God’s Abundance
2 Kings 4:42-44, John 6:1-21

Dear friends in Christ…

Three weeks ago I announced that after 20 plus years of ministry in this congregation I’ve decided to end my call and to see where God will lead next. Next week is my final Sunday with you. Naturally that has caused me to look at the weekly lessons with my leaving in mind, and today is no exception.

In both 2 Kings and John 6 the stories of miraculous feedings are recorded. This is a strong theme in both the Old and New Testaments. By giving just a little bit, God can do great things for many.

There are 4 points that jump out at me from this lesson as I think about the past 20 years, as well as to prepare for what God has planned in the future.. The first is that the ministry of the church, at its core, is sharing God’s love with others. In both lessons there were large crowds of hungry people. In the feeding that Jesus did, the number given is 5000. That’s a lot of people. St. Paul Lutheran has the Cadillac of church kitchens and we’ve fed a lot of people through that kitchen and in the fellowship hall over the years. But I think that if I told our custodians to set up for 5000 and let Maureen and Darla know that’s how much food to get ready, I’d get some resistance. On the other hand, knowing them, they’d probably find a way to get it done.

But there were 5000 hungry people, and that’s all that seemed to matter to Jesus. He didn’t seem to care if they were men, women or children. He didn’t run a criminal background check or put some kind of stipulation on who was worthy to be fed. They were people in need and that’s all that mattered.

This congregation in my 20 years, and in the 120 years prior to my coming, has always been about reaching out to others in need. More than 10 years ago we came up with the mission statement, “Sharing Christ’s Love with Joy.” That really is what it’s all about. Sharing Christ’s love, both with one another in the body of Christ here, with the community and wider world.

Let me just recall a few highlights of how this has happened. In the early 90’s we did a few mission trips with youth and adults from Wyoming Methodist. We went to Appalachia and also to an Indian Reservation in Oklahoma. We served others and bonded with fellow Christians at Wyoming Methodist, some of those bonds continuing to this day. When you dig and build an outhouse together, like Gordy Pietruzewski and I did, along with others, you don’t forget that.

The youth mission trips really expanded when Pastor Jim Mericle tapped into a new servant organization called “Youthworks.” I think he started with 3 kids that went on a trip to Duluth, and at one point close to 30 went to San Francisco. My wife, Melissa, chaperoned many of those trips as our kids were of that age. Joe Rand continued the annual trips and a week ago you heard from some of our youth who had just returned from the Wind River Reservation on a trip led by Stephanie Wolfe, our new youth director. Many of you have supported those trips through your gifts and support of youth fundraisers. That’s reaching out to a world in need.

Within the church I’ve always been impressed by the way many of you reach out when you hear of someone with a special concern. Maybe it’s visiting an elderly member or someone who has lost a loved one or is recuperating from surgery. Arne Ranta has headed up a visitation ministry, but in addition to that, a lot happens spontaneously. Melissa and Jan Taylor have been leaders for the Care Package Ministry, finding people to bring a meal to someone in a time of need.

Our Sunday school has always been great about thinking of projects, like Operation Christmas Child, to help others. We’ve packaged meals for “Feed My Starving Children” and the Bible school kids raised money for a well in Tanzania. Speaking of that ministry, it has been another way this little church in Wyoming, MN has made an impact in a great big world.

I don’t have time to list all the great ministries that this church has done- there have been hundreds. Meeting the needs of others is what Jesus did, and we now seek to do as well.

The second thing that jumps out at me is that the resources needed to do the ministry, have already been provided. They’re already here. In the lesson, the resource was one boy who happened to have five loaves of bread and two fish. Andrew looked around and saw the boy, right in their midst. Jesus was then able to use the available resources to do a great miracle.

