St. John’s Episcopal Church
Tallahassee, FL
Isaiah 35:4-7a James 2:1-10, 14-17 Mark 7:24-37
Repeat after me:
Our God is a God…
[Our God is a God…]
who makes a way.
[who makes a way.]
Our God is a God
who opens our eyes,
who unstops our ears,
who even makes the desert spring forth with life.
That is the declaration
of our readings today.
Isaiah, and the psalm, and the gospel
all point to the fact that
our God is a God
who makes a way.
Today, I want to share several bits of news with you—
family business, as I like to call it—
and I want to give you a preview—a taste—
of what God is doing here at St. John’s . . .
ways that God is opening
our eyes and ears,
our hearts and minds . . .
ways that our God is making a way
and bringing new life
to you and to me and to all of us
who currently call St. John’s our spiritual home
and for all those who will in the future.
* * *
First, I have good news from Mtr. Leslie.
As most of you know,
our beloved Associate Rector Mtr. Leslie
has been on an unexpected journey with cancer
over the last several months.
This past week Mtr. Leslie finally had surgery
at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa:
a surgery designed to debulk and remove
as much of the visible cancer as possible.
It was a long procedure.
She will have a long recovery.
But there is great news.
Mtr. Leslie sent me a recording of her doctor
talking with her family after the surgery,
and the doctor is extremely confident
that they were able to remove
all the visible cancer from her body.
She should be able to come home in the next few days.
Of course, she’ll be out for several weeks of recovery;
then go through a few more rounds of chemo
to catch anything the surgery didn’t catch;
and then, we hope and expect
that she will rejoin us right here at St. John’s
where she very much wants to be.
She sends you all her love.
She misses you and is so grateful for your prayers.
Keep ‘em coming.
But please also give her space for recovery and healing.
If there’s anything she needs,
we promise we will let you know.
Today, let us give thanks
for modern medicine
and for the healing power of the Great Physician.
Our God is a God
who makes a way.
* * *
Next, I want to invite you to three things:
- to today’s Ministry Fair;
- to next week’s Visioning Day;
- the start of Sunday School.
So first: today’s Ministry Fair.
You have heard me say many times before
that here at St. John’s
we believe all Christians—
and certainly all members of St. John’s—
should have a ministry.
Whoever you are,
whatever your age,
whatever your skills,
your interests,
your passions,
your proclivities,
whatever you do . . .
YOU have something wonderful to offer
for the community of our Church
and to the Most High God.
Y’all, ministry is not just the stuff
that people like me
who wear black shirts and white collars
do.
No, ministry is for everybody.
Ministry is anything
that any of us do
to extend God’s love
beyond ourselves.
In that way, ministry is kind of like Green Eggs and Ham.
It can be nice and quiet
or way out loud;
one-on-one
or in a crowd.
It can happen at church
or in your home
or in Tallahassee,
wherever you roam.
But whoever you are
and whatever you do,
God has a ministry
just for you.
So come today after church
to Alfriend Hall
and see all the wonderful ministries
that are already happening.
And if you already have a ministry, GREAT!
Come anyway and see all that God is doing
at St. John’s.
Today, let us give thanks
that ministry is for everyone
and that God has something for us all.
Our God is a God
who makes a way.
* * *
Second, I want to invite you next Sunday
to an important, parish-wide event:
it is a day we are calling “Visioning Day.”
Next week,
I need all of you—ALL of you—
to join us in Alfriend Hall
after the 10 a.m. service.
First we’ll enjoy fellowship and a pot-luck lunch together.
The church will bring the chicken—
you all bring the sides and desserts—
and then we’ll spend some time at our tables
dreaming, thinking, and talking together
about the kind of church
God calls us to be
as we move forward into the years ahead.
Y’all, we are a sleeping giant:
a beacon—a force—for
love,
healing,
inclusion,
hope,
and grace . . .
in a city,
in a society,
in a world
that is starved for those things
and doesn’t even know it.
