November 12, 2010
In front of a packed congregation, the Rev Jim Scott preached his final sermon at Drumoak Church on Sunday 24th of October. A number of people have asked for the text to be made available ...... which is printed below.
Reading: Hebrews 13 verses 1 -8.
Text: “Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and for ever”.
INTRODUCTION
The first sermon I ever preached was in Feb 1970 as a 1st year Divinity Student at Aberdeen University; I was a student attachment in that year at St Ninian’s Church, Mid-Stocket Road, Aberdeen.
I remember thinking during that first sermon – “so that’s what pulpits are for – it’s so that people cannot see your knees shaking”!!
The verse I have felt led to preach on this morning is Hebrews 13 verse 8:
“Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and for ever”
We can look at the past, the present, and then, very importantly, the future.
1. THE PAST
I was ordained and inducted to Northfield Church, Aberdeen, in June 1973.
I was inducted to the then linked churches of Drumoak and Durris in Feb 1992.
So, I have been here, as it happens, the same length of time as I was Minister in N/F Church – 18 yrs 9 mths.
I remember the late Miss Rust – Margaret Rust – who was on the Vacancy Committee saying to me – when I was Sole Nominee for here – “We want at least 10 years from you”!
Well, in God’s providence, it has turned out even longer, and I am glad about that.
Roz and I have felt very happy and fulfilled here, as indeed we did during my N/F Ministry.
“Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and for ever.”
So many memories as I look back…..
Baptisms, Weddings, Funeral Services...
One way I have changed, from when I started out as a young Minister, is that I now have a much greater awareness of the “Communion of Saints” – of all those whom we have known on this earth, and who now worship God, in Heaven, in Glory, “on another shore and in a greater light”.
The Letter to the Hebrews, in ch. 12, speaks of us being “surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses”.
Many other memories:
School classes and school services;
Family Services: all-age worship with memorable contributions by our young people, Sunday Club and YSunday;
Christmas & Easter Services – always so special.
For myself personally one of the strongest senses I had of the awareness of God’s Eternal presence was at our special Millennium service on 31 December 1999.
As we sang together “The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, is ended” – a powerful sense of God’s Enduring Presence through the generations, through the centuries, through the millennia, as we sang together:
“So be it, Lord! Your throne shall never,
Like earth’s proud empires, pass away;
Your Kingdom stands and grows for ever,
Till all your creatures own your sway.”
“Jesus Christ, the same, yesterday, today and for ever.”
I remember all our many ALPHA Courses – they were special times, including sharing meals together…..
Times of Prayer – if I had my time over again I would try to develop the congregation’s prayer life much more.
The Pilgrimages to the Holy Land – one while in N/F, two while Minister here; very, very special – a pilgrimage is a “symbol” of our journey of faith together.
And Visits, pastoral visits, many hundreds, thousands, I guess;
I always regard it as a sacred privilege to be invited into someone’s home, and to listen as the person shares at whatever level they choose to do so….
As I witnessed the quiet faith and fortitude and dignity with which people coped with things, I would often come back from an afternoon’s visiting feeling I had received much more than I had given.
Looking back, I am grateful for so many people who have so generously & willingly given of their time, their gifts, their resources for the work of the Church & Kingdom.
Also, a few years ago, the Kirk Session agreed that we have coffee after each service, in the Welcome Area, here and at Durris.
And that has been a great success!
Even though I find it hard to hear, myself, with all the background noise and hubbub – I love to hear the buzz of conversation, experience the energy, the sense of visitors being warmly welcomed, of children feeling a sense of belonging, of being a Church Family together.
2. TODAY
And that leads on to “Today”
- “Jesus Christ the same, yesterday, today, and for ever”.
The Risen Jesus said to his disciples:
“I am with you, always, even unto the end of time.”
In verse 5 of Hebrews chapter 13, we read that God has said:
“I will never leave you; I will never abandon you.”
You are loved by God.
That is the heart of the Gospel.
If you remember nothing else, please remember this:
You are loved by God.
We have been loved since before we were born,
and will be loved after we have died.
We know that God is Love because he came to this earth in Jesus Christ his Son.
“Sacred Infant, All Divine,
What a tender love was Thine.
Thus to come from highest bliss,
Down to such a world as this.”
God is the God with us – today, each day, our companion and friend; what theologians call,
“The Alongsidedness of God.”
He came among us; he identifies with us; he sees with our eyes; he feels with our human heart.
Indeed, when Jesus sent His Spirit, the Holy Spirit, God was revealed to us as the God within us, as very breath and heartbeat.
“We are loved by God”; we are of infinite worth and value in his sight, each one of us; so much so that he was willing to go to the Cross of Calvary, for our sake….
The Divine Love of God reveals to us
that faithfulness is more important than success;
that the Love of God is more important than individualism;
and that compassion is more important than competition.
“Jesus Christ, the same, yesterday, today and for ever.
With us each day, individually, our Friend and Guide and Helper – “What a Friend we have in Jesus”.
And with us each day, collectively, as a Church Family, as a Community of Faith.
I think it is a good thing that the Christian Church has lost its former position of power and status and prestige and authority in our society.
The Church does not handle “worldly power” well. It never has!
The Church can now get back to being more like the Church of the New Testament.
Instead of being dominant, a passion for the common good.
Instead of looking inwards, looking outwards.
“Showing up” when needed – all the Issues of Justice, Environment, Poverty, Health Care…
- seeking to be part of restoring God’s world.
