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St James, Episcopal Church,
Mount Vernon, VA
October 21st, 2007
Luke 18
Consider with me, if you will, the persistence of the woman…this widow… in our lesson today. We are told that she was persistent in encounters with the judge so that even he, an unjust judge, gives her justice. In a similar way we hear of Jacob wrestling with "a man" or some have described this as his wrestling an angel from God…refusing to let go! Stubborn and hungry for a blessing. Two great examples of persistence.
Are we sitting here today hanging on to the idea that God will indeed bless us one day…or bring us justice? I know I am. There have been times in my life when abandoning Christianity would be an easy choice….when life seemed particularly unfair. I could have just said, "the troubles overwhelm me….I quit….let someone else figure it all out." But this is not the posture of faithfulness. We are called to strive with God….to persevere in the faith….perhaps most especially during the hard times.
Let me tell you a story. There was a young black man who was discouraged (perhaps more than we could imagine) and he asked his minister why his people had to suffer so much poverty, hardship, and oppression. "Why doesn't God do something?" he wailed. "He has," said that wise pastor. "He has created you." And so Desmond Tutu, former archbishop of South Africa, became the answer to his own question.
What questions can God answer in the world with your life? What questions here at St. James can God answer with your life?
I spent spent most of my office time walking around this wonderful facility and imagining the things that we could do here together. I walked around thinking about all of the things we are already doing here. I sat down at the piano on Thursday to play (and pray) and I found myself just making music and not really knowing for what exactly I should pray. But I just carried on knowing that God has been ahead of all of us, putting our prayers together in a symphony of Grace. Reminds me of a friend of mine who told me about a little boy who knelt down to say his bedtime prayers. His parents heard him reciting the alphabet in very reverent tones. When asked what he was doing, he replied, "I'm saying my prayers, but I cannot think of the exact words tonight. So, I'm just saying all the letters. God knows what I need, and he'll put all the words together for me."
We come together week after week to recite the words of an ancient liturgy in the faith that God will hear the persistence of our prayers and will pour out His Grace upon us all….perhaps especially in the hard times. It is not so much about what we say we believe, or how we do things, as it is about the fact that we are hear.
I once asked brother Thomas, an older brother and dear friend in the Taize community if he ever found himself sitting in the church not knowing what to pray or what to say….he smiled….held my hand with his gentle hands…and said, "but God is delighted that you have simply stopped to pray". In the same way, god is delighted that you are here. God is thrilled that we have decided not to give up on our faith, on the church, on life. "Endure suffering, do the work of an Evangelist, carry out your ministry fully!" 2Tim:3:14-4:5
I recently read about the first transcontinental flight across the country from New York, NY to Long Beach CA which was completed by American aviation pioneer Cal P. Rodgers in an early Wright flyer called the Vin Fiz after a soft drink company that sponsored the trip. On September 17, 1911 he left Sheephead Bay at Brooklyn NY and arrived in California on December 10, 1911, 84 days later. Rodgers actual time in the air was only 3 days, 10 hours and 14 minutes. The airplane was forced down by weather and mechanical failure more than 30 times resulting in "light crashes" to crashes that required major repairs. When Rodgers landed in Long Beach the only original parts on the airplane were the rear rudder and the oil pan on the engine. Now that is what I would call persistence. I would have probably given up the first time I lost my wings.
And will God grant justice to those who call on him day and night?" YES!!! Will he delay long in helping them?" NO!!! Luke 18:8 I am going to remain faithful, stubborn, and hungry for a blessing. Amen.
St. James Episcopal Chuch, Mount Vernon, VA
October 14th, 2007
Luke 17:11-19
Today I want to talk about thankfulness….more specifically, developing an attitude of gratitude! I can hardly believe I have now been in Northern Virginia for two weeks. I have been overwhelmed by the love and blessings which have greeted my every day. It is good to be here.
I have to confess making a mistake this week with my calendar. I was all prepared to drive to Richmond on Friday where I am to take part in the wedding of two former students…Problem was, I was a week early as the grooms mother had a big laugh when she read that I was about to leave en route to Richmond. I greeted this news with excitement…thankfulness….as I would have free time to unpack my office with Sarah and all of yesterday to help my five year old learn to ride her bike without training wheels (as well as unpacking at home and watching some college football). I could have moaned about the change of plan or the mistake in my schedule…or I could be thankful. I chose the latter. I think this is also the lesson from today’s Gospel…to live our lives differently…as people touched by the hand of God. People seeking out opportunities where others wallow in problems.