In my 20 years I have seen remarkable talent used for ministry in this congregation. In some cases we were blessed with this talent for a season, and folks have moved on to other places, as inevitably happens in the church. I think of the music ministry of Jeanne Richards, Brian and Pam Connolly, Meri Kroulik, Jeff Carlson, Joe Rand, Sheila Byl, Alicia Grams, Testify and solo work of Arne Ranta, Kirby Smith, Cherie Lundeen, Sondra Mericle, and Janelle Albee on flute, and on and on.

I think of all the volunteers who have taught Sunday school. VBS, and served as confirmation guides. There are those who have worked with youth, Darren Paulson, Pastor Jim, Joe, and now Stephanie.

There’s the office support of Kim, and Debbie, and Melissa, and the faithful newsletter volunteers who put the monthly newsletter together.

All of the computers have been donated and maintained by Rich Mayville. Steve Lundgren has used his knack for the technical to do our church website. Steve and Chris Kuehn and Ron Rozeske and Chris Timmons put together the service on powerpoint so it can be projected on the screen.

Then there the Bill Oswalds and John Petersons and late Glenn Gruetts of the world that can build and fix anything. Duane Jaeb gave a ton of time and talent, designing and making the wood sculpture of Peter walking on the water towards Jesus, which is on the wall in the narthex. Andy Peterson and Zella Oswald and their crews who have done the beautiful landscaping.

Again, I could go on forever with this, but the point is that all the resources for ministry are right here, and right now. You have done it in the past and you will do it in the future, to the glory of God.

The third thing that jumps out is that the resources have to be given. The boy had the resources, five loaves and two fish, and he gave them all to make this miracle possible. Maybe he had this food to bring home to his family. Maybe he had caught the fish and bought the loaves and he planned to sell them to make a little money for himself. Maybe he knew he would be gone for the day and this was his dinner. There were probably many reasons he could have said no to Jesus, he needed these things for himself.

But he didn’t do that. He gave them all to the Lord. What if he had held back? Take the fish, but not the bread. I’ll give you two loaves, and 1 fish, but I need the rest for myself. Would all the people have been fed as a result? Might some have gone hungry? We’ll never know, for this boy gave it all.

And this is the stewardship lesson we all need to be reminded of. We are all called to give to the Lord, so that others might be blessed. We give ourselves and whatever talents the Lord has provided us. We give our time, such a valuable gift in today’s world. We give our possessions, our money and sometimes in-kind gifts that others can use. Everyone can give something. There’s no excuse for Christians not to give. And that’s what resources the ministries we do for one another and for those in need. Without the sharing of the gifts, the 5000 would not have been fed. Without the sharing of our gifts, the ministry of the congregation is not possible.

I want to thank you personally for the sharing of your resources that has supported me and my family over these 20 years. It’s been a wonderful place to live, own a home, and raise a family. I want to thank you for the sharing of your resources which allowed the congregation to touch so many lives. I want to encourage you to continue to do so, to the very best of your ability, as new leadership emerges and is called in the days ahead. Nothing would please me more than to look back 20 years from now, at the age of 74, and be able to see how St. Paul Lutheran has continued its ministry with young and old, near and far. All the resources are right here. They just need to be shared.

And then finally, perhaps most importantly, we have to trust God to bring the blessing. We have to have faith that God is present and will provide. In the lesson, all the five thousand were fed, with twelve baskets full left over. Did the boy know this miracle was about to happen when he gave his loaves and fishes to the Lord? Of course not. He was probably thinking, “Well, there goes my lunch. I should have kept a loaf and a fish for myself. What will my parents say when they hear I was so foolish with these things?”

But, because he was willing to give, the blessing came. With the leftovers, he had way more than the five loaves and two fish he started with. Was that predictable? No. It was a blessing that came as a result of faith.

