Transitions
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14
I went to seminary in Chicago for my Master’s degree. Upon graduation, I accepted a teaching position in North Carolina, in the North Carolina public school system of Iredell county with four public high schools, where I was hired as the Bible History teacher for the school system. I developed and wrote the curriculum for the school system and I taught 9-12th graders Bible History in two of the schools there. I had moved from Chicago, to Iredell County. It was a little different to say the very least. When I interviewed for the job, several hand-picked locals turned out to interview me - they represented the churches in the area who wanted to be sure I was not teaching heresy to their young ones, and on the other side of the table sat the school system, who wanted to make sure that I would not be indoctrinating the children - they wanted to make sure I understood the law- and the churches wanted to make sure that I understood the Bible. Fortunately I understood both, and I also understood that some of the questions being asked of me by the committee that had little or nothing to do with what I would actually be teaching were more about whether or not I was a liberal or a conservative - “Did I believe the book of Isaiah had one or two authors?” The county, while excited about the possibility of implementing Bible history in the school system, was also nervous about the transition and what it would look like. And who was this person coming in to teach?
Transitions are always hard. No matter what type of transition you are involved in — one generation to the next, one president to the next, one Rector to the next, one school system to the next, transition in life-marriage, divorce children going off to college-transitions are always filled with uncertainty and always come with a certain amount of anxiety producing angst.
Today’s text is about transition. 2 Kings 2 begins with no advance warning by announcing that the transition in prophetic leadership is imminent: “God was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind” (2 Kings 2:1). Two people in the Bible did not die, Enoch and Elijah. It is said of Enoch that he lived 365 years, he walked with God and he was no more” (Genesis 5: 21-24), and here Elijah is taken up into heaven by a whirlwind. Elijah made a dramatic exit to his ministry to say the least.
Little is known about Elisha before this text. We first read of Elisha in 1 Kings 19 which I had included in our Old Testament reading today because it is an important part of the story. Elisha was out in the field plowing one day and Elijah passed near him and threw his cloak on him, symbolizing the passing of his mantle and leadership to him. Elisha we are told rose and followed Elijah and became his servant. And then we just don’t hear anything about him until now.
Much of what we learn of faith and ministry we learn from watching others; from being around them. Much of life we learn from others, from being around them. Before I was ordained to the Priesthood, I was placed with another priest for a year. There was no formal training or curriculum. I just sort of observed and absorbed. My formal education had been completed but there are things you learn from just observing. That is much like discipleship, and then one day, it is time for you to take the mantle. Time for you to speak your words, lead as you lead.
It is the same way around here right now. Many of those who have come before are gone. Those who made St. James, St. James, are no longer with us to a great extent. We are going to have to decide where we are going from here- and to a great extent it is time for people to step up. To start filling the shoes of those who came before. That is how this life of faith works. One generation leaves, and the next steps in. It is anxiety producing at times. Who is going to step in?
It is always interesting to watch in families. You always had Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner at momma’s house, and when Momma is gone, where is the family going to host dinner? Who is going to step up to take that spot? It can be painful — old memories flood us with emotion and for good or bad — we just don’t like the change. Yesterday we had a Lazzuri family reunion out at Lake Anna. My father was one of four siblings and is the only remaining sibling alive. It was bittersweet to be with my cousins again and see everyone, everyone aware that the old guard is dying off and it is now the younger generations who are having to make up the mantle. It will be interesting to see how the family stays together and how we function as a family.
Elisha was very anxious when he learned that Elijah was going to leave him. He was so anxious he asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. A double portion of his spirit — not just give me your spirit, but can I have twice as much? An impossible request really, but one which reflected his anxiety of the moment. Elijah indicated that it may or may not happen.
Elisha had spent time with Elijah observing and watching him, and he wanted what he had, and he didn’t want Elijah to leave him. He saw Elijah strike the water with his mantle and saw the waters part, and in imitation, after Elijah was gone, Elisha takes his mantle and strikes the water like he had seen Elijah do, and asks “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” and then the water parted just as it had for Elisha. You can almost hear God say, “Here I am”. “I am here”.
Taking over after anyone can be difficult. People compare. Well, so and so did it this way. “Your faith is not as strong as Elijah’s, Elisha. He swung his mantle like this…”
Part of discipleship is knowing when it is time for you take the mantle. And I can tell you — it is time for many here to take the mantle. The process of growth is observing those who walked before you. The people who made decisions before are gone and you have to step up and become an agent in your own right. “Where is the God of Elijah?” Well, he is right here. He is right here.
