Weekly Sermons
Annual Meeting Speech
November 16, 2008
The Rev’d Armand John Kreft, Rector
If you’ve been around for the past year at Ascension, you may wonder, as I do sometimes, “what happened here?” For you newcomers, you may hear that there have been many many changes at Ascension this past 14 months, not the least of which is me. Some people in the diocese thought we were like Don Quixote chasing after windmills or as the English expression goes, that we were trying to “flog a dead horse”. Will, my beloved, never underestimate the powerful, love inspiring, soul transforming, heart bursting Holy Spirit of God. For when we ask “what happened here”, that question is in the past tense, and we are living in the future tense. It is important to me that our Annual Meeting date has been moved close to the holiday of Thanksgiving rather than after the new year. For we are about gratitude and generosity.
While we have done some major restoration such as painting the interior of the church, reinstalling the swell division on the organ (still in progress), repaired the slate roof and other leaks, patched and mended our heating system from 1919, rearranged offices, and basically tarted up the place, so that most of the major work has been done, I believe the most important areas we’ve adopted has been our radical hospitality and intentional welcoming.
We have grown with passionate, faith-filled people… sometimes visiting just once, other times staying on for the journey. At present our congregation spans the years from 15 months to 94 years old. And we all gather together in one service, lifting our hearts and voices to the glory and praise of God through Jesus Christ.
Recently we hosted over 80 people from the diocese as they toured Ascension church and heard the history of our beautiful windows. The following Saturday we hosted the Buffalo Gay Men’s Chorus singing a concert to raise funds for Men of Color Health Awareness. And just a couple of weeks ago, we welcomed in the Home schooling consortium to hold their arts and crafts class on alternate Wednesdays in Bittner Hall.
Unfortunately, after many years of hosting recovery groups, we had to ask them all to leave after an incident that had major ramifications. We also said good-bye to the Spiritus Christi congregation after they found a permanent home for their worship.
It is the cycle of parish life. When I left my first small parish in San Francisco after eight years, one of our Ancient of Days who was almost as old as the church itself said, “I’ve seen many vicars come and go. Some stay too long, others not long enough.” I asked where I fit and her reply was “we won’t know for awhile.”
And so it is with us and we continue to transform our lives and our church.
Most of us are scared at this point. These are very hard economic times. Unemployment is beyond comprehension, our pensions are shakey, food costs are high. Even Queen Elizabeth is $50 million poorer. It has hit everyone. And still I need to ask you for money to keep the church open. Unlike other denominations, we do not get financial aid from the diocese of national church. Every parish in the Episcopal Church must be self-sustaining. And we have a modest budget for 2009 of $172,000. We were left a small legacy by Margaret Bittner. The vestry voted to shoot the wad by calling me as their full time rector. The committed the money to be used over three years to turn Ascension around. We’re not out of the woods yet, but with our first year under our belt, I can say that based on the growth and amount of giving of the past year, if sustained, we still have money for three years. I would expect that this will grow expodentially.
At present we have received only 14 pledges. Last year we had 30 pledges. Some we can count on coming in later, others we just don’t know.
Our slogan for 2009 is Hope for the Future. We’ve heard a lot about hope in the past 21 months of campaigning. As Christians we know that hope is nothing without faith. If we look around at this room, at your chosen family, now is not the time to wring our hands and say how poor we are. No, it is a time to look at our blessings and our abundant life. We need to continue with our radical hospitality and intentional welcoming; with attitudes of listening and inclusion of all people who walk through our doors; people in search for life in communion, love and solidarity; so others might see how we love one another and join in the call of Jesus to follow.
Faith, hope and of course charity. Your new vestry has committed itself to our pastoral outreach beyond ourselves. Pete Cornell, Shirley Yeager, Tim Shelgren are looking into ways of expanding our outreach. Tom Zimpfer continues as a spiritual counselor for the Family Justice Center . And we continue to anoint those who are broken in spirit, emotions or physically.
Mark continues to inspire the choir and us. We are blessed to have such voices praising God, singing the unsingable, joining in the joy.
We welcome Pete Cornell and her donkeys. While I have mentored future clergy in the past, Pete brings with her an open heart, an open mind and open arms. After serving with us for a couple of weeks, she told Tori that she now has seen “what real church is.” I’m sure there are other congregations who do church well, but it’s nice to hear that about us.
The retiring vestry. Most of you are not really aware of what this vestry had to go through. When there was no priest on staff, they administered the church, hired a supply priest to come in on Sundays, and maintained the buildings as best they could. They made a hard choice after the flood that forced the removal of the swell division on the organ. The insurance settlement of $180,000 was used to keep the place open. They knew if they repaired the organ but closed the church, would they have been judged as good stewards. The finance committee headed by Ruth Twidle, scrimped and saved and did what was needed to keep Ascension open. Little did they know that they were actually preparing this place for a major God-transformation this past year. When John Lauer first volunteered to be sexton, it was because he showed up at Ascension when the grass was literally knee high because there was no lawn mower and no one to keep up the gardens. Yet this year, with John and the Garden Committee, we participated in the Garden Walk. According to the laws of the state of New York , all the vestry members had to retire this year. They have served longer than most and in some difficult times. I cannot express to you my gratitude for hanging in there when hope was far away.
