Long ago the prophet Joel had the sense that God’s Spirit at some point would manifest itself in surprising and wondrous ways—it would be available to all people, young and old, male and female, slave and free. Later, Peter had the sense that God’s Spirit was unleashed upon all of creation at Pentecost. Visions and dreams of God’s calling is part of what we are about today—celebrating our life together in Christ.We are at one of those pivot times in the life of our congregation, and we have reason to celebrate!We will get there.We are at the Jordan River’s edge looking over at the land of promise.
One of the evidences of God’s Spirit being poured out for me is these wondrous prayers many of you offered at Commitment Sunday we used in our litany today;we had prayers submitted from 5 ½ year-old girls…we had prayers from 92 year-old men.The prayer from our 5 ½ year-old didn’t make it into the litany.Instead I put it in as the sermon title: “You Need Money for Love.”
When I read that prayer my mind went immediately to old Beatles’ songs: “Can’t buy me love,” “All you need is love.”What kind of a prayer is, “You need money for love”?When I talked this over with this little girl’s father I realized that I was as confused as those people in the Jerusalem streets on Pentecost, but that something wondrous was going on within it.
Think back to Commitment Sunday and what we were doing that day—we were bringing our gifts to make this thing happen.This 5½ year-old understood clearly the vision of our future ministry—to be an act of love (God’s love and our love woven together) for the whole community.She saw clearly that our ministry is about sharing God’s love with all people.But perceptively she also saw that John Lennon didn’t quite get it right; “All you need is love” is the place to start, God’s love spring forth in our hearts, but it takes more than that for love to be shown.You need money for love to be shown, lived out (whether it is in collecting supplies and gifts for Haiti, the 3rd Saturday Meal, or a building to house a ministry of compassion, justice, outreach, and spiritual growth).
You need money for love (to be shown).The energy flow—the respiration—of a congregation consists of God’s Spirit.Without that, we are as timid and useless as those disciples huddled up in some house.But with God’s wind/Spirit/breath blowing upon us, we go forth to witness to God’s love and grace and extend it to others in acts of love and justice.
The other energy flow of a congregation was wisely grasped by our 5½ year-old disciple.Money is the energy of making love become real on a profound level.You need money for love.
“I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.”
I believe it.I see it in the wise witness of this 5½ year-old girl.I see it in your prayers, your gifts, and your lives.My questions for you:
·Where have you seen God’s Holy Spirit at work in our midst?
·What excites you as you think about God’s love being shown in our future ministry?
·What do you want to celebrate?
[People in the congregation then added their thoughts and thanksgivings to finish the sermon].
