"Who Are You?" September 30, 2018

Esther 7 Mark 9: 38-50 Who are you? No, who are you really? How do you want people to remember you? Do you define yourself by your age? By your accomplishments? By your family? By significant experiences in your life? At one point, I came to recognize that from the time we get working papers, until we die, we describe ourselves in 1-3 page Resumes, as Pastors a 14 page PIF. Then because our family have to pay per letter, they reduce who we are to an obituary; lifted up verbally in a 30 to 60 minute memorial. After which, our entire existence, who we are, is reduced to “The Dash” between our date of birth/death on headstones, a begat in Genealogies. When our youngest son was on the Wrestling Team, I remember Coach Dick Campbell and Coach Tim Green describing that who you are is part of “This Team,” within the church we call that “The Body of Christ.” They described that in wrestling you can get points for showing up, for taking someone else down, for breaking a hold, for a pin, but the most points are awarded for a Reversal, when you surprise everyone, because you had been held down in a hold and you reversed everything. Being true to who we are when life reverses is what our readings are about. The Book of Esther is unique, it is the only book in the Canon of Scripture that never explicitly names God, the Torah, the Temple, or the Law. It is in the Bible because the Book of Esther is the basis for the season of Purim, 10 Banquets in August, which tell the story of reversal from genocide to Salvation. Historically, after Chaldea conquered Judah, Babylon was itself conquered by Persia, and King Xerses believing the Enemy of my Enemy must be my friend, released the Jews paying them a severance to return to rebuild their lives in Israel. However some remained behind in Persia. Accordingly the Book of Esther is written as a Melodrama, King Xerses here also known by the name Ahasuerus, was seen as such a fool for letting go the Jews, and so prideful of all he possessed, that one day gave a Banquet for everyone to see how much he had. Therefore whenever the names of King Xerses or Ahasuerus are pronounced the congregation is to respond with: “Duh!” At this banquet, he tried to have all the Emperors and Kings witness how powerful he was by displaying the beauty of his wife Queen Vashti, having her appear Nude. She naturally refused, No One could stand up to the King, so Xerses had her killed. Wanting to have the most beautiful wife in the Persian Empire, King Xerses had the World’s First Beauty Pageant. Esther was a Jewish orphan, whose Uncle was named Mordecai. Mordecai is the hero of the story, so when we hear his name we cheer! Mordecai, adopts Esther as his own daughter, and enters her in the beauty pageant, without revealing she is Jewish, and of course she wins. So when Esther is named, we WolfWhistle. One day, Mordecai overhears the guards plotting to kill King Xerses, and Mordecai tells Esther, who tells King Xerses saving the king from assassination, which of course is then forgotten by King Ahasuerus. The Villain of this story is the Grand Vizer: Haman, who like every villain is Boo-ed. The Grand Vizer Haman is angered because whenever he appears in public everyone is supposed to bow down to him, but Mordecai refuses to bow down. In anxiety, the Grand Vizer Haman not only has a Gallows built 150 feet tall immediately next to his house so he can watch when Mordecai is executed, he also creates a policy that all Jews be executed the same day as a genocide, of course having this unwittingly signed by King Xerses. Being a farce, King Xerses has a law that anyone trying to see him without permission will be killed, so Esther sends a dinner invitation to Xerses and Haman, so that she can ask a favor. Like a shaggy-dog story, at that dinner, the favor she asks is that they will come to dinner again the next night, so she can ask another favor. At that dinner, you have this morning’s reading of Chapter 7. Esther who was an Orphan, reverses to become the Queen, the Jewish people who were to be exterminated in genocide find salvation. Haman who was Prime Minister and plotted against everyone, is executed on his own gallows outside his own home. Mordecai goes from being on death row, to becoming Prime Minister. And the King, who was naïve to everything taking place around him, still is King Ahasuerus: “Duh!” The Gospel reading and the rest of our sermon are filled with just as many reversals, but nothing humorous. The Gospel writer is making the point that from the time of the early Church, there have been different denominations, expectations and groups dis-agreeing. The Disciple John comes to Jesus proud that he told the Catholics, Mormons and Pentecostals that they were not following Jesus in Presbyterian Decency and Good Order. To which Jesus says, “NO!” Painfully, we live in such a polarized society that people believe whomever is not for us is against us; when one of the sayings of Jesus is “whomever is not against us, is for us.” There always seem to be those trying to control and anxiously keep others out. What I hear Jesus instructing is that rather than cutting off and judging others, ethical questions are for each of us, to examine our own hearts and souls. As your pastor I have tried to live my life with integrity, humility and transparency. Therefore the following letter is being sent out to all your homes. One on one, in meetings, in worship, in the community, I have always tried to be the same person, to answer any questions people asked, with truth. I believe it is easier that way, because I do not have to remember what I said. I have loved you, trusted you, and I have been loved and trusted by you, for that I am truly thankful. There is nothing wrong, no one committed any offense, there are no longer secrets. We have shared the joy of being pastor with you for 22 years. In that time, we have witnessed miracles, we have made a difference in this community, in the world, in each others’ lives. I have never tried to impose my will or direction on anyone, or to tell the church what I Want, instead I have sought to walk with you and lead you where you have wanted to go, as gracefully, faithfully and as effectively as possible. Since January our Session and I have talked about the church’s needs for the future and for transition. At times, this has felt like my being a terminal patient, as people tiptoed around me to be certain I had not died yet, while others have been unaware anything was going on! I do not know if I will be called to another Church or if I will need a Severance package from you for us to survive. Announcing this, not knowing, is truly a leap of faith. I am thankful for having been able to serve you faithfully and effectively throughout all our years and will do so as long as I am your pastor. Most of us will find this news of transition upsetting, as we do not like to have our routines disturbed, our plans, expectations upset. All of which also makes the wounds of separation painful. This is as difficult for me to leave being your pastor, as it is for you to accept. Some have reacted during this time, with crisis and anxiety, but we described all of this being expected years ago. I am confident this church is in the hands of The Session, Deacons, and those who lead us in the worship of God: Bruce, Brian and Sue, as well as Lori, Peggy and Eddie, who will continue to support you just as they did in partnership and laughter with me. We profess being Christians. The core belief of Christianity being that we own death as necessary to life, even more, that death is essential for resurrection to be appreciated. Over the next several weeks there will be opportunities for us to share stories and to try to develop closure. October 21st immediately after worship, we will have a Special Congregational Meeting to act upon how to formally end our pastoral relationship. At 5pm on Sunday, October 21st we will have a special worship service followed by a dinner for our congregation, our community and Presbytery, to celebrate and give thanks for our journey together in this pastorate. Years ago, Gail Banks had a cartoon of a Deliveryman delivering a large crate asking where she wanted the new Pastor Installed! This worship service will be our “un-installing,” a memorial service to give thanks to God for what we have shared, to laugh, to cry, to be real with one another. After October 21st Judy and I plan to sell our home and move, we will maintain contact as friends (you are very dear to us) but I need to leave, for the church to be able to continue to thrive. Also, I am still young enough to hope to have the fun of doing this yet one more time! 25 years ago, members of another church I served, began writing in a book that I hope you will make the effort to sign, with remembrances and stories of the faith we have shared. I have already cut all my ties as your pastor with the John Dau Foundation, the Fire Department, and Presbytery responsibilities. On October 22nd , I will no longer be part of this church, talking with you about the needs, joys or problems of this church, officiating at Baptisms, Weddings or Funerals. But I hope and pray you will redouble your commitments, because the church will need to build on the foundation established. With love, I Am Craig Lindsey