Proverbs 18:18
We all have irreplaceable times, locations, events, and persons in life. We may not often speak of the irreplaceability of persons, because we desire some sense of modesty or humility or separation. By whatever it may be called, there may exist one or more reasons as to why we do not communicate what we know to be a reality - persons may be irreplaceable in life.
Jesus is irreplaceable as our Savior and Messiah in the Christian tradition. Faithful spouses are irreplaceable in Christian marriage. Friends with sincerity of heart are irreplaceable, according to the wisdom writer of Proverbs. What would make a local church member irreplaceable?
I was a member of a local United Methodist Church, until I was ordained and became a member of the annual conference. Ordained clergy are not local church members, and we do not own the local United Methodist Church. Interestingly, laity though members of local United Methodist Churches do not own the local United Methodist Church. Local United Methodist Churches are in trust to the local congregations as properties of the annual conference. The pastor and the property of a local United Methodist Church are under the authority of the annual conference and entrusted to local congregations. So, what would make a local church member irreplaceable?
When laity join local United Methodist Churches, they vow to uphold the United Methodist Church with their prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness. These five seem to mean different things to different people, when in essence they ought to be the same for everyone and with the same degree of energy given for a synergy in "making disciples for Jesus Christ." A sermon may be built on that alone. The purpose in this writing is to focus on: "What would make a local church member irreplaceable?"
I was born into a parsonage family. From the moment of the merger of the Evangelical United Brethren Church with the Methodist Episcopal Church to form the United Methodist Church, I knew that I would devote my life to ordain ministry in the United Methodist Church. Without doubt, I am who I am in the United Methodist Church. Since 1975, laypeople have been irreplaceable in local churches I have served. The mere existence of a layperson in the pew means there is no other like that particular person. Existence proclaims a lay person to be irreplaceable...not prayers, not presence, not gifts, not service and not witness...mere existence speaks to the irreplaceability. This is no new thought, it is seen from the beginning. Jesus is considered a second Adam, because the first Adam is still Adam and as irreplaceable as Eve.
Irreplaceable Charlotte! Charlotte H died 20 twenty years ago. Her existence in the lives of the Rouse family came in 1986 and instantly it was as though we existed as sister and brother throughout life. Our families became family. Our days, weeks, months, and years were shared. Our children bonded. Our spouses called the other the moment one of us needed support. As sister and brother ought to be, we were friends. Our friend is buried in Greenwood, SC. During a gravesite visit, I stated: "Charlottee, every year in observing All Saints Day, I will remember that you are 'IRREPLACEABLE". You see, love was not buried in the grave, because it is planted in the living heart.
May you, too, remember, no matter what... WE ARE IRREPLACEABLE!
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us and grant us the grace to live in authentic being, so as to know we are genuine, sincere of heart and irreplaceable. Amen.
We all have irreplaceable times, locations, events, and persons in life. We may not often speak of the irreplaceability of persons, because we desire some sense of modesty or humility or separation. By whatever it may be called, there may exist one or more reasons as to why we do not communicate what we know to be a reality - persons may be irreplaceable in life.
Jesus is irreplaceable as our Savior and Messiah in the Christian tradition. Faithful spouses are irreplaceable in Christian marriage. Friends with sincerity of heart are irreplaceable, according to the wisdom writer of Proverbs. What would make a local church member irreplaceable?
I was a member of a local United Methodist Church, until I was ordained and became a member of the annual conference. Ordained clergy are not local church members, and we do not own the local United Methodist Church. Interestingly, laity though members of local United Methodist Churches do not own the local United Methodist Church. Local United Methodist Churches are in trust to the local congregations as properties of the annual conference. The pastor and the property of a local United Methodist Church are under the authority of the annual conference and entrusted to local congregations. So, what would make a local church member irreplaceable?
When laity join local United Methodist Churches, they vow to uphold the United Methodist Church with their prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness. These five seem to mean different things to different people, when in essence they ought to be the same for everyone and with the same degree of energy given for a synergy in "making disciples for Jesus Christ." A sermon may be built on that alone. The purpose in this writing is to focus on: "What would make a local church member irreplaceable?"
I was born into a parsonage family. From the moment of the merger of the Evangelical United Brethren Church with the Methodist Episcopal Church to form the United Methodist Church, I knew that I would devote my life to ordain ministry in the United Methodist Church. Without doubt, I am who I am in the United Methodist Church. Since 1975, laypeople have been irreplaceable in local churches I have served. The mere existence of a layperson in the pew means there is no other like that particular person. Existence proclaims a lay person to be irreplaceable...not prayers, not presence, not gifts, not service and not witness...mere existence speaks to the irreplaceability. This is no new thought, it is seen from the beginning. Jesus is considered a second Adam, because the first Adam is still Adam and as irreplaceable as Eve.
Irreplaceable Charlotte! Charlotte H died 20 twenty years ago. Her existence in the lives of the Rouse family came in 1986 and instantly it was as though we existed as sister and brother throughout life. Our families became family. Our days, weeks, months, and years were shared. Our children bonded. Our spouses called the other the moment one of us needed support. As sister and brother ought to be, we were friends. Our friend is buried in Greenwood, SC. During a gravesite visit, I stated: "Charlottee, every year in observing All Saints Day, I will remember that you are 'IRREPLACEABLE". You see, love was not buried in the grave, because it is planted in the living heart.
May you, too, remember, no matter what... WE ARE IRREPLACEABLE!
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us and grant us the grace to live in authentic being, so as to know we are genuine, sincere of heart and irreplaceable. Amen.
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