This has been a transitional year for St. James. The past 18 months have been significant in the life of the congregation. We have lost many beloved members. We have had two trustees die; really three when you count Frank who was a trustee but had moved away shortly before his passing. We have lost significant lives from this congregation. And it is time for some new people to step up and take the mantle. It may not look the same as it always has. It won’t look the same as it always has. And their will be grief in that. And we can sit with that. But, time moves on and in the words of a country song, “Life's about changing, nothing ever stays the same.” It is not about right or wrong, or better or worse — it is simply, “This is the way Libby did it and would want it done," and now this is the way “___________” is doing it. We hold on to and remember with joy the way it was done, as we embrace and move toward what will now be.
I was talking to a friend this week and said one of the things that has been on my mind is the video ministry here at church. This is something brand new. Who would have thought that St. James Louisa, would ever need or have a video ministry. That we record? And that people watch? Who even knew how to do this 10 years ago? No one. We didn’t even have the technology for it. But it is now a fabric and part of our congregation. It is something that we need to think about. How to best utilize it. How to minister to those who are watching on-line and how to bring them into our fold and recognized as viable parts of our congregation, because even though it has not been done before — it is happening now.
As churches transition, and we are all transitioning, one question that needs to be on our minds is what ministries do we think God is calling us to as a congregation? What ministry is God calling you to? We all sit here with different talents, interest, abilities, gifts of the spirit!, that God has given to us. How are you using it? How are you using what God has given to you to bring light and life to this community? How will you use it?
In the book of Common prayer, on page 420, there is A Form of Commitment to Christian Service. Look at it sometime. We acknowledge and recognize that God calls us to different things and we want to pray and commend you to the work that God calls you too. I hope I have the ability to include this one day in a service, for one of you, as God forms and places on your heart, a ministry that He has called you to. Pray about what God is calling you to — discipleship and growth should lead to involvement — moving away from doing things by and for ourselves to doing them in and through God.
Mantles are available to the taking. Whose mantle will you pick up? Where is your place is serving God’s church? Amen.
I went to seminary in Chicago for my Master’s degree. Upon graduation, I accepted a teaching position in North Carolina, in the North Carolina public school system of Iredell county with four public high schools, where I was hired as the Bible History teacher for the school system. I developed and wrote the curriculum for the school system and I taught 9-12th graders Bible History in two of the schools there. I had moved from Chicago, to Iredell County. It was a little different to say the very least. When I interviewed for the job, several hand-picked locals turned out to interview me - they represented the churches in the area who wanted to be sure I was not teaching heresy to their young ones, and on the other side of the table sat the school system, who wanted to make sure that I would not be indoctrinating the children - they wanted to make sure I understood the law- and the churches wanted to make sure that I understood the Bible. Fortunately I understood both, and I also understood that some of the questions being asked of me by the committee that had little or nothing to do with what I would actually be teaching were more about whether or not I was a liberal or a conservative - “Did I believe the book of Isaiah had one or two authors?” The county, while excited about the possibility of implementing Bible history in the school system, was also nervous about the transition and what it would look like. And who was this person coming in to teach?
Transitions are always hard. No matter what type of transition you are involved in — one generation to the next, one president to the next, one Rector to the next, one school system to the next, transition in life-marriage, divorce children going off to college-transitions are always filled with uncertainty and always come with a certain amount of anxiety producing angst.
Today’s text is about transition. 2 Kings 2 begins with no advance warning by announcing that the transition in prophetic leadership is imminent: “God was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind” (2 Kings 2:1). Two people in the Bible did not die, Enoch and Elijah. It is said of Enoch that he lived 365 years, he walked with God and he was no more” (Genesis 5: 21-24), and here Elijah is taken up into heaven by a whirlwind. Elijah made a dramatic exit to his ministry to say the least.
Little is known about Elisha before this text. We first read of Elisha in 1 Kings 19 which I had included in our Old Testament reading today because it is an important part of the story. Elisha was out in the field plowing one day and Elijah passed near him and threw his cloak on him, symbolizing the passing of his mantle and leadership to him. Elisha we are told rose and followed Elijah and became his servant. And then we just don’t hear anything about him until now.