I have been a pastor for 28 years. Every church that I’ve ever known is trying to balance financial realities with the call to do ministry. It’s a hard thing to do. It’s hard, because ministry, and the resources to do it, always requires faith. The church does not tax you or charge an entrance fee to be part of it. It’s based on the free gifts that people give, which is always unpredictable. I’ll remember to my grave what Gene Dufeck, long time member of this church who went to be with the Lord on Feb. 1st, 2000, once said to me. I was grumbling about the church never having enough money, always having to ask for more, and so on. He said, “Well, if there were always enough, you would not need faith.” And he was right on. If the church is waiting for there to be enough, you’re going to wait a long time to do anything. I’m not saying we should be irresponsible with our resources. But I am saying ministry requires faith. Had the boy held on to his five loaves and 2 fish, or held back a portion, this miracle would never have happened. The crowds and disciples would never have known the amazing generosity of God. But he didn’t hold back. He gave it all- a crazy thing to do in so many ways. But it was in that bold act of faith, that Jesus then was able to bring the blessing. As you move forward from here, I urge you to keep this in mind. Don’t be paralyzed by fear, but step forth with courage by faith.

Reaching out to those in need is the fundamental ministry of the church. The resources are already here. God calls us to share what we have, and to trust that he will then bless to His glory that which has been given. Thanks for the countless ways you have demonstrated these truths in my 20 years with you. May you go forth with faith and courage, so this ministry might continue to flourish. Amen

Ministry
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

Dear friends in Christ,

In today’s lesson from Mark 6, we see unique insights into the ministry Jesus did among the people while he walked on earth. Since I’m in the process of concluding my ministry among you after 20 years, this seemed like an opportunity to talk about the ministry as Jesus did it and as I’ve sought to carry it out in this place. In reading and reflecting on the text I identified 5 qualities of ministry present, and there are surely more one could name. But 5 is great plenty. You don’t want to be here all morning. And these five provide a good summary of the ministry Jesus did and the ministry we seek to carry out as well.

The first thing I noticed right away in the lesson is that ministry is about people. It starts out with the disciples returning to tell Jesus about all they had done and taught among the people they met. Then, when Jesus tries to take them away to a quiet place to rest, the crowds see them leave and know where they are going, so they get there ahead of them. At the end of the lesson, more people crowd around Jesus, bringing the sick to him to be healed.

Years ago I remember listening to a tape by John Maxwell, who is a former pastor and now a leadership expert. He used the phrase, “People matter most.” I’ve thought about that often as I’ve tried to carry out the ministry of this congregation, “people matter most.” Now I’m not claiming that I always lived up to that high ideal and that I never allowed other things to be placed above the people of the church. I did, probably more often than I should have. But, in the end, ministry is about people, as we seek to live in Christian community. As I leave, the most important thing I take with me is the memories of people, all we’ve shared together, and the way I have been blessed by others as a result.

As a pastor, I have been welcomed into your lives and the lives of others in remarkable ways. I took a little time to look back at some of that this week. What it most revealed was I’m getting old, but it’s also a reminder of the ministry with people I’ve shared over the years. 426 baptisms, the first April 2nd, 1989, Rebecca Pauline Zierke, Becky, now 20 years old entering her junior year at Luther College. My last, Lila June Rieck, June 28th of this year, great-granddaughter of long time member Vera Rieck. I taught and confirmed 265 junior high students, (now you know why I’m tired) 93 weddings, 112 funerals of some remarkable saints I had the privilege to know, the last being Rose Kasma on March 30th. I’ve shared ministry with some great staff members, your servants, including Kim in the office and Jeanne at the organ, both of whom, remarkably, were here when I came and have outlasted me. The church has allowed me to meet amazing people, including those in the far off countries of Tanzania and Kenya. How fortunate I have been to be in a position to have been a part of so many lives. As Jesus showed by his life and death on the cross, “people matter most.” May we always remember that.

The second thing I saw in this text is that ministry is about interruptions. In fact I think it can be rightly said that some of the most important ministry is done when our lives get interrupted.

In the lesson, Jesus wanted to get away with the disciples from the crowds. They were tired. They didn’t even have time to eat. But when they got to that quiet place, the people were already there. So much for their quiet time. And yet when Jesus got on shore, he did not send them away. He had compassion and continued to teach them.

