St. Paul’s Church in
Bergen, Jersey City NJ
August 16, 2015
Year B, Proper 15:
The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
1 Kings 2:10-12;
3:3-14
Psalm 111
Ephesians 5:15-20
John 6:51-58
Making the Most of the Time
In
today’s Old Testament lesson, we heard about the death of King David and the
rise of his successor, Solomon, who, understandably, feels like he’s not quite
up to the job. He says, poignantly, “I do not know how to go out or come in.”
And
so, recognizing his inadequacy, Solomon asks God to give him wisdom – he asks
God to give him “an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern
between good and evil.”
We’re
told that God is so pleased by this request – so pleased that Solomon didn’t
ask for the usual stuff, you know, long life or riches – God is so pleased that
God grants Solomon his request, bestowing on him the gift for which he is
famous to this day: wisdom.
I
think we can all agree that Solomon made a smart – yes, even, wise – request.
Certainly
all leaders need as much wisdom as they can get. But, it’s not just leaders.
All of us need wisdom all the time as we face the many challenges and
opportunities of life.
And,
you know, one of the biggest challenges and opportunities of our lives is
deciding how we use our time. How do we use our precious, fast-moving, all too
limited time here on earth?
In
today’s second lesson, the author of the Letter to the Ephesians writes, “Be
careful then how you live, not as unwise
people but as wise, making the most
of the time…”
Making
the most of the time.
Making
the most of the time.
We’re
all fully capable of wasting time. I do it and I’m sure most of us do it.
But,
I think most of us at least try to
make the most of the time we’ve been given.
Many of our parishioners – many of you - have had to work long and hard in order to support your families, to pay the bills, to create a better life for your children and maybe even for yourself.
Many of our parishioners – many of you - have had to work long and hard in order to support your families, to pay the bills, to create a better life for your children and maybe even for yourself.
I
don’t know everyone’s situation but I know the long hours that many of us put in
or have put in at a job – or, sometimes, at multiple jobs. I know the long
hours some of us spend or have spent just looking for a job.
I
worry about some of you because I know how long and hard you work.
And,
it’s not just adults. I know how hard kids have to work in school, often,
unfortunately, in less than ideal circumstances, and then later they – you -
have to deal with homework and maybe an afterschool job or family
responsibilities.
And
I know how careful you must be to make the most of the time that’s not spent
working or in school. I know that time with family and friends, time for rest
and recreation, and to time to pray and to worship is limited and must be used
carefully.
“Be
careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of
the time…”
For
a little over two years now, here at St. Paul’s we have done a pretty good job
of making the most of the time.
In
fact, it’s been intense, hasn’t it?
There
are many more people here every Sunday. We are the biggest we’ve been in many
years. People are choosing to make the most of their time by worshiping here.
Our longtime faithful parishioners have stuck with St. Paul’s and in many cases
deepened their involvement. Some who had drifted away have returned. And, wonderful
new people have found us, put down roots here, bringing exciting gifts, new
ideas, and infectious energy.
We
have continued what was already in place and expanded with weekday worship,
Craft Guild, Yoga, Stone Soup, and more.
We
have made significant capital improvements – including the air conditioning
that I know I’m very grateful for on this very hot day.
We
have made new and exciting connections with the community and are now seen as a
community center or as one person said to me, St. Paul’s is “one of the beating hearts in the body of this
community.”
And,
our financial generosity to the church has grown enormously.
Many
of us have pledged – almost everybody, really, and the last few of you still
can – and many of us are giving sacrificially, choosing to deny ourselves in
order to support the work of the church.
But.
Those
of you who have looked at our budget know that St. Paul’s doesn’t have enough
money to pay the salary of a full-time priest and to keep doing all that we’re
doing – and to do even more than what we’re doing.
So,
what to do?
Since
I want to stay here and continue the great work we’ve begun together I had just
begun to try to think creatively of what I might do on the side to make up the
difference in my salary.
Drive
for über?
Wait
tables at Carvao, the cool new restaurant on Bergen Avenue?
Slice
the bagels at Wonder Bagels?
Deliver
pies for Prince of Pizza?
I
was just beginning to try to think “creatively” when suddenly I spotted (on
Facebook, if you can believe it!) that St. Peter’s Prep – my alma mater and
where I taught before going to seminary - was looking for a Religion Teacher.
I
said to Sue, mostly jokingly, “Maybe I should go for it!”
But
then I thought, “Maybe I should go for it!”
Well,
to cut to the chase, I did go for it and they hired me.
This
amazing and unexpected development solves a lot of our problems.
I
will continue here at St. Paul’s as your rector. Sue and I will still be
next door in the rectory. But, the church will only need to pay me half time.
And, I’ll get my health insurance through school so that large expense is also taken
out of our budget.
Here
at St. Paul’s, we will be dependent only on God and our own generosity.
And,
believe me, we can use the savings for all sorts of things, including some
capital improvements like the front stairs, and reducing how much money we take
each month from the church’s investments to pay our bills.
And,
as I’ve mentioned to you before, I’ve always missed teaching and this gives me
the chance to get back in the classroom teaching religion – uniting both of my
vocations as priest and teacher, truly making the most of my time.
This
amazing and unexpected development not only solves problems but it also creates
a lot of opportunities for St. Paul’s.
It’s
true that I won’t be able to do quite as much as I’ve been doing here for the
past two years. But, you know what? I don’t have to. Because:
St.
Paul’s is stable, healthy, and growing.
So,
now is the time for all of us to make the most of our time– it’s time for all
of us to make the most of our time by giving ourselves in loving service to
this church and to this community.
So,
go ahead, bring in items for the food pantry or volunteer at Stone Soup.
Go
ahead, volunteer to be an usher, or an acolyte, or a lector, or a
chalice-bearer, or a Sunday School teacher. Volunteer to help with the altar
guild, allowing us to worship so beautifully each week.
Go
ahead, help the Craft Guild knit prayer shawls for the sick and little hats for
babies.
Go
ahead, help with the garden. Don’t worry, a more experienced gardener will tell
you if it’s a weed or a plant we want to keep.
Go
ahead, create some new ministry we haven’t thought up yet.
And,
yes, go ahead, make your pledge – or edge up your pledge – to St. Paul’s.
Because,
you know, this is the place where we truly make the most of the time.
This
is the place where we make the most of the time – this is where we receive the
living bread – this is where we receive Jesus – who feeds us – who abides with
us – and with whom we live forever.
So,
together, like Solomon, let’s pray for God’s great gift of wisdom – the wisdom
we need to make the most of the time we have been given – the wisdom to make
the most of our time together here at St. Paul’s.
“Be
careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of
the time…”
Amen.
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