Hope for the future. At Ascension we do not look back. We acknowledge the hard times, we celebrate our history, but we are not held hostage by it. God calls us ever forward. Although sometimes I get weighed down by the practicalities of administering a parish, if I look up from my desk, I see a community singing, walking and dancing in hope and I too believe.
When we gather for the Eucharistic Feast at Ascension, and indeed in all Christian churches, it is not merely the bread and wine which sustain us. It is the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ made up of greeting one another, singing praises, exchanging the peace, making announcements for our worshipful community, it is offering up our prayers and intercessions for those on our list and those in our hearts. It is coming forward to the altar call as you receive the Sacrament and make your commitment again to follow Jesus wherever he may lead you. And then, as if that weren’t enough, the feast continues throughout the week as your spread the Good News that there is a place where you are loved beyond comprehension and indeed, where someone is always waiting for you.
Sermon preached by Father Armand John Kreft, Rector
Church of the Ascension – Episcopal
Buffalo, New York
27A Pentecost, June 16, 2008
I dare say that most if not all of us have a calendar, a day planner, an online scheduler to keep track of our appointments. I have a liturgical calendar that I use for appointments. No only do I mark my appointments, but the calendar tells me what saint day it is and what color vestments I wear on a specific day. Already I have my 2009 calendar marked for my trip to Seattle in January and my trip to England in May. I have friends’ birthdays marked as well.
We Norwegians are a strange breed. In our cultural etiquette it is expected that we would arrive for a business meeting or a dinner party early, at least by ten minutes. Usually business meetings in Norway begin five minutes early because everyone is in attendance. Perhaps it is genetic why I’m so obsessively punctual.
All this points out is that we really don’t like surprises. We like to be prepared. As we wind down the church year and enter into the season of expectancy, of Advent, our lessons take a rather ominous turn. No more are we singing with the saints in heaven and earth. No, we’re looking to the east with trepidation because we know there’s a surprise coming. Our readings are preparing us not for the birth of the Savior, but for the Second Coming when Jesus arrives in Glory to call his saints home. It will be a grand and glorious day … for most of us. It’s the Apocalypse everyone! Apocalypse, far from meaning the End Time, means revelation in Greek, According to some theologians (Not Anglican ones) the Scriptures are interpreted to say that first come The Rapture, as the evangelicals call it, when the dead shall rise and good Christians will be taken up to heaven. After that the Antichrist will rule on earth for seven years …. This was all on the History channel on Saturday, by the way. When I lived in San Francisco there were bumper stickers that read: “In case of Rapture, this care will be driveless.” Of course, it being San Francisco there was another bumper sticker that read: “In case of Rapture, can I have your car?”
But kidding aside, the Second Coming of the Savior is a core doctrine of the Episcopal Church and all other Christian churches. How and when it will occur is not known, but it will happen. We have no idea what it will look like. I can hardly wait.
From the very beginning of the church the followers of the Savior have been waiting for his return. He said that when he rises into heaven he will not leave us alone, bereft and depressed, but will send us The Friend, the Holy Spirit, to remind us that God is with us always. But he himself will return to call us home and what a joyful day that will be.
But hey, it’s going to be a surprise! Even Jesus does not know when this will happen, only our Heavenly Father knows the hour and the day. So all our calendars, all our day planners, all our schedules will be thrown ou7t the window when this Glorious Day dawns.
The Mayan calendar ends on December 12, 2012. Nostradamus and Edgar Casey agree with that date. The prophecy is that the world will end in some way on that day. But these are prophecies. Not even Jesus knows if that’s the day so we certainly don’t either. But whatever happens, the world will end and a new one begin when Jesus returns. The night is over, the new day will dawn, a new earth, clean and intact. A blank slate.
How can we prepare? How can we be ready? In past theology we were taught that we must strive for perfection here on earth in order to be ready to face Judgment Day. We were taught that even though we would never reach perfection on earth, we still must try. As a child I lived in fear that I would be found wanting at the Day of Judgment. Even though I was a boy scout and our motto was “be prepared”, I knew in my heart I wasn’t, I wouldn’t be, and could never be.
But that doesn’t sound like a loving God, that we must cower with ear and trembling at the thought of seeing God face to face. Remember in the Beginning Time when Adam and Eve walked and talked with the Creator in the garden? Remember how Jesus provided for the followers, kept telling them how much he loved them and proved it. Why would I be in fear of a God like that?
My father was a strict man. He expected my brother and me to follow the rules. But he also fiercely protected and defended us. Even when the police came to our door because my cousin, Denise, and I had broken into a house down the street he stood by me… and made sure I made an apology to the neighbors. Jesus will do the same for us. Not in fierce judgment, but he will make sure we do the right thing.
