"What Just Happened?" Sermon from 6/7/26

 Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 “What Just Happened?”

          I remember it like it was yesterday … I was standing in my bedroom putting things away when my phone rang. I looked at the screen, it said “Debbie Earthrowl.” My stomach tightened and I thought “uh-oh.” I had nothing but positive interactions with Pastor Debbie and was always happy to talk to her, but as a United Methodist pastor … when your District Superintendent calls … your first thought is usually “uh-oh.” As pastors who serve under the appointment of the Bishop, and District Superintendents being the regional representative of the Bishop, it usually means a potentially life-altering conversation.

          I, of course, answered. She began to explain the situation … a congregation had an unexpected and sudden pastoral vacancy. She said this is a thriving church that she and the Bishop care deeply about and want to make sure it continues to thrive, so they are hoping to have steady, trustworthy and caring leaders pastor them through the time between pastoral appointments. She described the church, explained that she knew I was working as a chaplain and this would be quarter time, said why she thinks it would be a good fit, and shared a bit about the pastor that had already agreed to do this part time as part of a team. It interested me, but I asked “how far away is it” holding my breath while expecting her to say something like “a couple of hours on the Northway” in that way that so many people around her say it as if the fact that it is on the Northway makes it easy. But she didn’t say that, she said “over the river, probably about 20 minutes from you.” She invited me to take some time to pray about it, talk to my family and discern.

          I was excited, it sounded like a situation that could be a good fit. But I tend to idealize things and when I am excited only think of the positives until my worst-case scenario thinking gets the chance to pipe in and start talking me down. So I thought about it, I talked it over with my husband. He was supportive but said what I was thinking “this will be a real test of your boundaries.” I tend to go “all in” on things and stretch myself a bit too thin. I said I had that thought too but with the chaplaincy job and the coursework I was doing for that, and the kids’ schedule and his crazy schedule, I would have no choice but to have boundaries. So I did what I always do when I am discerning or anxious … I went for a walk. As I was walking and looking ahead and thinking, I suddenly paused, I looked next to me … I was actually in East Greenbush waiting for my son to finish his Euphonium lesson, and there on this side street right off Luther Road, by all the traffic and the library, was a beautiful patch of woods. The sun was glistening on the leaves, a butterfly was finding rest on a bush beside me, the sun was warm, there was a soft breeze and I knew in my heart, God was calling me to this.

          And now, here I am, preaching my last sermon here. It was a strange start, I just kind of showed up on a Sunday and we just kind of started being a church together. From the very beginning Pastor Mary Beth has been a steady, thoughtful, caring and insightful partner and we began to sort of synchronize our time and our gifts in a way that felt natural. But it all came pretty quickly. I was immediately trying to read nametags, tracking down church members who needed visited, figuring out the order of worship, celebrating holidays and making decisions. And then, just like that … the calendar flipped to June.

          As I begin the process of saying goodbye after such a quick and full time, I find myself reflecting back and asking “what just happened?” In that way that we tend to do after something big happens really fast and all at once.

          I started thinking about this as I read the Gospel reading for today. I love this story about Jesus healing the little girl and the bleeding woman. It’s a great passage to study because of the way it is sandwiched together and the way these two stories work together and point to one another. But as I read it in preparation for today, I noticed something different. I noticed how jam-packed it is. At the end of the Gospel reading I felt that same question that I am asking after a quick 9 months of ministry here … “what just happened?”

          In this short passage there is a lot going on. It starts with Jesus inviting Matthew the tax collector to follow him, then he is eating with “tax collectors and sinners,” then he is debating with the Pharisees, next he is taking questions from John’s disciples and teaching, and then all of the sudden he is approached by a man asking him to come heal his daughter who just died. He doesn’t even get there before he is stopped by a woman with a bleeding issue touching him, he heals her and the next sentence he is announcing to a mourning crowd that the little girl is not dead but alive. And he heals her. It is so much, and only a small part of the Gospel story. In fact, the entire ministry of Jesus is like this. It’s place to place, miracle to miracle, teaching to teaching, birth to death. His entire ministry, from the time he begins to his death is likely only about 3 years. And yet it has had an impact for thousands of years. Two thousand years later we find ourselves still asking “what just happened?” as we reflect on it, meditate on it, model our church year after it, and incorporate it into our hearts and lives. God can certainly do a lot in even a short amount of time.