Much of what we learn of faith and ministry we learn from watching others; from being around them. Much of life we learn from others, from being around them. Before I was ordained to the Priesthood, I was placed with another priest for a year. There was no formal training or curriculum. I just sort of observed and absorbed. My formal education had been completed but there are things you learn from just observing. That is much like discipleship, and then one day, it is time for you to take the mantle. Time for you to speak your words, lead as you lead.
It is the same way around here right now. Many of those who have come before are gone. Those who made St. James, St. James, are no longer with us to a great extent. We are going to have to decide where we are going from here- and to a great extent it is time for people to step up. To start filling the shoes of those who came before. That is how this life of faith works. One generation leaves, and the next steps in. It is anxiety producing at times. Who is going to step in?
It is always interesting to watch in families. You always had Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner at momma’s house, and when Momma is gone, where is the family going to host dinner? Who is going to step up to take that spot? It can be painful — old memories flood us with emotion and for good or bad — we just don’t like the change. Yesterday we had a Lazzuri family reunion out at Lake Anna. My father was one of four siblings and is the only remaining sibling alive. It was bittersweet to be with my cousins again and see everyone, everyone aware that the old guard is dying off and it is now the younger generations who are having to make up the mantle. It will be interesting to see how the family stays together and how we function as a family.
Elisha was very anxious when he learned that Elijah was going to leave him. He was so anxious he asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. A double portion of his spirit — not just give me your spirit, but can I have twice as much? An impossible request really, but one which reflected his anxiety of the moment. Elijah indicated that it may or may not happen.
Elisha had spent time with Elijah observing and watching him, and he wanted what he had, and he didn’t want Elijah to leave him. He saw Elijah strike the water with his mantle and saw the waters part, and in imitation, after Elijah was gone, Elisha takes his mantle and strikes the water like he had seen Elijah do, and asks “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” and then the water parted just as it had for Elisha. You can almost hear God say, “Here I am”. “I am here”.
Taking over after anyone can be difficult. People compare. Well, so and so did it this way. “Your faith is not as strong as Elijah’s, Elisha. He swung his mantle like this…”
Part of discipleship is knowing when it is time for you take the mantle. And I can tell you — it is time for many here to take the mantle. The process of growth is observing those who walked before you. The people who made decisions before are gone and you have to step up and become an agent in your own right. “Where is the God of Elijah?” Well, he is right here. He is right here.
This has been a transitional year for St. James. The past 18 months have been significant in the life of the congregation. We have lost many beloved members. We have had two trustees die; really three when you count Frank who was a trustee but had moved away shortly before his passing. We have lost significant lives from this congregation. And it is time for some new people to step up and take the mantle. It may not look the same as it always has. It won’t look the same as it always has. And their will be grief in that. And we can sit with that. But, time moves on and in the words of a country song, “Life's about changing, nothing ever stays the same.” It is not about right or wrong, or better or worse — it is simply, “This is the way Libby did it and would want it done," and now this is the way “___________” is doing it. We hold on to and remember with joy the way it was done, as we embrace and move toward what will now be.
I was talking to a friend this week and said one of the things that has been on my mind is the video ministry here at church. This is something brand new. Who would have thought that St. James Louisa, would ever need or have a video ministry. That we record? And that people watch? Who even knew how to do this 10 years ago? No one. We didn’t even have the technology for it. But it is now a fabric and part of our congregation. It is something that we need to think about. How to best utilize it. How to minister to those who are watching on-line and how to bring them into our fold and recognized as viable parts of our congregation, because even though it has not been done before — it is happening now.
As churches transition, and we are all transitioning, one question that needs to be on our minds is what ministries do we think God is calling us to as a congregation? What ministry is God calling you to? We all sit here with different talents, interest, abilities, gifts of the spirit!, that God has given to us. How are you using it? How are you using what God has given to you to bring light and life to this community? How will you use it?
In the book of Common prayer, on page 420, there is A Form of Commitment to Christian Service. Look at it sometime. We acknowledge and recognize that God calls us to different things and we want to pray and commend you to the work that God calls you too. I hope I have the ability to include this one day in a service, for one of you, as God forms and places on your heart, a ministry that He has called you to. Pray about what God is calling you to — discipleship and growth should lead to involvement — moving away from doing things by and for ourselves to doing them in and through God.
Mantles are available to the taking. Whose mantle will you pick up? Where is your place is serving God’s church? Amen.