To be prepared for the Second Coming is, as our second reading states, “to be sons of light, daughters of Day.” We walk in the sunshine, not hiding in dark corners.
My beloved, do not be afraid of God, no matter what anyone tells you. Keep you faith simple. God created you and called you very good. Jesus loves you beyond all imagination, and the Holy Spirit burns the Good News into your hearts. Live like you know you are loved.
What does that mean? If you feel loved you will want the best for other people. If you feel loved, you will want to do your best and be your best. If you feel loved, you do not live in fear – fear of want, fear of failure, fear of death. If you feel loved, you feel that you matter and that you are wanted.
God has loved us so much that he gave us himself in Jesus Christ, the Savior. Know that you are loved and that there is a greater home waiting … some day. We do not know the hour or the day.
Thanksgiving Day sermon: Ms. Lucinda "Pete" Cornell, intern
Why Thanksgiving? Why is it important to give thanks? Why is this not just a holiday but also a holy day?
We all know the story. The pilgrims were not in good condition. They were living in dirt covered shelters with very little to eat. Half of them had died during the previous winter. They were sorely in need of help. Enter Squanto, who because of his travels and friendship with English explorer John Weymouth not only spoke English but was of a friendly and helpful frame of mind toward the settlers. He moved in with them and taught them how to survive in the place that we know as Plymouth Plantation. Because of Squanto’s generosity the pilgrims’ fortunes turned around. They not only survived but by the fall of 1621 were experiencing a period of God’s abundance. And so, they came together with a group of Indians-native Americans-first peoples- to celebrate. From the chronicles of Edward Winslow we read “Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men fowling, so that we might, after a special manner, rejoice together”. The great chief Massosoit and 90 of his men joined them in three days of feasting and entertainment. Again from Winslow’s letters back to England we read “although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time, yet by the goodness of God we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty.” For the first time since coming to America these settlers had all the food they needed. Their homes were winterized against the coming cold and snow. Plenty of wood had been gathered for warm winter fires. Barrels of fur were ready to be shipped back to England. During the feasting a treaty was negotiated with Massosoit that would give the pilgrims that lands that became known as Plymouth Plantation.
Now, we all know that this wasn’t really the first thanksgiving. People have been giving thanks for as long as people have existed. Deep inside our DNA or hard-wired into our brain cells is a deep and abiding need to acknowledge a power larger than ourselves, to recognize our Creator and to give thanks for all of Creation. And we want that not only for ourselves. We long to be in community, especially a community that is capable of experiencing abundance and one that will help us in times both good and bad to share what we have been given.
Being thankful is a matter of focus and intention. We can choose to focus on the good things or on the bad times. We can see the birds as free and unfettered or as vagabonds with no security. We can see the wildflowers as irritating, invasive, indigenous weeds or as glorious and brilliant indicators of a God who wants us to walk in beauty. When we focus on one thing or on one aspect of an issue, the others become fuzzy, less clear. They fade and become background. Giving thanks, practicing abundance, takes time and commitment but we can get our positive focus muscles stronger. If our usual way is to look for the good, it is surely easier to do so when times are difficult. When we hit bottom or are able to see the bottom quickly approaching, we also need community, we need each other. In community there is not only support but also perspective. In community there are others to help us see that there is more to life than food, clothing and worry.
In community we can experiment with being more thankful and appreciative. What would happen if we did? If we were all more aware of the God-initiation in our lives? I know my family would be really pleased if I were more appreciative, my boss and co-workers would be surprised and perplexed, my friends curious. I suspect that God would chuckle and say, “Finally, Pete, you begin to see. We would know that the truth and integrity of thanksgiving is much larger than the story of the Pilgrims. That anxiety is the opposite of Thanksgiving. That the secret to God’s abundance is that we trust and obey. It is our open, positive, generous response to God’s grace – not hoarding, fear, anxiety or manipulation – that will bring about the prosperity and peace God wants us all to enjoy.
Here at Ascension I have found a community who loves the wildflowers that most don’t even see. A community that celebrates God’s attention to what is often unseen. People who know God and How God works. You are the pilgrims I choose to journey with. Visitors are always welcome here, even if they bring donkeys instead of deer and turkeys. Differences, quirks, crankiness and crotchetiness are treasured here. Ascension lives and breathes and has its being in this Iroquois prayer:
Now the time has come, we are here to speak the truth
We are your children, Lord of the sky
Now, in the beginning of all things you provided that we inherit your creation.
You said, “I shall make the earth on which people shall live and they shall look to the earth as their mother.
And they shall say, “It is she who supports us.
And you ordered that we should see life, and remember you and be thankful and gather here by the sacred fire.
So now again, the smoke rises
We the people offer our prayers
We are thankful, Lord of the Sky.
I am thankful, to be here at Ascension – a place where truly God’s gifts are sought, acknowledged and appreciated, a place where we know that God calls us to the feast and that God is big enough, strong enough, kind enough and wise enough to provide for us all. Amen.
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