Well, again, I’m not going to claim that I always handled interruptions like our Lord. I did not. But there were plenty of times when things happened that were unexpected and suddenly changed my plans. It’s the nature of ministry. I’ll never forget that October day 15 years ago, a Monday. I was up in our attic doing some insulating when I heard a banging on the front door. Mike Temte, police chief at the time, was there with some bad news. The Crist twins, Tamme and Terre, 20 years old, had died together in a car accident on their way to school. Their mother had died 7 months earlier from complications of diabetes. Their father, Keith, was now all alone with their little brother. I cleaned up as quickly as I could and was off to be with Keith.

Pastors, and I think all of us, struggle with the interruptions. We can’t be available to everyone all the time. But it’s often in those interruptions that God uses us most significantly.

A third ministry quality I see in this text is shepherding. Ministry is about shepherding the flock. Pastor, of course, means shepherd. I’m reminded of a cartoon I once saw in a Christian leadership magazine. It was of a shepherd who had one sheep slung across his shoulder, another under his arm, one was wandering off to his left, another to his right, another tangled up in the weeds some distance away. He was calling out, “Here Sheepies, Here Sheepies.” That’s often what it’s like shepherding a church. It’s like herding a bunch of independent cats, not exactly an easy thing to do.

For me the shepherd role is the leadership role. It is seeking to provide guidance. In the lesson the people are described as “sheep without a shepherd.” They were lost, wandering, not knowing quite what to think or do. So Jesus shepherds them. He brings them together, sits them down, and teaches them. He provides guidance about life and God.

As pastors we shepherd the whole church in different ways. We don’t do it alone of course, we do it with those that are serving as leaders in the church. At times we shepherd the whole organization, seeking to get everybody on the same page with a common mission and vision. In my 20 years we did that on 4 separate occasions, a major process that takes lots of hard work. Now you’ll have the chance to do that again during the interim. That, in turn, can lead to ministry goals or ideas for staffing or building improvements. I’m glad I could help shepherd the church through the building remodeling and expansion that was done 8 years ago. But what I really remember and would rather be known for is the original parking lot paving done back in 1993. Before that the church had a sand/dirt parking lot that was a real mess when it rained. As part of our 125th anniversary celebration we decided to do some building improvements, and paving the lot was one of them. It was significant because it brought us up to speed with the growth and change taking place in the community. It pushed us forward rather than being content with the past. It made the place immediately more inviting for new folks moving into the community. It was an important victory for a church that needed one. That was a huge step at the time. So, call me the “parking lot pastor.” I’m good with that and grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to shepherd this flock over the years.

The fourth ministry quality Jesus demonstrates is that of teacher. The disciples also played that role as they were sent out. Jesus taught with authority about God the Father, the Holy Spirit, the commandments, the scriptures, loving others, serving others, breaking down barriers, the kingdom of God and eternal life. He was called Rabbi, which means, teacher.

Although most pastors do not do so in formal classroom settings, we do a lot of teaching as part of our call. Most sermons that I’ve done have had some teaching as part of the message. The teaching is done to help you better understand the passage upon which the message is based. I’ve taught three year olds in preschool chapel. I’ve taught elementary age kids in children’s messages. I’ve taught the Bible to 2nd graders, first communion to 5th graders; the Lord’s prayer, the creed, the 10 commandments, and the Bible to confirmation students. I’ve done more than 20 confirmation retreats, taught men’s classes, small groups, and adult classes. I think it’s something most pastors enjoy doing and part of why they go to seminary for training. We teach the faith and pass it on to others.

But teaching is more than using the mind and the intellect. We teach the faith as we live the faith- modeling in our lives what it means to be a Christian. Again, no one does this flawlessly. We’re all imperfect. But to the extent that my life and the life of my family has been a good witness to others, I give thanks. And I also give thanks to those of you that, in your own way, have been a witness to me. We’ve taught each other, which is the way it is meant to be in the body of Christ.

