A Cake Makes it Through

I thought today that nothing in the service might make it beyond the benediction.

I was wrong.

Today was a difficult and emotional Sunday for me and for the Alma and Elizabeth Chapel United Methodist churches. Even though we United Methodists know that pastors will come and go, the coming and going is difficult. I have served these churches in this community here in Bacon County in South Georgia for the last five years. Today brought news of a pastoral transition that will take me to serve a congregation in Columbus, Georgia and a yet to be known pastor to move here to serve in Alma.

I knew going into the service that I didn't want to begin with this news. Throwing it in during the announcements would cast a mournful tone over the worship. Following some of the advice of others and my own best instincts, I made the decision to make this announcement right after the closing hymn and before the benediction.

I preached today about dealing with doubt. My message was focused on accepting doubt as part of our faith and how doubt can actually prove helpful in growing us in our discipleship journey. One of the points I made was that in actually living out our faith in the face of our doubts, we can often dispel our own doubt and the doubts of those around us, thereby authenticating the integrity of the church in word and deed. I suggested that, given the events of the past week, we ought to all find some way to show some love to our local police and sheriff department. I made a rather whimsical comment that these folks ought to have a freshly baked cake in their headquarters this week from the church so they will not doubt the goodness of God in a scary world. Law enforcement officers see the very worst of what our community has to offer daily. It's no surprise these folks have very little trust in anyone.

Imagine my surprise tonight when one of my most faithful parishioners told me at evening worship that I had inspired her and that this afternoon she had baked a cake to take to a law enforcement agency headquarters! Even in the aftermath of such an emotional announcement that I would be leaving the church, something from the sermon made it beyond the benediction!

This is exactly what I was hoping for as I began to write this blog. Sometimes, we just don't notice what's going on unless we are looking for it. Perhaps that's the heart of the "doubting Thomas" message anyway. On the very first Easter day, Thomas was probably more of a "pouting Thomas" than a "doubting Thomas". His disappointment in Jesus and all his friends overwhelmed him and he removed himself from the community. It was only after all the disciples begged him to come back and told him they had seen the risen Lord that he agreed to at least show back up for their next Sunday meeting. Lo and behold, Jesus appeared among them and he met Thomas's doubting with evidence for belief.

The disciples didn't give up on Thomas. Jesus's message to them made it beyond the benediction of their first meeting in the upper room with their risen Lord and back to Thomas. The first inactive church member was restored not because Jesus went after him personally, but because people who were excited for their risen Lord persisted.

Imagine what might happen today if the excitement of our risen Savior could make it beyond the benediction of our Sunday services.

Well, a cake made it through today. I have hope.