As I have reflected over the years of my ministry this is my 55th conference charge, so once again I say "Welcome to charge conference!"
This is my fourth charge conference as pastor of Midland Park UMC, and I am glad to report that basically most areas of service, work, witness and ministry are doing well.
Financially we are sound and solid. Yes, at this time we are behind on the operating budget, but this deficit has not affected any budgeted areas or ministries. This year's conference apportionments are paid up to date, and will be paid 100% this month. Also, I fully expect the budget deficit will be eliminated by year's end. I am grateful for the guidance of the finance committee and for the faithful giving of the membership. I believe our budget provides adequate support for the over-all operation and maintenance of the church, and also provides funding for tangible mission and ministry locally and beyond.
In charge conference after charge conference we submit reports about aspects of the church, we make nominations, we approve budgets-you know, the business.
But in this charge conference I want to lift up two names, good names for the church.
The first name is "Good Samaritan!" That name, that story -----more than any other name or lengthy dialogue and discussion---makes the point that to find God we need to seek no further than our nearest neighbor's need. To know God is to care for our neighbor.
So "church" is really love in search of action. Everything we do in this church---from the prayer chain to the meeting of the trustees, from theological study and worship, to the blessing box to the Wednesday lunch bag give away---we do for one reason alone: to show the love of God we see reflected in the face of Jesus!
The second name for "church" is Isaac, which means "laughter!" You remember an aged couple, Abraham and Sarah, were told by God they would have a child, and they named him "Isaac", "laughter!"
And this is a good name for the church because it speaks of "hope."
Why? Because we are entangled in the web of life-bewildered, troubled, the wars, the unrest, the riots, the toxic political scene, the waste, the hunger, the burdens, the disappointments and more.
"Isaac" is a word of hope and promise. The psalmist said it well: "Lord, by your favor you have made my mountain strong....Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning..," Psalm 30:5,7
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me....." Psalm 23:4
"So we do not lose heart," not in the church, where love is action and where hope lives.
As Christians we must pull together in the colony of heaven that is the church at its best. We must be available to one another just as Christ is available to us.
Never mind that we are small in number. There is no limit to what love can do. Love is a miracle. Love is a basket of five loaves and two fishes which is never enough, until we start to give it away.
So, let's not be content with business as usual; lets join the saints who feed the hungry with daily bread, and better yet with the bread of heaven-Christ, the Savior.
We are all familiar with the phrase, "Nothing is impossible with God."
Dr. Fred Craddock said the first time he heard it was in Rhea County in the mountains of East Tennessee. A logger working in the hills pulling out the logs had been killed in an accident, leaving a widow and three small girls. Dr. Craddock said the man was already dead when he came to know the her. She dressed those girls; they always looked clean; their hair was shiny; and they looked happy running down the road from their little cabin to catch the bus. They wore their little cotton dresses, always clean and pressed. Ruby got a check every month for $147. Fred Craddock said, "Ruby, you can't do it." And she said, "I'm going to be here when those kids go to school, and I'm going to be here when they get home, and I'll just pick up extra money where I can." She did washing and ironing. Dr. Craddock said to her one day, "Now, Ruby, you can't do this on $147 a month: why don't you just come clean with me, I'm the minister. You're bootlegging." And Ruby laughed and said, "Nothing is impossible with God."
We need to remember this---that nothing is impossible with God!
So, we do not lose heart, not in the church!
In a sermon at Riverside Church, New York City, William Sloan Coffin said that he couldn't imagine any institution to which he would rather pledge loyalty to than to the Church. He says that the Church is an earthen vessel-but that it is a treasure, "the light shines in the darkness"-o, yes, and the darkness does not overcome the light. He says he feels especially blessed belonging to Riverside Church.
And we should also feel especially blessed to belong to Midland Park UMC, as miraculously lucky as the legendary fellow in the Salvation Army who was playing the bass tuba the day it rained gold!
Blessings! -- Reverend Cooper Stonestreet