Context of today’s Gospel - Jesus is on the final leg of his journey from Galilee to Jerusalem. He told his disciples how important genuine faith is. Lepers were outcasts from society; people considered them ritually unclean, believed they were possessed by evil spirits. All ten acknowledge Jesus as who he is, “Master” (v. 13): they have faith. To actually be restored to society, a leper needed certification from “the priests” (v. 14) that they were free of the disease.
While all ten acknowledge Jesus as God, only one, a “Samaritan” (v. 16), a “foreigner” (v. 18), gives thanks to him (v. 16); he worships God differently. (Another Samaritan story…Luke who gives us the Good Samaritan now gives us the Thankful Samaritan…but I’ll bet you had not heard of it that way before) All ten are healed of leprosy but only one is wholly “made ... well” (v. 19) – The different word used here in the Greek bears with it the idea of “a rescue from impending destruction or from superior powers”.
Let’s not forget that much earlier, Jesus has infuriated synagogue worshippers by recalling the story of Naaman, also a foreigner healed of leprosy by Elisha. Then no Israelites were healed of the disease, only an alien..a Samaritan. Now one whom the Jews despised is “made well” and “healed”. (Luke 7:27 "See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.' - for cleansing of lepers being a sign of the coming of the Kingdom. 7:27
I want to live my life in a posture of thankfulness…for all things. Even in the face of disease, death, and disappointment…and there have been lots of each of these… I am going to find hope! For as it says in the prayer book “even as we stand at the grave we make our song Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia”.
There is a blind Roman Catholic Priest in Richmond named Fr. Jolie. He is an Evangelist and plays the piano like Billy Joel. In fact he is a good cross between Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, and a revival preacher. One night at St. Jude church in Radford, VA he told a story about a Southern funeral where the casket was open and everyone walked by paying their respects…..He said he found himself thinking about that scene, and what was profoundly wrong with society these days. “Why doesn’t the person in the coffin just get up” he thought….”because they cannot….they have died”. But then he said the rest of us…”what is your excuse?” We are living as though we were dead and yet we are all very much alive. When we see what God has done for us, we can stand up and rejoice…and I will tell you that if today is my last day to be on this earth, I am going to spend it being thankful for God’s amazing love and Amazing Grace…and not gripe about the woulda shoulda coulda’s of life. Living as a forgiven sinner…one who has been healed by the touch of the master’s hand. I am going to say thank you with my life!
Perhaps Daniel Defoe gave us some good advice through his fictitious character Robinson Crusoe. The first thing that Crusoe did when he found himself on a deserted island was to make out a list. Perhaps you remember…On one side of the list he wrote down all his problems. On the other side of the list he wrote down all of his blessings. On one side he wrote: I do not have any clothes. On the other side he wrote: But it's warm and I don't really need any. On one side he wrote: All of the provisions were lost. On the other side he wrote: But there's plenty of fresh fruit and water on the island. And on down the list he went. In this fashion he discovered that for every negative aspect about his situation, there was a positive aspect, something to be thankful for.
It is easy to find ourselves on an island of despair in this world. Perhaps it is time that we sit down and take an inventory of our blessings. I well imagine that there are some of us here this morning that are long, long overdue in expressing our thanks to God. And when we do, we might begin thanking one another more…and wouldn’t that make the world a more wonderful place….and wouldn’t that make us feel better as well.
To whom can you say "thank you" today….this week? Perhaps I should begin by saying another thank you to you all for your welcome to me and my family. The wonderful cakes for both my children’s birthdays and my wedding anniversary. The warm smiles and hugs and personal expressions you have made to me. And perhaps most of all for making sure I got to see dear Cliff and Muriel…my new friends and fellow Duke Blue Devils. Oh how God is good to us!
Will you join me today in turning to face our Lord as we break bread together.
Perhaps these ordinary words will take on special significance today : “The gifts of God for the people of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you…and feed on him in your heart with faith...AND THANKSGIVING!!!!”
