Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a Luke 4:14-21 Psalm 19

The most famous of all biblical metaphors is the one described in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians that we explore this morning.  This is the metaphor that equates the Church with the human body. None of us would choose to give up a portion of our body; none of us would choose to give up a portion of our church – this specific Body of Christ designated as the Episcopal Church of the Advent.  Do you realize that you are an essential part of that body, and that without you, our body is not complete?  Without you, we are less able to walk as steadily; without you, we miss part of our vision; without you, we do not hear as clearly.

Perhaps you misinterpret your ministry here as insignificant.

Ed, have I expressed to you how comforting it is to know that you will arrive at 7:30 a.m. every Sunday morning to unlock the doors and turn on the lights and be present here until others arrive?  It is quite unwelcoming to arrive here and find doors locked; Ed’s efforts assure that the rest of you arrive within the spirit of welcome, light, and warmth.

Do you realize that when I arrive here at 7:00 a.m. and the AC or heat is sounding funny, I roust Toby from that last little bit of a morning snooze to come and offer his expertise in the interest of your comfort?  And, he comes willingly.

Dick, have you any idea how many of the acolytes wear the crosses you have fashioned in your woodshop?  Chuck, Phyllis and Gladys, your contributions as greeters/ushers don’t go unnoticed. How many visitors could we count who have been made to feel welcome by your warmth and hospitality?

For those not on the Altar Guild, do you realize that as you go about your Saturday errands, the Altar Guild team for the week is gathering and arranging the flowers for the altar; polishing the silver and brass; updating the hymn boards; replacing the tabernacle candle; changing the altar hangings; checking supplies of wafers, wine, wicks, and oil? – all this, before beginning to set the Table for Sunday Eucharist, which they do with a great sense of reverence and diligence for every service of Holy Eucharist.

Choir members don’t wake up on Sunday morning and say, “Ugh, I don’t think I’ll make it to church today.”  They know they’ll be solely missed and that worship is not complete without them. And, Rebecca doesn’t just arrive here on Sunday and magically pound out the hymns for the day.  She spends time early in the week making the final decisions on hymns, communicating with the office; selecting hymns, not only that expand upon and coordinate with the lessons, but bring joy for you to sing.  And, while you’re snoozing through the news on Wednesday evening, she and the choir are rehearsing so that our Sunday worship is complete with the praise of their music leadership.

How many of you sit in awe of our lay readers and chalice bearers who are willing to pursue these ministries while so many fear being asked to stand and speak in public?  We thank Danielle for keeping these lay ministers scheduled and informed each week.

How many of you are aware that long after you have headed home to lunch on Sunday, Terrance is here wiping down the tables in the Parish Hall and gathering up our trash?

Do you wonder where your Sunday offerings go once you place them in the alms basin. Lorena, Margaret, and others gather the offerings we bring; and they do not leave on Sunday afternoon until all is counted, recorded, and prepared for deposit and records are updated.  Then, they return on Tuesdays to pay the bills and reconcile all accounts.

Mary Beth, as junior warden, I am sure cannot begin to count the hours and frustrations she has devoted to buildings and grounds, mostly overseeing long-overdue rectory repairs.

And, I cannot begin to list the behind-the-scenes tasks to which Bill Menheer constantly and steadily attends – not just on Sunday morning, but throughout the week.  He along with a cheerful few keep the kitchen abuzz, snacks for our coffee hour enjoyment, and the endless cleanup week after week.

Your vestry meets at least once monthly.  Seldom do we have less than perfect attendance.  Today, we elect new vestry members to join those remaining, and we are grateful for their unselfish commitment.

How about the children?  Do any of you parents fully realize the joy it brings – the comfort it brings – to see these children being brought up in the Church, participating in our worship. As they have been baptized, we have pledged to support them and nurture their Christian upbringing.  Thank you for your persistence in getting them here on Sunday.

These references include mostly Sunday ministries; there are unlimited hours between Sundays devoted to our various and life-changing ministries through the food pantry, clothes closet, lending library, AA groups, Boy Scouts, unrecorded efforts of evangelism, and numerous fervent prayers as we pray for one another.

To amputate any of these ministries would leave our Body less than complete – handicapped in our function.  We could spend time speculating on the Body of Christ beyond this local setting, expanded to all Christendom – The Body of Christ.  What limb would we lop off?  What eye would we pluck out?  When any one individual steps away, the body is diminished; we are reduced in our ministry. If any one part of our body is hurting, it is felt throughout the entirety of our body.  When you are in pain, this body is in pain.

Conversely, as our vitality and numbers increase, we grow tall and healthy in our ministry.

The words of the prophet Isaiah that Jesus shares with the listeners in the synagogue are not meant for that first century audience only, they are just as relevant for us.  We hear those words as they apply to Jesus; we hear those words as they apply to us – the Church – the Body of Christ.  So, let us change the pronoun so that we hear this message as it calls us – this Body of Christ – to our evangelistic purpose:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon us,

because he has anointed us
to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent usto proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

We’ve come to celebrate this day in this our 100^thyear – to celebrate our mission and ministry as the Body of Christ – good news to the poor, release to the captives, sight to the blind.  This “day is holy to our Lord, for the joy of the Lord is our strength.”