And then finally we see that ministry is about healing. The lesson ends with all these people coming to Jesus, bringing the sick to the market place, asking that they might just touch the fringe of his garment. And amazingly, those that did so, were made well. Jesus came to bring healing to life.

Now I never had the gift of healing in that way. Few do. But I had many, many opportunities to visit in hospital rooms and nursing homes and member’s homes and pray for God’s healing touch. I was part of many prayer services for healing and the anointing of the sick. I was able to be there when the end of life was at hand and the prayer was not for physical healing, but for spiritual healing, comfort, forgiveness, and peace. There were times when it was hard to know just what to pray for. I know people that experienced amazing healing from life threatening diseases. I also knew people who were convinced that God would heal them from their cancer, and that did not happen. There is mystery to life. We do not see all things clearly. In the end we have to trust in God’s will and believe in the promise of eternal life. Even with all the great advances in medicine and medical technology, there is still room for prayer, understanding that all healing is ultimately from God.

It has been a great privilege to be in ministry in this place. Jesus provides the model. Ministry is about people. It is about being present in the interruptions. It is about shepherding and teaching and healing. To the extent that such ministry happened these past 20 years, the glory goes to God. To the extent that I and we fell short, we ask for God’s mercy and grace. Thanks be to God for calling us together for this season of ministry. May such ministry continue to flourish in the months and years to come. Amen

Pentecost 6
Mark 6:14-29

Dear friends in Christ,

As you are by now aware I announced this week that I have decided to bring my 20 ½ year ministry in this congregation to a close. After today I’ll have just 3 more Sundays with you as your pastor, finishing August 2nd. It’s tempting during these ending days to want to run and hide, pretend nothing has really happened, and just walk away and be done. But as I’ve thought about that, I don’t think that would be a good thing either for myself or for you, the congregation. We have the opportunity for some healthy leave taking, and that’s what I hope can take place. We have the opportunity to celebrate and give thanks and laugh and cry and forgive so that, in the end, we can each, pastor and congregation, go forward in faith to that new place God is calling.

I don’t have mapped out what I’ll say in each of these final messages. But I know where I’d like to start. I’d like to start by acknowledging that this is a time of grief both for myself and you. There is no way around that. For 20 years you have allowed me into your lives at very significant times, and vice versa. There are the times of joy like Baptisms and weddings and graduations and building dedications, and there are the times of sadness like unexpected illness, members moving from the community, death of loved ones , 9-11, and so on. In the end, ministry is about people, as we all struggle to understand life and God. When the time comes for those relationships to end or significantly change, there is grief.

Grief is a complicated thing. There is the initial shock of the announced change, there may be sadness, there can be anger or blame, there can be guilt, there can be mixed feelings of happiness and sadness, there’s always unfinished business. And in a congregation as large as ours there are some who will be quite glad for a new start with new leadership. Just as in our human families there are all these different emotions at a time of loss, and sometimes out right dysfunction, so it is also true for the church family. It’s not easy, it takes time to process, but it is normal. So, whatever you’re feeling today and in the weeks and months to come, it’s ok. Change happens in our churches even as it happens in our lives. It is God alone who is unchanging, and God always sees us through.

So, why bring on this sadness or complicated set of emotions to the church? Why go? Why now? It’s a fair question. The best way I can answer that is to say it is not any one thing, recent or past, that led me to this decision. If it were just one thing, I would have been gone long ago, because there’s always another thing that happens. It’s really 20 years of ministry in a congregation that has ministry needs from cradle to grave. 20 years of Sundays, roughly 1000, 20 years of holidays, 20 years of Wednesday confirmation, 20 years of council meetings, committee meetings, and on and on I could go. Throw in controversy about gay and lesbian persons, which has happened across the whole Christian church and across the whole culture. Mix in some inevitable staff changes, which can be hard. Throw in the deepest economic recession since the Great Depression and all the fear that brings. Factor in that my life stage has changed significantly in 20 years. The simple reality is I’m pretty worn out. And that’s why I need to be done. It has been a great blessing, and I’ll talk about some of that in upcoming weeks, but it’s also time to hand it off so that new leaders might emerge for the next leg of the journey. I’ve run a long race, I’ve run it hard, and I’ll run it to the end. But it’s time to bring it to completion, spend some time recovering, and look for that new place where God will call.