Thanksgiving!….So what does an attitude of gratitude look like…It looks like a Samaritan who says ”Thank You Jesus!”….It looks like a Father chasing a five year old on a bicycle yelling pedal pedal pedal. It looks like a little church in Northern Virginia whose people are committed to being a part of the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Virginia but more importantly who are committed to being a part of the body of Christ in Mount Vernon.
Amen!
(SERMON FROM MY FIRST SUNDAY AT ST. JAMES.)St. James, Mount Vernon
October 7th, 2007
“The beginning of new ministry, the continuation of old ministry”
Rev. B. Kris Kramer
One day the great Michelangelo attracted a crowd of spectators as he worked. One child in particular was fascinated by the sight of chips flying and the sound of mallet on chisel. The master was shaping a large block of white marble. Unable to contain her curiosity, the little girl inquired, "What are you making?" He replied, "There is an angel in there and I must set it free." There is a great potential for setting some angels free from the stones of this place which is why I am with you. I have been so blessed to meet both the fine people of the search committee as well as the vestry and I firmly believe that the Holy Spirit has been at work, telling us all about the great things that are possible in the days ahead. And a mustard seed faith was enough!Allow me to tell you what really sealed the deal for me…..”Oh me of little faith”.
I have a dear lady in my former parish, Grace Episcopal Church, Radford. Her name is Eleanor Ogg. When I arrived to Radford in 2000 I remember attending a Women of Grace meeting (which always included lunch) and feasting on the best corn pudding I had ever eaten. It turned out that it was Eleanor’s. I made great overtures about the corn pudding in the hope that she would make it again….and she did. Almost every time we gathered for a covered dish. When I began praying in earnest about the possibility of coming to St. James I sat down with Eleanor and said I just did not think I could ever leave Grace…I went on to say, “I can’t live without your corn pudding”. We laughed…and she took my hand and said, “wherever God sends you Fr. Kris, he will provide corn pudding”. For those of you on the vestry, you know the rest of the story. You see after all the phone calls and interviews there was a final interview with dinner in Braxton Hall with the vestry. The table looked beautiful and I was invited to serve my plate before we say down to talk. I looked at the table and there was a wonderful salad, a delicious casarole, and a big beautiful pot of corn pudding. My heart leapt out of my chest as I could almost see Eleanor’s smile. God was giving me a message…a message that even a mustard seed sort of person could hear. I looked over to the vestry and said, “do you often have corn pudding here” to which they looked at each other and said, “I don’t ever think we have had corn pudding before”.
God seems to be at work here. God seems to be interested in us doing something exciting here in Mount Vernon. I have said yes to you and you have said yes to me and the Bishop has said yes to both of us…and here we are…poised and ready for an amazing adventure. It is almost as exciting as sitting in the front seat of Superman the ride of Steel over 200 feet up yesterday with the kids, ready to go where the ride would take me….shedding this ordinary Clark Kent-ness and becoming “SUPERMAN”…a forgiven sinner on a mission to rid the world of sadness and lonliness…a passionate member of the body of Christ!
Will you join me? Can we just work together, trust each other, love each other and find our way into the depths of God’s majesty together?
Madeleine L’Engel, a great Christian novelist who I first read in seminary and who recently died once wrote, “Slowly I have realized that I do not have to be qualified to do what I am asked to do. That I just have to go ahead and do it, even though I can't do it as well as I think it ought to be done. This is one of the most liberating lessons of my life”. Perhaps we all feel very mediocre in some ways. Perhaps we even feel inadequate. Perhaps we are not happy with the bumps that have been in the road for us personally or corporately. Perhaps we have just wanted to quit, run away, or give up on it all, because the shape of things is far from our definition of IDEAL. But the good news today is that we serve a God who is adequate and faithful and good! And there will be times when we do not agree and when things can be done better…and in those moments we will find God’s Grace. The greatest gift I bring to you at St. James is not my eloquence or oratory skills…it is not my administrative skills….it is not even my ability to pray or my knowledge of the Bible. The way this wonderful church has functioned in the interim is a sign that in so many ways I have much to learn from you. The greatest gift I bring is a witness of the Grace of ordinariness…for I am just an ordinary young man from the mountains of Western North Carolina…seeking to live an ordinary life….but I serve an extrodinary God, who has blessed me with extrodinary experiences in my life and I long to walk and share that faith and witness with you here at St. James.