Y’all, what we have here is special,
and like a lamp on a lampstand,
like a city on a hill,
it’s time to let our light shine in new ways
as we prepare for the next 200 years
of St. John’s Episcopal Church
in the heart of downtown Tallahassee.
Some come eat some fried chicken,
come dream big dreams,
come tell us why you love St. John’s,
come to Visioning Day.
Today, we give thanks
that our church is alive and kickin’
and that God has a future
of love, healing, inclusion, and grace in mind
for us and for all of Tallahassee.
Our God is a God
who makes a way.
* * *
And third,
I just want to invite ALL of you
to Sunday School
starting September 22.
There is something for everybody.
Of course, we’ll have great offerings
for our little people,
our middle schoolers,
and our high schoolers,
complete with some new and interesting approaches
especially for our high schoolers,
so parents, keep your eyes open for that.
But as we know,
Sunday School is not just for young people.
Adults also need to be
on a lifelong journey of learning in the faith.
We asked over the summer
what you’re carving spiritually,
and we’ve heard you loud and clear.
For that reason, I’m delighted to tell you
that this year we will have multiple offerings
with multiple approaches to meet your spiritual craving.
Small groups and large groups.
Some with books to follow,
some just general discussion.
Bible study,
prayer classes,
lectionary deep-dives,
conversations about . . . life
and how to carry God with you
no matter where you go.
These multiple offerings
will take place both after
the 8 a.m. service
and the 10 a.m. service,
and we are committed to making sure
that all classes for all ages
end at the same time
so families can leave together.
Visit Sara Beth Shippen
at today’s Ministry Fair
to pick up a schedule
and see all that’s on offer.
Today, we give thanks
for community and for learning
and for a God who opens our minds.
Our God is a God
who makes a way.
* * *
And finally,
no “parish family business” sermon
would be complete
without me giving an update
about everyone’s favorite topic:
the air conditioner.
As you may have seen if you came in on Call St.,
Rippee Construction is now on the grounds
and construction has begun,
and it’ll actually be complete before you know it.
No one—not a single one of us in this room—
wanted to have to replace the air conditioning system
that cools 90% of St. John’s buildings,
and entire half-block in downtown Tallahassee.
And no one—not a single one of us in this room—
wanted to do it
to the tune of $1.5 million dollars.
Just like I’m sure
that in 1897
no one at St. John’s
wanted to spend the $362 it took
to install steam heat in the sanctuary.
(In today’s dollars
that would have been $13,718.)
Or like no one in 1960
wanted to spend the $18,345
to install air conditioning in the sanctuary
for the very first time.
(That would have been $194,940 today.)
And most assuredly,
none of us have liked the fact
that over the past couple years
as our air conditioning system has been on its last legs
our church has had to pay
an accumulated $57,000 for repairs, fixes, and band-aids
to keep the thing going.
But y’all, we did it.
You did it.
When I crawled up here months ago
and gave you the bad news
that we were going to have to raise $1.5 million
to replace our dying system
and ensure the health, history, and hospitality of our beloved church property,
you rose to the occasion.
With construction now underway,
we have $1,262,150 in pledges—
a phenomenal 98% of which
has been given and is in hand—
and we are confident in the options we have
for settling the remaining $237,850.
So thank you.
Thank you to Charley Redding
and the Property Commission.
Thank you to Ramsay and Mary Byrd Simms
and the fundraising committee.
But most of all,
thank YOU for all that YOU have done
to make this possible.
Isaiah says that our God is a God
who makes cool streams
break forth in the desert.
Well, it turns out our God is also a God
who makes cool air
break forth in muggy, steamy, sultry sanctuaries.
* * *
Y’all, repeat after me.
Our God is a God…
[Our God is a God…]
who makes a way.
[who makes a way.]
With this God, we are poised
for a wonderful year to come.
Come and join us,
because with this God,
no matter who you are,
no matter where you’ve been,
St. John’s and God Almighty
welcome you for the journey ahead.
Amen.