And what’s true for me is also true for the church. You will have time to evaluate what has been, what’s worked and what hasn’t. It’s a great time to redefine the congregation’s mission. It’s been 6 tears since we last did that, and much has changed. That will be essential as you think about your future and the type of leadership that will take.

Rest assured that you will not be without pastoral leadership. It’s up to the council to work with Noreen Stevens of our synod to provide for interim and eventually permanent pastoral leadership. There’s lots of good pastors out there available to help with the transition, and when the time comes for you to begin interviewing new pastors for the call, you’ll have many to choose from. God is already preparing the way for that to happen. Please welcome your new leaders, even as you welcomed me more than 20 years ago.

One final thought before I tie some of this back into our lessons. In the end, this is for me a spiritual matter. It is about listening to God and trying to be open to where the spirit of God will lead. Most of the people God called as prophets and disciples and leaders in the Bible obediently went not knowing where they’d end up. Think of Abraham or Moses in the Old Testament, Mary and Joseph, the disciples, Paul in the new. At some point we are called to trust God and to step out in faith. That is finally, after much internal struggle, what led me to this decision.

Well, let’s turn to today’s gospel. This gospel reading is about the least uplifting lesson we have in the three year lectionary cycle. It records the death of John the Baptist. It reveals humanity at its lowest. There are inappropriate relationships, sex and power issues, and a violent ending for John. Unfortunately, too much like what still happens today. Now over the years I have had my share of critics, but I still have my head, so I guess that’s a good thing. There could be worse ways to leave, like what happened to John.

Is there anything at all that we can learn and apply to our lives from such a sordid tale as is told in Mark’s gospel? Well, there is one thing I have noticed in the readings over the past couple of weeks. I haven’t talked about it, but it’s there. It’s also something we really don’t want to hear.

In these summer lessons we are reading about what it takes to be a disciple. Three weeks ago Paul talks about all the trials he encountered. He said he’s endured hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, sleepless nights and hunger. Aside from the sleepless nights, it makes the job of parish pastor seem pretty easy. Last week we read about Jesus being rejected by people of his hometown, Nazareth. He was shocked at their unbelief and could do very little with that. Today we have the murder of the forerunner to Christ, John the Baptist.

I think the reason this is all included, and this is what we really don’t want to hear, is that being a disciple is really difficult. Look what happened to Paul, look what happened to John, even Jesus was resisted in his hometown, and, we, of course, know how he died.

Most of us prefer the easy route. Come to church, worship with family and friends, go out to breakfast, repeat next week. But these are lessons that say that the Christian faith demands so much more than that. If you’ve never felt any push back, if you’ve never been hurt or wounded as a result of your faith, then maybe it’s time to think about what you really believe and how you live. There’s a cost to discipleship, we ought not forget that. It cost John his life. What has it cost you?
And then I think there’s another important thing we can learn. In the death of John, we can be inspired by John. The bold witness and courage of John the Baptist is that inspiration. As the forerunner to Christ he had an unbelievably difficult job. He was to prepare the way, to call people to repentance, to reveal sin. He had to believe in what he was doing. He had to be grounded in faith and the belief in God’s love and plan for the world. And he was. He was so grounded, so sure of God’s plan and his place in it, he was obedient unto death

Where does such faith and obedience come from? In Ephesians we have a clue. This faith comes from trust that God has indeed chosen us before the foundation of the world and has sealed us in Holy Baptism. In the Baptism service we say “You have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever!” Forever! That’s a long time. That’s a lot more than 20 years. Because of that we believe God will never let us go. We might call this perspective the “long view” of the life of faith, trusting that whatever sufferings or hardships we endure in the present are but a single, small point on the longer time line of God’s plans for us.