The great theologian Paul Tillich used to say, "Accept the fact that you're accepted." And we might add, "When you do, you will accept all others too and serve them. And no one will owe you anything." And you won't mind that at all. Perhaps this is really the core of what I wanted to tell you on the first Sunday we are together. In a world so full of division and disagreements, I bring a message of unity to you today…not unanimity, but unity. We do not all agree about every little detail of the faith but I dare say we are all on our journey together….learning to “love as Christ loved us”.
I don’t know about you but I am tired of those who stand up in lofty places and make proclamations that suggest there is something wrong with me.
I don’t know about you but I am tired of people using the name of Jesus to extort money out of the pockets of the vulnerable and desperate.
I don’t know about you but I am sickened by the many divisions in the church just because people cannot get along.
I don’t know about you but I am not going to waste another day of my life filled with worry about the things which I can ultimately not change.
Brothers and sisters, we are part of a great diverse Diocese and serve wonderful faithful Bishops. We also serve a mighty God who is faithful and just. We serve a God can heal the sick and raise the dead. We serve a God who is here this morning with us, and who is thankful that you have taken time out of your busy lives just to stop and acknowledge him, right down the road from George and Martha’s old house, a couple who throughout their lives prayed many of the same prayers we have prayed and will pray this morning. We serve a God who heard your fervent prayers for a new priest and reached into Southwestern Virginia and brought one here to serve you….using corn pudding to seal the deal.Allow me to finish with this…and I am sorry if I have gone a bit long this morning.
I attended a wonderful funeral this past Thursday. I sat there listening to tributes being paid to a wonderful father, football player, and friend. And as I listened to the soloist sing I found myself thinking about an expression of the 80’s that every young person would say. They wanted to be just like Michael Jordan. But I heard those words in a different way on Thursday, for I wanted to be like another Mike….one they called “Big Mike” because he was big in all the ways I want to be big. He was a mustard seed man. He, like yet another Mike, the great Michaelangelo, spent his life setting Angels free to make our world a better place. Perhaps Coach Hermon Boone’s words from the funeral homily, which no doubt he spoke many many times at T. C. Williams over the years are words of benediction for us today….He said, ”NEVER NEVER GIVE UP!” I say to you:
“Put your trust in the Lord and do good” Psalm 37:3
“Rekindle the gift of God that is within you” 1 Tim. 1:6
“God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love” 1 Tim 1:7
And the Lord replied to the Apostles “If you had the faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, be uprooted and planted in the sea”. Luke 17:6
Thank you Lord for the wisdom of old friends, the hugs of children, the thrill of tall roller coasters, the comfort of a new home, and the warm buttery taste of corn pudding! Amen.
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Links to other sermons and items:
Col. Bob Felch's Funeral Homily
Christmas Letter 2005 (Narnia)
Funeral Homily of Jimmy Gibson
Formal Response to ECUSA situation
August 12th, 2007 Grace Episcopal Church Radford, VA
Rev. B. Kris Kramer (My last Sunday at Grace Episcopal Church)
Get Ready to Go…without fear!
Well this is the last one…The last time I get to stand up here and tell you about faith, love, and Grace. It is the last time I get to challenge you to be the people God is calling you to be.
As I sat writing these words for today I began to ask myself how I thought it would feel…to stand before you today knowing that this was it.
And then I saw the readings set for today….and found myself really connecting with Abraham and his fear and apprehension. God says to him, "Do not be afraid, I am your shield, your reward shall be great". I think as he ventured out into the wilderness, with no job, and no plan (or as it says in Paul's letter to the Hebrews – "He set out not knowing where he was going!") he was still a little bit afraid…perhaps more than a little bit. But there is no question that he was FAITHFUL.
I stand before you on this my last Sunday in a trusting posture. I do not have a new church or even a job right now. I do not know where I am going to live in the near future. And yet, by faith, I am setting off on a journey, to serve the Lord…some way some how!
