The essence of this church is not about bricks.
Its not about mortar.
Its
about – and its always been about – men and women subject to the living
lord and engaged in ministry to one another and to the world!
Because we tend to forget, I remind us at every chance I get,
the obvious, really:
we really do drink from wells that others have dug.
I often think of those 26 folks that gathered here in this very room on that October evening in 1926 and dedicated themselves to the building of a Presbyterian congregation here in Drexel Hill.
Already, even though they knew their purpose to be to build a new congregation,
it was obvious to them that they had an opportunity to drink from a well that others dug long long before them.
I doubt that any of them had any idea where Oxford, Pennsylvania, was.
But, they were aware that a Presbyterian church had closed there and the property was sold,
and people of faith decided to use the proceeds of that sale to purchase this property and to build this building (this very building in which we meet this morning).
I don’t think there was a thought of a debt,
but of a legacy –
a legacy to be remembered,
a legacy to be celebrated.
Whether they articulated it, or not,
whether it was ever talked about, or not,
I think they would understand the truth of Peter’s words in our reading this morning.
We come here today with all kinds of emotion.
This room abounds with memories today.
And, I would suggest that most of what we remember is not about the bricks and mortar –
not about the stones and lumber –
that make up the buildings that have constructed here.
Most of what we remember,
most of what really matters to us,
is in relation to what happened (or happens) within the physical building,
and in relation to specific people that we encountered here.
We may call this a house of God,
and, like the Psalmist, we may feel gladness when we come here,
but, our New Testament faith is about something else.
At this church’s 50'th anniversary in 1977, Pastor Jack Harvey reminded the congregation of Peter’s remarks that we are not defined by bricks and mortar.
Never have been.
And, certainly, not now.
Peter envisions a totally new idea – for them and for us –
the new idea was – and is –
that the new temple,
the new church,
is built with living stones.
Each of us, as people of faith, fashion the church around who we are – and what we do.
Every chance I get, I have tried to remind us that our church is not this building of stones and concrete and glass and steel, no . . .
For some 87 years, this church has stood built on living stones –
flesh and blood people who make up this spiritual house of God –
celebrating the Gospel in the midst of the people.
The essence of this church is not about bricks.
Its not about mortar.
Its about – and its always been about – men and women subject to the living lord and engaged in ministry to one another and to the world!
From the beginning, and throughout its history,
this church was composed of living stones –
people who have given themselves to the God who has called them to a ministry of compassion and concern:
people in whose hearts and lives the Kingdom of God has been built.
I pray that this essence never gets lost.
Wherever we go from here, may each of us continue to celebrate the Gospel in the midst of the people,
proclaiming the wonderful acts of God.
For, the word is that God breathes through living stones –
and wherever the Spirit is breathing, there is life and hope – even after 87 years.
Each of you are living stones
with which this church has thrived –
through which the presence of Christ gets expressed –
As long as you are here,
as long as God uses you to minister to others,
as long as God’s breath resides in you and me,
you will continue to be a part of God’s work for time to come.
When the inquiry is made,
“Dr. Living-stone, I presume,” let each of us answer,
“Yes! That’s it!”
As you and I gather around the Lord’s Table today, let us remember the souls of all those who have gone before us.
And let us pray that the same Spirit that was with them and guided them in their endeavors,
be with us and guide us to further give witness to the presence of Christ in the world around us today – in our days and times –
wherever we,
whatever we do,
whatever we say.
Amen.
The Congregation of Christ Presbyterian Church heard these words during the final worship service November 24, 2013.