Herod and Herodias, who were responsible for John’s death, obviously didn’t get this. They had no faith in God above. They thought their kingdom and power and glory were all that mattered. They disregarded God and therefore disregarded God’s messenger, John the Baptist. I was struck by what a coward Herod was. Instead of standing up for John, who apparently was making some impact on his life, he gave in to the pressure of Herodias to have him killed. Whereas John had convictions, Herod had none. And so he killed him, probably thinking that was the end of that.

But that was not the end. There was a greater purpose in John’s death that Herod failed to see. John’s death made it abundantly clear that the life of faith would be difficult. It foreshadowed what would happen to Jesus. It pointed to the challenges the disciples would face, as well as all that followed Christ. In the end, John’s death inspired others to be bold in their witness, to trust God always. His death was not the end. It was just the beginning of a witness that would be faithful even unto death. We, too, can expect hardships small and sometimes great. Yet God’s promise remains. We are God’s children now and forever.

Well, I know the days ahead will not be easy for me or for you. Grief never is. But it’s part of life. It’s not easy being a disciple, as our lesson has shown. And yet it’s often at our most difficult times that our need to depend on God becomes most clear. May this be true for us as we share in this time of leave taking. Amen

Mark 6:1-13
Pentecost 7

Dear friends in Christ,

This weekend we have celebrated what is arguably the most important date in American history. It is a date that even people who are poor historians remember. On July 4th, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was signed at Philadelphia’s Independence Hall. It declared that the people in this land would no longer tolerate being under the oppressive rule of England, but would form a new nation called the United States of America. It would be several years of war and hard work before the new nation was constituted, but this date marked the beginning of America.

Today we celebrate Independence Day with more enthusiasm than any other national holiday. President’s Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, not even Thanksgiving Day quite compares with Independence Day. Picnics and parades and family gatherings and fireworks all make this a special time to celebrate and give thanks for our Independence. It is very likely we would not even be here, at worship in this place, were it not for the work of those who fought for independence and gave us our constitution, assuring the right to freely gather for worship without government interference.

When we think of America, we think first of freedom. We think of independence. We think of the opportunity to build a life for ourselves, in the manner that we choose. We value and celebrate independence, more than anything else.

We are Americans, citizens of this great country. But, as Christians, believers in God and the gift of His son Jesus, we are also citizens of God’s kingdom. As importance as independence is for Americans, is it the most important value by which Christians live? Is independence what the Bible teaches about living the Christian life? Using the gospel lesson from Mark as my text, I’d like to suggest that while independence is important, what is even more important is interdependence. The Christian life is a declaration of interdependence, where we depend both on God and one another to aid us in our journey through life.

This weekend we have celebrated our independence. We are an independent bunch of people living in the land of the free and the home of the brave. We like to be able to go and do as we please.
The problem, however, is that in many ways independence is an illusion. We aren’t as independent as we’d like to think.

One of the great symbols of American independence is the automobile. It takes us places we want to go, when we want to go. Efforts at mass transit systems and car pooling have been only somewhat successful, especially in the midwest, because we want the independence of driving our own wheels whenever we want.

But what happens to our independence when the timing belt on our car suddenly breaks? What happens when we forget to glance at the fuel gauge and run out of gas? What happens when the fuel pump quits pumping fuel to our engine? I’ll tell you what happens, because all of those things have happened to me. We become dependent upon others for help. Our independence grinds to a halt until someone trained to repair our car gets around to fixing it.

Or what happens to our independence when our health fails us in some way? Years ago I broke a bone in my lower left leg skiing. It happened out west. I couldn’t drive home, but was dependent upon others while I sat in the back seat with my leg propped up. The car I normally drove at home had a clutch. I couldn’t drive that car, and ended up borrowing my sister-in-law’s car for several weeks because it had automatic transmission. Obviously, more serious illnesses and injuries happen which make us even more dependent upon doctors and nurses and family members for care.

