think of our own safety.  We don’t want to get put in harm’s way if there’s anything we can do to avoid it.  There’s seldom any thought given to the fact that God wouldn’t call us in the first place if God wasn’t going to care for us when we responded.  Just like Ananias our first thought is what’s in it for me, not what’s in it for God?  “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priest to bind all who invoke your name.”

            Again God’s response is just as classic; it is as though Ananias had never spoken.  Notice again Luke’s use of the word “but.”  “But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.’”  It’s very interesting how God uses common folk like us to accomplish God’s will.  That says a lot about God; it also says a lot about us.  God is a very social God.  God could probably accomplish a great deal more left to God’s own devices.  It seems often that all we do is get in God’s way.  Yet, God chooses us in spite of ourselves and empowers us as instruments of God’s will.

            That also says a lot about God’s trust in us.  God didn’t sit still for Ananias’ objections, but went right on with what God intended him to do.  “So Ananias went and entered the house.  He laid his hands on Saul and said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’”  Once God commissions any of us into God’s service there’s never any doubt that God will also empower us to do what is necessary. 

Here it’s very important that Ananias endows Saul with the gift of the Holy Spirit.  That’s the same empowerment we receive anytime God calls on us to act.   Every unsung saint we mentioned earlier received the Holy Spirit.  And, as you heard their name mentioned, you could also remember specific acts they did which were Spirit led, which says another important thing about being commissioned by God.  We are never left to our own devices, nor are we ever expected to do everything.  God commissions us to very specific tasks and expects us to do those tasks to the best of our ability, led by the Holy Spirit. 

Hector and Jean McCrea were the for-runners of the McDonald ministers.  They did what needed to be done around the church.  Jim Lowe and Blanch McCormick followed their example and walked in their footsteps.  When Sam Shaffer built anything you knew there would be a blueprint and that it would last forever.  Agnes Alcott was one of the early workers in the free lunch program.  Charlie Clauss and Mary Snyder were two people who never said “no” when asked to do something.  Mel Caulk and Ruth Herwig were here almost every day and wanted to know what needed to be done.  Warren Via could do anything with wood and his handiwork is throughout the sanctuary.  Helen Jones was the epitome of a church hostess.  Ada Fleming was one of our best evangelists and the Kollar family continues to give of themselves in a myriad of ways.  There was nothing in the Christian Ed. Office that Jim Wolfe didn’t know about or anything in the kitchen that got past Chris Wolfe.  Bob Sharpe almost single handedly maintained the HVAC system and Bev. Hartzell saw to it that Christmas Family Night went as planned.  Frank Couper saw to it that the Harundale Investment Club maintained its stability and Martha Elliott inspired generations of bell ringers.  Al Kellner donated his time and talents to Christian education as Jean Sutton continued to teach the adults what’s in the Bible.  Carleton taught the communicants what it means to be called by Christ while Kaywin built one of the strongest circles in PW women.  Becky Smith continues to coordinate the Sunday school program and the McDonald ministers have left their imprint on every room in the church.  Doug Martin was also one of those who never said “no” when asked and Janet Lloyd continues to be a faithful Stephen Minister to this day.

So, now it’s time to honor the two latest chosen as “unsung saints.”  They, too, have answered God’s commission and received the Holy Spirit.  What about you?  You know that God’s eye is upon you, so step up to the task, offer your gifts and strengths and to God be the glory and honor.

 

Thanks be to God,

Amen