People of faith understand what it means to trust….and to believe. And to follow the one who calls us….the one who is calling me right now to follow Caroline to Alexandria. I believe God has great things in store for us…..Why? Because I believe God has great things in store for all of us! Yes, the greatest truth I have come to believe since I arrived in Radford is that God really does want what is best for us. What is required? Now there is the sticking point. EVERYTHING…..Everything is required. "All things come of thee O Lord, and of thine own have we given thee"….It is all God's in the beginning and in the end. Understanding this, and living this, transforms our way of being. A Christian who lives for Christ is in the READY POSTURE…..ready to go wherever God sends, ready to do whatever God commands, ready to love, ready to serve, ready to make the world a better place, and ready to BE BLESSED by Almighty God.
I remember the day a fellow from Hendersonville NC arrived at our house North of Asheville to buy all of my sound equipment and lights…you see I was about to leave for Seminary and I was selling everything I had. He looked through everything and decided to buy it all. I helped him load his van and watched as "The Dance Machine" (as it was known) rolled out of my driveway one last time. I was sad as I thought of the many many shows I did with that equipment. I was scared knowing that this had been my primary source of income for a number of years. But somewhere amidst that FEAR was a little faith and a little excitement about what might be waiting on the horizon. Little did I know that just three months later I would be kicking footballs in Wallace Wade stadium with my friends Doug and Nathan, or playing Basketball with Christian and Johnny, or having coffee with Will and David (and some of the greatest theological minds I have ever known).
I am personally facing the future with great hope. I am not sure what God has in store, but I know I am going to remain open…and I am going to listen….and I am going to follow. It is starting to sound like the Wizard of Oz…Follow the Yellow brick Road! But it really is that simple in life I believe. Follow Christ…Always. As the descendents of Abraham and Sarah searched for the promised land they placed their focus there rather than the land they had left behind. Jesus' disciples were told to look to the "Kingdom" and to "make purses that do not wear out". Forward looking! Growing in faith….and Growing in Grace!
If I only have a brain….If I only have a heart…….If I only have courage……….And Jesus said, "fear not little flock"
Are you afraid today, wondering who will be here next week in this place which is special to you? Is you mind moving ahead to imagine the next Rector who will come and be your eighth? I think we are all here today with questions, the answers to which will only come in time. It is going to require faith…and not an inactive faith to unveil those answers.
Some parting wisdom to you all on my last Sunday: Come together and break bread with one another. Use this time of interim to begin coming to church regularly and get to know one another more deeply. I have been so blessed to see from time to time groups within this church who will discover intimacy and fellowship…and it almost always happens in someone's kitchen or living room. Continue to work on this and draw in people from the fringe of the life of this church. There are good people in this church. Get to know each other better. Make the effort to socialize on a regular basis.
I watched a show about ice truckers on the history channel…Perhaps some of you have seen it. These guys are pretty amazing driving loads of freight across frozen lakes in the great white North. The usually travel in a small convoy in groups of five and there are times when they cannot even see where they are going. They do talk to one another on CB's which become their lifelines through the difficulties of those long and dangerous trips. Like them, I really want to encourage you all to remain close and communicate with one another during the days ahead so that no one feels left behind, or un-cared for. It will not be long and your interim priest will come and then before you know it a new Rector will be called and you will be saying goodbye to your interim and preparing to welcome your new priest. Somewhere in there hopefully there will even be a Hokie National championship….as well as a new grandchild…..a new engagement and marriage…..new graduates……new jobs…….new friends……funerals & more funerals……. That is just life……"Life is what happens while your making plans" John Lennon once wrote in a song.
Live your lives boldly and with great confidence and faith and I promise to do the same.
Break bread every week and discover the presence of God in the heart of the church and I promise to do the same.
Love others around you and seek out those on the margins and those hurting more than others and I promise to do the same.
Grow in faith by reading God's word and engage God daily in prayer and I promise to do the same.
Remember the good times we shared, the hugs and kisses, and the great things we did together during my tenure as your Rector and be forward looking people and I promise to do the same.
St Augustine said, "Let my heart never find rest until it finds rest in thee". That is HOME for me. A place beyond the sun, beyond the moon….over the rainbow. And in that paradise one day, I shall see God and I shall see all of you as well….along with Jimmy, Bob, Charles, Kitty, and so many many others who have gone before us.
Peace be with you "little flock"….I will miss you horribly. But I will be forever thankful that he gave me such wonderful years in Radford to be enveloped in love.
"Let you lovingkindess, O Lord be upon us, even as we place our hope in you" Psalm33:22
Amen.