We’ve had many terrible storms pass through the metro area over the years. My family has been fortunate, as we’ve never had any real serious damage to life or home. But some people have been less fortunate. Some people have been without water or power for several days. When you lose the basics, you quickly realize how dependent you are upon others in life.

True independence is really an illusion. Everyone is dependent on something or someone. There is dependence that is negative. It is life denying. It is dependence that becomes bondage, where you are controlled by someone or something which robs you of life. Addiction to alcohol, cigarettes, and gambling, are a few examples of this. Living in an abusive marriage would be another example. There are many negative dependencies. But there are also positive dependencies, which are life giving. They are dependencies which support us and lift us up and help us along life’s way. They are dependencies based on love and honor and respect. It is the neighbor who brings a hot dish so that you don’t have to cook after bringing a new baby home from the hospital. It is the meals on wheels driver who brings a hot meal to an elderly person confined to the home. It is the friend who offers to cut up the fallen tree in your yard after the storm. These are good dependencies, essential for life.

True independence is an illusion, and taken to the extreme, becomes sinful. It is selfishness, caring only about your own needs and using others to satisfy your selfish needs. The Bible does not talk so much about independence, but rather interdependence. Faith in God is really a declaration of interdependence.

We see this in the gospel lesson. Jesus sends out his disciples to proclaim repentance to the people. But before going, they are told to leave behind almost all of their possessions and those things which make for a comfortable life. Don’t take food, don’t take a suitcase, don’t take any money, don’t take extra clothes. They were to travel light on their journey.

They were to take few possessions with them, but they would be gifted with the Spirit, who would give them power and authority. It is upon the Spirit they were to depend, the Spirit to lead and guide their mission.

For the Christian, a certain amount of independence is a good thing. We ought be able to manage our own lives. But even more important is dependence upon God, to lead and guide us. Independence can quickly change or vanish all together. But the scriptures declare that God is absolutely dependable. For us to live as God desires, for us to have the abundant life God promises, we must depend on God. Martin Luther wrote in the catechism we are to fear, love, and trust God above anything else. When we do so, God will guide us. God will see us through. God will provide, even as God provided for the needs of those disciples sent out on their mission.

Perhaps you have allowed your love for independence to interfere with your dependence on God. It’s happened to me. We’re independent people, we don’t think we need to be dependent upon anything. But we are called to place our faith and trust in God, who is dependable. Today is the day and now is the time to get right with God our creator once again.

Notice also that Jesus sends out his disciples two by two. He could have sent them out alone, independent, I suppose. They could have covered twice as much ground that way. But he does not do so. Two are better than one, for they can encourage and support and lift up one another, when things get tough.

So also it is for us. The Christian life is dependence upon God, and dependence upon one another. It is not to be lived in isolation, but in community with each other. There is no song in the kingdom of God with the refrain, “I did it my way,” despite the popularity of Frank Sinatra’s version. Rather, together, we did it God’s way. Someone once said, “Christianity promises to make people free; it never promises to make them independent.” True freedom comes only as we depend on God and one another for the love and support we need in life.

This weekend we have celebrated our nation’s independence. But I think what our founding fathers really had in mind, and what we believe as Christians, is our interdependence. We depend on God for His blessing and guidance, and we depend on one another for a healthy society. A republic such as ours cannot work, unless we work together to make it happen. Citizenship means being involved in the community, to make it the kind of place we want it to be.

Perhaps you have misunderstood independence. Perhaps it has caused you to become isolated from God, and from your neighbor. It is easy to do in a nation that celebrates independence and self-reliance. But we do not worship the nation. We worship God, who calls us to depend on Him for our needs, and to serve our neighbor. And so today, we celebrate our independence as a nation. But we also celebrate what God has declared for us-- our interdependence. For that is God’s will for His people, and the path to the abundant life God promises. Amen