And that is how I feel as I reflect back on this time with all of you. I was so touched by how many people said “thank you for being here” on my first Sunday in the greeting line. I felt immediately cared for and it moved me. Being with you all has felt natural as we have laughed together and reflected together on the difficult questions of life. A big part of my role here has been visitations. I have been welcomed with love and open-heartedness as I have called people, visited nursing homes, apartments and houses, and sat next to hospital beds. It really has been amazing how many times I have heard about someone who needed a visit and was able to see them and connect with them soon before they died. I feel so grateful that I was able to have those encounters before it was too late. When I visit people I am very aware that I bring all of you with me. As your pastor I represent you and this community to those who are unable to gather here in person, or struggling, or dying and that has felt like an honor. Even if it has gone by so quickly.

 And that was always the plan, my focus right now in my life is on my family and chaplaincy. In the fall I will begin my fourth and hopefully final unit of the Clinical Pastoral Education that is required to become a certified chaplain as I hope God will continue to call me and guide me to the work of chaplaincy. But, even knowing it would be fast, I still find myself marveling at all I have witnessed here and saying “what just happened?”

          One of the things I have been trained to do as a chaplain is to write a chart note. So after I visit with a patient, I click on their chart, I select the “spiritual care” tab, I fill out some preset questions and then I write a narrative note. These notes may be read by the rest of the care team, meaning the patient’s doctor, nurse, social worker, another chaplain or any other medical professional that is part of their team. It could also be read by the patient if they choose to access that part of their chart. It may also be read by no one, but even if that’s the case, it still helps me to take that time to pause, reflect and put into brief words what just happened. Because these visits are often powerful, deeply meaningful and spaces where the Holy Spirit shows up in ways that are unexpected, tangible and sacred.

 

          So, I thought it fitting, as your chaplain/pastor to put together a little chart note after our time together. It’s a chance to share what I have seen and also what may be helpful to notice together as we begin the next chapter. So here is my chart note on my visit with you all:

 

          My visit with the people of First United Methodist Church came after a time of sudden change that resulted in pain, confusion, concern and also a desire for steadiness. As I listened to them reflect on this time period, I heard them identify this as a difficult time but also a time when they came together and truly lived out the ministry of the laity. This resolve is evident in the diverse ministries led by passionate members of the congregation, an openness to trying new things and a wide variety of people of all ages participating in the worship services. It is remarkable how many people bring their gifts and time to the worship of God and service to God in this place. Their primary source of distress may be a hesitancy to trust in the stability of the church and the church’s future. I hear this when people comment on how the number of people of all ages has decreased over the course of some decades. I have often offered a reframe by pointing out from my perspective as a new person, how many young people are here and are actively involved. I see many churches that long to have even a fraction of the children and teens this congregation has. The Sunday School and Youth Leader is able to connect to the children and leads from a place of joy and genuine care. The choir director is embraced and loved by the choir, which is a group of committed church members who have amazing gifts that raise the prayers of all of us to God through the gift of music. All of the music ministers, custodians, administrators, and volunteers serve from their heart and care deeply. I have often remarked that people are happy to be here, from the folks who arrive early to set up coffee hour to the tiny acolytes who stretch on their tippy toes to reach the candles. An important task for this church will be to trust. This is a challenge as they have been through difficult times and live in a world that is going through difficult times, but I hope they remember they don’t have to do it all alone. They can partner with other organizations and groups to multiply their ministry efforts, they can empower newer members to find ways to offer their gifts, they can open their hearts to their new pastor who is steady, focused and deeply dedicated to her ministry, and they can trust in the God who changed the world through Jesus Christ in only about three years, and who loves us and never leaves us.

 

It may take some time to reflect and think about what just happened, but I know this … God showed up … God always shows up. Amen.