This week, we had our final look at change and transformation where we looked at one of the most dramatic change stories in the scriptures: the conversion of Paul:
I realized that I forgot something on the sermon on Sunday – a very important piece in fact. It is the piece that ties the idea of transformation and change to the work of the church.
Change is happening all around us. We ourselves are changing. Yet, for some reason, people have this impression that the church should be the one place where change doesn’t happen.
I, for one, think that is exactly the opposite of what we should be doing.
First, as people change, hopefully for the better, shouldn’t we be a community of support that cares for one another and supports one another as we each change? As people change their ways they will in turn change our community, and so should we not be celebrators of change?
I think so.
Or, think about our world. Our world is in need of some change, is it not? If we are supposed to be the hands and feet of the divine in the world, shouldn’t we be supporting the changing of the world?
My point is this, let’s be the embracers and the early adapters of change as proof that God is in the business of transformation and resurrection. That silly prayer that we ended with, that should be something we say with joy and excitement, not begrudgingly.
End of sermon – again!