WISDOM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE
Acts 1:1-8
A Communion Meditation

by the Reverend Odette Lockwood-Stewart
 

The prayer known as the Serenity Prayer is printed at the beginning of your worship guide.  “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

I returned yesterday from the General Conference of the United Methodist Church in Fort Worth, Texas, where 1000 delegates from 50 countries met for two weeks from 7 a.m. 11:00 p.m. ... every day ... to deliberate and make decisions on the doctrine, discipline, mission, ministries, practices and processes of this worldwide church of over 11 million members.

At least 14 members of the Epworth community were there for some or all of the two weeks working for change in the church.

At its most brutal and disappointing, the General Conference voted 501 to 417 to retain language that considers “the practice of homosexuality incompatible with Christian teaching.”   In 2000, the margin was 289 votes.  In 2004, that was reduced to a margin of 203. This time the margin was 84 votes – the was reduced despite the vast resources, staffing, and despicable strategies of those who would “take” the United Methodist Church by any means necessary.  But the fact remains, we cannot change it, these words will remain the official language of the United Methodist Church for another four years.

Nevertheless, as Rev. Rebecca Voelkel of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, wrote in a letter to UMC on Friday,  “Resurrection threatens even the strongest crucifixion,... You, as voting delegates and observers, as protesters and prayers, have held fast to the resurrection that is already changing death into life.

Your faithfulness WILL transform the Church – It may be in 2012 or 2016, but God has already won the victory.  Furthermore, your faithfulness gives hope to those of us who are your ecumenical, multi-faith and secular colleagues. Your resurrection work inspires ours.”

We have fewer seats, weaker voice in the West, but the answer is in our hands ... grow the church. Grow the church of the whole Gospel of the radically inclusive Christ!  Distribution of delegates is based on church membership ... we have work to do.

At its best the General Conference was faithful people struggling together in “holy conferencing” ... discovering and expressing hard truths, and moving forward together in some surprising and positive ways.

There was the stunning and exciting election of 5 new members to the Judicial Council, offering hope for new vision and clarity in the church’s highest judicial body.  Angela Brown, an attorney and member of Jones Memorial United Methodist Church in San Francisco was the first elected.

There were strong words and witness from Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the President of Liberia ... The first democratically elected woman president on the continent of Africa...a United Methodist... testified and challenged us regarding the four foci for the future alignment of resources in the church at all levels:  elimination of poverty, global health, leadership development, growing Christ’s ministries of hope, healing and hospitality.

There was adoption of a framework to further explore of the real meanings of being a global church ... lives being saved through the Global AIDS Fund, and the “Nothing but Nets” campaign to eradicate malaria.

Worshipful moments ... and legislative movements that will take a long time to digest and understand, let alone to share. (Homophobia included as a sin, funding restrictions now applies to those who discriminate)

There were powerful reminders of the wonderful strength of this connectional, global church of which we are a part. The Ugandan children’s choir...

But the deep pain of knowing that the condemnatory language that continues to plague our church is still with us will not go away.
“God, grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

This prayer is learned and spoken in 12 step groups as an essential part of individual healing and growth.  It is equally powerful as collective prayer.

I want to ask those of you who came to any or all of the General Conference to offer, to name an image, that reflected God’s gift of serenity, or courage or wisdom..... (open sharing from congregation)
(Sleep deprivation.....Adult Study....conversations....not whole stories ... but an image) ...

“God, grant me the serenity...”  Is there an image of the gift of serenity that you would share...?  (see/hear – truth – Marcia)

“God, grant me ... the courage...” Is there an image of courage you would share ...? (African delegations – So. Carolina woman)

“God, grant me ... the wisdom to know the difference” ... is there an image of wisdom, clarity, that you would share ...? (unmasking)
Scripture tells us that before Jesus left his followers, before he ascended into heaven, he told them they would receive power through the Holy Spirit to be witnesses to the ends of the world!
I love what happens next.  We’re told that while the disciples “were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes appeared” ... and asked... “Why do you stand looking up toward heaven?”

In other words ... Jesus has left the building!  Look for Christ around you and within you...wait on and live out the gift of the Spirit.
The serenity prayer continues with these rarely spoken words, “Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time, accepting hardship as a pathway to peace, taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as (we) would have it, trusting that (God) will make all things right....”

By human means we cannot stand but by the grace of God we can. Amen.
(This sermon text differs from preached message.)