I’ve been in church my whole life. I’ve loved the church from a very young age. One of my earliest memories, and a story my mom loves to tell, is an Easter when I was 3 or so… The church was packed so we were in the first row. Everyone was singing the first hymn, and I really loved how the song sounded but I didn’t know the words and couldn’t read. After the hymn was done and the last notes of the organ died down, I decided to add my own song. I added the only one I knew. Thus my first and last solo of “Home on the Range” was belted out to the delight of the congregation.

I was moved by what was happening. And I loved it. I loved each Wednesday when we went to mass with my school. The whole school of Immaculate Conception Elementary took the morning and walked across the street. We’d sing hymns. We’d share in communion, well, second grade and above. It was very meaningful. I thought, man… This is the most important thing. I’ve been sitting in pews ever since.

Well. There was a bit of a break in there. Yet even in that break, something was missing. I missed going to church. I longed for the depths. The mission in the community. The pacing of time with the major feast days, liturgical seasons like Advent, Lent, and Easter. The sharing of familiar stories and insights on how they’re still relevant to our lives today.

Instead.. the focus shifted. Political games were started, and you either played or you lost. I saw the hypocrisy of church life. Professing things and behaving opposite. You made a show of your conformity and then you lived a different life the other six days. It was a pain that hit me right in the soul. It was like the story the Rev. Fred Craddock tells of a nine-pound sparrow he once met. Fred was walking down the street and saw a bird and asked
“Aren’t you kind of heavy for a sparrow?”
“Yeah, I’m a little plump, and that’s why I’m out walking some of this weight off.”
So Fred asks, “Is that so you can eventually fly?”
“What? I’ve never flown before!”
“Well… what is your name?”
“Church,” he said.[1]

Maybe you’ve faced something similar. Maybe you came to a place with high expectations but found it loaded down with too much weight. I don’t know what weight it was… maybe the weight of doctrines and dogma you couldn’t believe in. Maybe the weight of tradition was too strong, and you were the wrong gender, orientation, race, or any other way we divide and fall short of the gospel.

I know that feeling. But Kate wanted to find a church for two very practical reasons: to find a place to serve with others and do good in our local community and a place where we could learn about the community: like the best dentist or local restaurant. And we found that place at Emmaus United Church of Christ. We found a place to belong. And we found so much more. We were inspired! We were excited to learn. Couldn’t wait for the next sermon or bible study. I was so inspired by what we learned that I went to seminary. And to my surprise, I found a second spiritual home at Trinity Reformed UCC in Mountville, PA, where I interned.

It felt like I was flying. I was learning more about the Bible. About the living God active in my life and in neighbors whose stories I had never heard before. Neighbors from every tribe, nation, creed, race. Even people I had been told were dangerous and sinful.

It didn’t feel like I was being sold something. Or that I had to be one thing over another. I just had to show up, and bring my experience. These communities were more about testimonies of faith and not tests of faith. They weren’t trying to make us into some ideal that they had, and we had to conform or die.

The closest way I can describe it was like finding a new piece of art. Or being reminded of an old favorite. Or even seeing one that I thought I didn’t like described in such a way that I got it.

The Holy Spirit is the most mysterious part of the Trinity for me. I don’t know how she moves or why she visits when she does. But I know when I’m feeling inspired, that’s the Holy Spirit. In-spirited. It’s how I can’t describe the feelings within me when I look at Van Gogh’s painting Starry Night. It’s been my favorite as long as I can remember, and I never get tired of it. It makes me want to create.

Just like good music… I can’t help but sing and tap my foot. And I can’t sing! I can’t play a lick. But when I hear a good guitar solo or bit of melody, oh geez I sure try! There have been plenty of times when the Holy Spirit has moved, and I’m sure folks have wondered about seeing me play air guitar in his car.

The Holy Spirit was promised to us by Jesus and that promise is fulfilled on Pentecost. That’s when the church was born.

When I was in middle school, bullies told I was awkward, too weird and wouldn’t amount to much. Part of me sees what they were talking about… And another part has great confidence that they missed the mark because Jesus hung out with all the freaks and weirdos of his day. Those called “sinner.” Those called other. We find our life in God. And Jesus had a high view of this group as he says, “I no longer call you disciples but friends.” And my favorite verse in the Bible, “These things I can do… you can do… and greater than these!” Greater than walking on water? Turning water into wine? Greater than rising from the dead?! Yeah! Yeah! Jesus thought so. And he blessed the early church and sent them out into the world to spread the good news from Judea to Samaria to the ends of the earth.

