click here to see more pictures of the ordinationA Sermon on the Occasion of an Ordination: Joseph Wingo & James Kennaugh
August 16, 2008
Church of the Resurrection, Tampa, FL
Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.” Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.” –Jeremiah 1:4-10
Three ways that God had made you ready for this day and will keep making you ready in the days to come: FORMATION, CONSECRATION, COMMISSION (APPOINTMENT)
Formation
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you…” Affirmation of a purposeful existence. We are not here by accident. Our God is the potter, we are the clay.
“Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak…” Learn to bring your doubts and fears before the Lord.
I can tell when a priest “retired” by looking at the books in his office.
Formation is ongoing. Let learning be a lifelong process.”
I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forego their use.” –Galileo Galilei
Consecration
People imagine all sorts of things that clergy do or don’t do. One family in my parish asked me if I ever listened to any music other than organ music!
Aspiring to live a life of holiness does not mean to be weird or out of touch with the world, but rather to allow God to transform us more and more into the Image of Christ (Imago Dei).
Visitation this week with dear people of God…. Don’t let the facts lead you away from the Truth.
“Let your religion be less of a theory and more of a love affair.” –G.K. Chesterton
Be consecrated to God who alone makes you holy, and love the people you are called to serve.
- Love will keep you from being just one more denominational politician disguised as a preacher.
- Love will keep you from being a mere professional simply seeking advancement in a career, treating the people of God as stepping stones, building your own kingdom and calling it God’s.
- Love will drive you to study the text and preach well, not to impress but because you know your people need the word of God. Love will keep you out of the ivory tower and compel you out into the lives of your people to know them, to know their lives, their joys, and their struggles. How else will you pray for them, preach to them and oversee their souls?
- Love will compel you to watch over their souls and not be content with simply filling a pulpit.
Martin Luther opposed all the assembled powers of his day because he would not bear to see his people deceived by the indulgence hawkers.
William Tyndale went to the flames because love for their people drove them to give them the Word in their own language. It is said that his last words, from the stake, were “Lord, open the king of England’s eyes.”
Commission / Appointment
“Behold, I have put my words in your mouth…” Validity v. Efficacy. As Anglicans we love to argue over who is valid. Who is a real Anglican and who isn’t. There is a prominent website that lists all of the wannabe Anglican groups that are not really in the communion. I was more than a bit surprised to find us (AMiA) listed there as a “poser” group that isn’t really Anglican.
However… and this is the important part… You can be ‘official’ but still be worthless.Validity (being official) does mean you are efficacious (actually doing anything worthwhile). I assure you that when you walk out of here today you will be valid. Whether you are efficacious is up to you.
Strive to be efficacious. In the end that is much more important.
“…over nations and over kingdoms…” We are in the midst of rapid cultural change. The values of the world are being seen for what they are: short-term pleasure, long-term misery, fear, disillusionment, and dread.
Simon Farisani, South African Lutheran Dean and Pastor… NY Times reported – He was detained without trial for four lengthy periods since 1977 in Venda, one of the tribal homelands that South Africa has declared ”independent” but that no other country recognizes. During his first three detentions Dean Farisani was brutally tortured: hung upside down, given electric shocks, beaten. He suffered two heart attacks. Protests by Amnesty Inter-national and others helped win his release.
In an interview with he said…I would rather fail temporarily in a cause that will ultimately succeed, than to succeed in a cause that will ultimately fail.
The persistent vision, witness, and proclamation of faithful people in South Africa changed the world. We need you two to be world changers, to change yourselves, change your world, and then build a fire under us to call us to change!
Learn and don’t forget the power of proclamation. Don’t discount the power of your words, whether in the pulpit or on the street, wherever you may be.
The Charge (from Old French chargier… load, burden… responsibility. 1568 – the word is used as “rush in and attack.”
- Joey taught me… Beer is food, that’s why they sell it in grocery stores.
- Make sure the wireless mic is off before you go to the bathroom.
- Remember the difference between church organists and terrorists… you can negotiate with some terrorists.
- Try to regularly work with your hands, learn with your mind, and love with your souls.
- Comfort the afflicted. Afflict the comfortable.
- Never confuse defending tradition with resistance to change.
- You want to be a winner? Pray – Digest the Scriptures – Look to the Lord of Life
Joseph and James…. (2 Timothy 4) I charge you both, here in the presence of God, and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming (is here) when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Let God who made you, who redeems you, and who loves you continue to form you and make of you what he wills.
Be consecrated and made holy to the Lord. And let the love of God be the compass of your lives.
Remember that you have appointed, called out, sent forth and equipped to change the world!