Being the “Servant Church” today, a countercultural influence, a creative minority.
Powerless, willing to question the idols of the age, supportive of families and communities. Working in partnership with others – regardless of their faith- to make a more gracious social order, nearer to God’s heart desire.
Jesus Christ is still at work today, in and through His people. And that is exciting!!
(Praise –congregation seated- In Christ Alone)
3. THE FUTURE
So what of The Future?
Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today, and For Ever.
Looking forward….
Keep looking forward.
We don’t drive a car always looking in the rear view mirror!
In verse 18, the writer of Hebrews says: “Keep on praying for us.”
Roz and I would value very much your ongoing prayers.
It’s a strange thing when a Minister retires….
Like everyone else, you stop your normal work, you lose your daily routine.
But you also lose your home.
And you also lose your church, the Church Family to which you belong, since – rightly – you are not encouraged to remain a member in the church where you were once Minister.
As we have valued your prayers for us, as a family, over the past years, please keep on praying for Roz and myself and wider family; we sense the Lord has something else for us yet to do…..
You can retire from a church; but there is no retirement in The Kingdom of God.
And just a word about the forthcoming Vacancy…
Occasionally, Vacancies can be a time when churches actually grow!!
It does not happen often, but it does happen.
I would love to hear that that is the case with the church here, over the coming months.
There is no reason why not!
We have an excellent Kirk Session and Board, the Leadership Team – Servant Leadership.
We have a first class Team of Gifted Leaders of our Groups and Organisations –
ranging from the Under 5 SPLAT group through to the Over 60’s Friendship Club.
My working principle as Minister has been, along with the Kirk Session, to appoint the right people to each position; to encourage and resource them as needed; but basically then to let them get on with it – to use and employ their particular God-given gifts and skills and talents and abilities.
I am sure that that is one reason why our church has, by God’s grace, by God’s Spirit, grown and flourished over the past years.
If it was left only to the Minister, then things would eventually ground to a halt.
“Let a thousand flowers bloom”.
Or, to change the imagery, better a whole orchestra playing than someone trying to be a One Man Band.
In President Obama’s book “Dreams from My Father”, at one point he speaks of meeting with the Rev Wright of Chicago, who was his Minister for a while.
And during the conversation about his busy, flourishing church, the Minister says this:
“Usually, if somebody’s got an idea for a new ministry (i.e. a new way of helping/serving/outreach), I just tell ‘em to run with it, and get outta’ their way”.
I like that!
It’s not quite so simple in the C of S procedurally; ideas & proposals have rightly to come before the KS for approval.
But basically, if we think that an individual or small group of people have a good idea, a God-given idea – inspired by the Spirit of God – then we try to say, and tend to say,
”Yes, great, get on with it, go with it”.
That is how things have come about,
like our Partnership with Likhubula, Malawi,
and the Romanian Project – Varfurile,
and the Holiday Bible Club,
and SPLAT & the Over 60’s,
and Eco –Congregation + FairTrade;
and our Junior Music Instrumentalists,
and Home Groups,
and the Men’s Group,
and the Doug Horley w/e
and the Food/Fashion and the Future Community Event
and so on…and so on….
These have all come about through different people in our Church Family having a vision, a dream, a spark – a “divine spark”; and the KS – our Leadership Team- having discussed it carefully and prayerfully, saying “Yes, go with it”.
And if it turns out something is NOT God’s Will, after all, then so be it, no harm done; but better to have tried….. “nothing ventured, nothing gained.”
As someone once said, Faith is spelled R-I-S-K.
But it needs people to step forward.
So during the Vacancy, and beyond in the New Ministry, – when you hear that something needs done, or think that something should be done, be prepared to step forward, offer your gifts, volunteer, speak to one of our Elders….
For you are the church.
You are the Body of Christ.
As in a body, each has a part to play, each has a contribution to make, in the presence and power of God’s Spirit.
The recovery of the NT vision of the Ministry of the Whole People of God.
One final personal plea!
I do hope and pray that the church will continue to make work with young people a high priority – crèche, Sunday Club, SPLAT, HBC, Family Services, YSunday, Compass w/e…
Time and energy and, yes, money spent in this way is an Investment in the Kingdom of God for the Future.
But not just that…
We receive so much from our young people; they are a key part of our Church Family, its worship and life.
I remember at the time of all the discussions re the Union, over 8 years ago – about two separate congregations, Drumoak and Durris, coming together as One – and I remember our Teenagers in the Good News Group (as it was called then) just saying:
“What’s to discuss? What’s the fuss? We have been meeting together for years.”!!!
We can learn from our Young People….
So please, as a congregation, continue to support strongly all the Leaders and Teachers who work with them; it is work and witness of the highest importance.
CONCLUSION
So, to conclude.
Jesus Christ is the same, Yesterday, Today and For Ever.
He is Lord of the Past, the Present, and the Future.
There is much, much work still to be done here – a lot of exciting potential & possibilities.
Keep open.
Keep looking forward – new ways of worship, mission, teaching, ways of serving….
“Grace” said the mediaeval Dominican Meister Eckhart, “is never a stationary thing. It is always found in a becoming.”
Ultimately it is not what we do that matters, but what we allow God to do through us.
It is His Church, and it is His Kingdom – we are just channels of his grace and peace.
“ ’Tis Jesus, the First and the Last,
Whose Spirit shall guide us safe home;
We’ll praise him for all that is past,
And trust him for all that’s to come.”
TO GOD BE THE GLORY.