On Pentecost, the Spirit descended on the disciples and they were inspired. In-spirited! Peter, who has been messing up since day one, finally steps up and gives an eloquent speech. He nails his first sermon.

Just like Jesus knew he could all along.

But just like in middle school, I hear a lot of bullies beating up on the church. They say its day is done. That it’s in decline. No one goes there anymore, it’s fallen out of fashion. It’s just a social club. It’s a building that now sits empty in a pandemic. And what good was it really anyway, it was just trying to make you conform to a certain set of beliefs to get into your wallet. Church is a boring place you go to, weighed down by tradition and doctrine and rules. Even an atheist friend pushed back when I suggested differently… “Oh, no…” She said. “Church is a building. The definition from Webster’s is ‘a building used for public Christian worship.’”

Yet look at how it was founded. It was so exciting, people thought the disciples were drunk! “They are filled with a new wine!” This isn’t said by atheists or secular humanists, this is said by observant religious folk who were in town from all over to celebrate the spring harvest. Frank Kish pointed out in our Facebook Bible Study that on this feast day, you couldn’t break the fast until 10 a.m. That’s why Peter says, “We’re not drunk, as you suppose, as it’s only 9 in the morning.” In other words, it shows Peter knows the rules, he’s also an observant religious person, and he’s fired up. So inspired that people who don’t even speak his language understand what he and the disciples are saying.

When I read the story of Pentecost, I can’t seem to find where the Holy Spirit falls on a building. When I read Jesus blessing the church, I can’t seem to find him blessing a building. When Jesus commissions the church and sends it out to Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth… I don’t think he had buildings in mind, as those can’t move. Jesus sent the Spirit to his disciples. The people. Always the people. Never a building. The church is the people. And not just any people, an exciting group of adventurers who break onto the scene in such a way that people are surprised and write them off as a bunch of drunks!

Imagine wanting to be a part of that! A place that isn’t weighed down like a nine-pound sparrow but a place where you feel like you’re flying. Where you hear that God loves you and your life is blessed and loved by God. That all your worst habits and inclinations can be blessed and turned and through them you can be saved.

Like me… I’m just a guy. I’ve been around church structure all my life and it has shaped me. I know I’m impatient. I know I’m a rule-follower and get judgy about those who won’t follow or who flaunt the rules. Yet I also know that in spite of these less-than-great character traits, God can work through me and with me to be the church. Being the church means the promise of God is within and among you. That you’re part of something bigger and by adding your own gift, you add to a wider vision that only God can see. When you’re inspired, when you glimpse that something bigger, you want to create. You add your own voice to the gathering… and it’s okay if you don’t know the words… “Home on the Range” can be a hymn, if sung at the right time.

So be the church today. Celebrate your birthday today. Post online or call someone and talk about what is inspiring you. What dreams you have. What you want to accomplish personally or professionally. Create something today and follow the nudges of the Spirit. What change do you want to make in your life to better yourself, community, nation or the world?

When this ends, and it will end because all pandemics have ended, I want to be a place that raises up leaders. A place that inspires people to add their gifts, their voices, their talents to our common life for the benefit of others.

A place of good and exciting conversations and discoveries. A place where you can’t wait to show up and experience what will happen next. A place where whatever labels have been weighing you down… ones that have been given to you and you never wanted… ones you put on yourself to make sense of a chaotic world. Ones you think you are but aren’t really… Those can be cast aside… and you can fly.

We’ve flown. Three years have flown by! I’m so inspired, in-spirited by all that we have accomplished together! We’ve worshiped together. Celebrated 200 years. Installed a historical marker. We’ve baptized, confirmed, and welcomed new members. We’ve closed out the mortgage to the new addition and y’all sent me up for a night in the Quasimodo suite. We’ve blessed animals and one another in so many countless ways. From celebrating our 50-year members, hosting Ladies’ Tea, Advent Family Fun Nights, Rake and Runs, and Advent Talent shows. Within this pandemic, we’re doing great. We’re striving to stay connected, bridge the distance through writing letters, Facebook bible studies, and now a Zoom book study. As well as our live stream.

I am so inspired and can’t wait to see where God leads us in the future. For that’s where God is. Always pulling from the future. Our best days are ahead of us, as our past has brought us to this point, and will sustain us for what’s ahead. Happy birthday, church. And God bless each of you. Amen.

Works Cited

^[1][1] Craddock on the Craft of Preaching, Chapter 4, e-book edition