Festival of the Ark and Celebration of Rite 13 Youth Easter VI--Year A--April 27, 2008

The Reverend David R. Williams

Holy God, you feed us with earthly and with spiritual food.  Deathless, unalterable, you have chosen us, sinful as we are, to hear your word and to proclaim your truth.  Alleluia!  Make us salt of the earth; make us yeast in the loaf.  Amen.

We have much to celebrate this morning! As a parish, we are on our way to providing a second Heifer International “Ark of Animals” as hope, guidance and resource to families less fortunate than our own. Too, we bring to Holy Comforter this morning a festival of living, breathing, baying animals (including the guinea pigs here at the sanctuary steps), a virtual farm to remind us of the Good News of this year’s Heifer Project.

We also delight in recognizing four special young people who symbolically and literally in a Rite 13 Ceremony will “cross the aisle” from childhood to young adulthood.

My opening prayer, adapted from the New Zealand Prayer book, says we have been chosen to “proclaim your truth; to make us salt of the earth; make us yeast in the loaf.”

What a great image, especially with all that we celebrate this morning: “make us yeast of the loaf.”  As chosen people of God, as baptized people of God, as people crossing the aisle from childhood to adulthood; as parents of children growing up before our eyes; as people of God struggling with ways and means for eliminating extreme poverty in the world, make us the yeast that brings vigor, volume, and substance to the sacramental bread of all life.

Last week Jesus reminded us of the power of his presence for us: “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”  The way of Jesus is selfless caring and embracing of all God’s children. The way of Jesus is giving back that which is given to us.  The way of Jesus is loving God and loving our neighbor, turning the other cheek and celebrating, encouraging, building up each and every brother and sister on this good earth.

This week, Jesus prepares us for the Holy Spirit, also called the Advocate and the Comforter. “I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you.”  Jesus prepares us for Pentecost, the day we celebrate the birthday and beginning of the Church and its manifestation of eternal Spirit in the life of all God’s people.

But first, Jesus departs.  Jesus ascends.  The glory of Ascension is portrayed in the stained glass window behind the altar of this sanctuary.

“I will not leave you orphaned.”  As our children grow up and away from us, we as parents or grandparents might feel as if we are the orphaned ones.  The role of parent inevitably changes. 

Our children, so dependent on us for guidance and direction, begin to change.  Our young people discover the influence of friends, the need to make decisions for themselves, albeit with continuing loving attention, support and boundaries. Our hands still hover above their heads, a protection from bumps as they venture under the table, and they do eventually learn their way.

Faith in God is learned through church attendance, the model of “showing up,” yes, and through responsibilities such as acolyting, youth choirs, helping with nursery or covered dish luncheons, church school spiritual, fellowship and mission activities—all pieces of the church quilt gather up stitches by our growing kids as they gradually feel ownership of a most personal faith. The Biblical Story and Spirit of Jesus mold values and strengthen the foundation for tough life decisions.

The premise of the Episcopal Church Christian Formation programs of Rite 13, Journey to Adulthood, and Young Adults in Church is that teens will develop “a life-changing relationship with the God who created them.”  

“I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you.”

The Heifer Project takes this journey in Christian Formation one step further:

“The Heifer Ark offers hope worldwide to families who are poor and hungry, helping families start on a journey to fulfill a seemingly impossible dream – to secure food and a source of dependable income.”

 “Ending Hunger; Saving the Earth.” This is the logo of Heifer International.  

“I will not leave you orphaned” is a hopeful message to people of impoverished areas in the world.   Through a myriad of faith efforts of the Church, a sure manifestation of the Holy Spirit in the world community, and through symbolic “crossing of the aisle” by Rite 13 young people—God will again come to you, enabling fulfillment of even the most impossible dream.”

You will become the “yeast in the loaf.”

For the past several weeks during Announcements, we have had the great privilege of meeting Noah.  Noah is aware that the time is nigh—the Ark is almost ready, but he has this tendency to lose his precious animals!

As the story goes, Noah builds the Ark as the vessel for new opportunities and impossible dreams.   As an Ark Builder, Noah carves a hopeful future for all God’s family. 

Of course, we, as God’s Chosen and Baptized, are asked to be Ark Builders. We respond in many ways, finding and joining resources to support Heifer and other outreach projects, and celebrating our youth as they grow in realization that they, too, may hammer the nails and gather the animals.

Rite 13 candidates, please rise. 

Marley Dove, we have had the pleasure of getting to know you in the past two or three years, a newcomer who joined the Rite 13 Sunday School class and helped in responsibility for various mission and fellowship projects. You are quite a young lady! On your own, you have attended church programs such as the recent Sunday Evening Lenten Series where you demonstrated a unique artistic sense as well as a willingness to engage in creative discussions of faith with parishioners of all ages.  You have become a dedicated and conscientious acolyte.

Joan Hedrick, I have watched you over the years offer to church and community your strong talents in music and theater. Certainly you are the most familiar of any of us with the possibilities, artistic and charitable, of the auditorium on Holy Comforter’s third floor. You are a loyal member of your Rite 13 class, and you have an energetic and lively little brother for whom you show great love, affection, and patience--most of the time! You, too, have become a terrific acolyte.

Alyssa Padmos, I have known you in this church parish almost since the day of your Baptism.  You have a bright, inquisitive mind and a strong faith to carry you through your own personal challenges. The leadership abilities you offer are deeply respected by your fellow classmates, and you are known as a skillful acolyte-- as well as a nimble athlete on the courts of Blessed Sacrament. Too, I think that you listen to my sermons! I still have in a file folder a great drawing you made in 2006 of my round eyeglasses peering over the top of the pulpit lectern.

Andrew Stephenson, the newest member of this Rite 13 class, in the past year or so we have welcomed your enthusiastic willingness to become friends with your peers and with families of this parish, to join a new Sunday School class and to assume the important role of acolyte. Most recently, including all of us on your own special faith journey, you asked to be baptized into the Church of Christ. This was your own request, independent of your parents. I am so impressed by your uprightness, a posture you carry physically and spiritually in this challenging world.

Andrew, Joan, Marley, and Alyssa, I speak for the congregation in saying we are so proud and happy for you on this special day.

We commission you, as you cross the aisle, to be Ark builders and to be the yeast that brings life to the loaf.

You may be seated. Blessings to you.

On this day of so much festivity, may we all be reminded of our Lord’s kindness: “I will not leave you orphaned: I am coming to you.”  As Joan, Marley, Andrew, and Alyssa grow toward more independence and take on more responsibility, we, as church family, do not leave them orphaned.  As each of us is confronted with disturbing awareness of basic sustenance needs of people around the world, we will all do our best not to leave hungry people orphaned. 

Through the power of the Spirit, may we all be salt of the earth, Ark builders and yeast in the loaf.

Amen.