by Bishop Bill Gohl
I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act, says the Lord.” – Ezekiel 37:14
I am indebted to Bishop Larry Wohlrabe of the Northwestern Minnesota Synod, from whom I borrow much of his thinking and words for this message to the closing congregation of Sts. Stephen & James (Baltimore) on the Feast of the Holy Spirit – Pentecost, 20 May 2018. +bg
The Dakota people of the Great Plains have a saying: If you discover that the horse you’ve been riding is dead:
1. Get off;
2. Bury the dead horse; and
3. Start riding a living horse!
The Dakota people of the Great Plains have a saying: If you discover that the horse you’ve been riding is dead:
1. Get off;
2. Bury the dead horse; and
3. Start riding a living horse!
But what if you had a lot invested in that old, now-dead horse? You might be reluctant to let it go. And so you could concoct strategies to help that dead horse run. You could try things like:
1. Changing riders;
2. Appointing a committee to study the dead horse;
3. Visiting others to see how they ride dead horses;
4. Lowering the standards so dead horses can be included
... you get the picture. Still, despite all our best efforts, though, we won't be going anywhere. The horse we're trying to ride is still very, very dead.
Dear sisters and brothers, isn't that how it often is for us in the church? Don't we sometimes wonder whether the church we love is dying, that we're trying to ride a dead horse? But, glad news! We belong to the God who specializes in raising the dead. We belong to the God who is forever working in us resurrection.
Ezekiel comes across the valley of dry bones – not just bones, but bones that are done, old, parched; bones that have been there, done that and had the t-shirt bones. And God asks Ezekiel, "Can these dry bones live?" To which Ezekiel, who was obviously a Lutheran by his theological outlook, answers, "Only you know, O Lord."
And, by God's grace and Ezekiel's obedience; by Word and the Holy Spirit; the bones are gathered and become fleshy, recreation, renewal and resurrection bind these bones back to life!
Isn't that what we have prayed and longed for here at Sts. Stephen & James since its inception as a consolidated congregation in 1962? Even as the stones of St. James were torn down across the street, didn’t we pray and believe it was a resurrections story for St. Stephen's? That God had brought these congregations together so that dry bones might live and that there should be new life at the corner of Hamburg and Hanover Streets?
For 56 years, that is precisely what happened. From this place and people, the good news – not unlike what Ezekiel prophesied over the valley – was spoken over the city, over this corner of God’s kingdom entrusted to your care and stewardship.
For 56 years, with your good pastor Lowell Thompson, you have faithfully cared for one another and discipled three generations in the name of Jesus Christ. The life giving waters of baptism were poured – as recently as last Sunday!; the Word was preached and lived out in education, fellowship and service; the Bread was broken and the wine poured for the forgiveness of sin and strengthening of faith! The scripture gives witness: such seed will bring forth precious fruit, your labors are not in vain.
There are some who lament that this day has come, that the closure of Sts. Stephen & James represents some kind of failure. If only we had tried this, if we could have done that ... we give into the "shoulda, woulda, coulda" of our culture of self-reliance. Somehow, it's our fault.
But that's not how it is with God.
This congregation has tended well its parish for this season, but with four other Lutheran congregations within a mile of here – the parish will not go untended. This congregation has faithfully gathered for Word and Sacrament in the midst of this people, with Salem Church under redevelopment just blocks from here, Word and Sacrament will continue. This congregation was organized for the sake of an immigrant community, as we cultivate Mountain of God, a Lutheran congregation of West African immigrants, around the corner, Sts. Stephen & James' witness to the immigrant community will continue – not in German or English so much as in Swahili and French. This congregation has maintained the highest traditions of liturgy and music, and Christ Church and Zion Church will continue that tradition for the sake of this neighborhood we love.
Can you hear it? That's the sound of dry bones knitting together. That's the work of resurrection underway. It's not what we had hoped for. It's not what we expected or prayed for. Still, in the closing of this congregation, God is bringing forth increase – fruits for the future.
This, dear friends, is a resurrection story — and the resurrection of Jesus Christ is what we have to offer to the whole world. It's the Word that we have to preach to the "dry bones" all around us.
The great church historian Jaroslav Pelikan once made this powerful two-part confession: If Christ is risen — nothing else matters. If Christ is not risen — nothing else matters.
I bring you this good news: Christ is risen and so shall Sts. Stephen & James rise again! It won't be in this place, but it will be in this people. The measure of your legacy will not be measured in all of the treasures shared from this place, but in how this people live out the gospel from the moment we leave this place. Our thanksgiving for this life we shared is not in our memories, but in how we seek out and live into new communities of faith next Sunday, continuing the work to which we were called in baptism.
Can these dry bones live, God asks? And like Ezekiel, we look to God for an answer that will ultimately come from God through us as we prophesy to the future with our live and labors, God's own Spirit within us!
Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone, but a single grain. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. That is the glad news for this difficult day: resurrection, in Jesus' name!
The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. He said to me, "Mortal, can these bones live?" I answered, "O Lord God, you know." Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord." So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live." I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude. Then he said to me, "Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, 'Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.' Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act, says the Lord." – Ezekiel 37:1-14
1. Changing riders;
2. Appointing a committee to study the dead horse;
3. Visiting others to see how they ride dead horses;
4. Lowering the standards so dead horses can be included
... you get the picture. Still, despite all our best efforts, though, we won't be going anywhere. The horse we're trying to ride is still very, very dead.
Dear sisters and brothers, isn't that how it often is for us in the church? Don't we sometimes wonder whether the church we love is dying, that we're trying to ride a dead horse? But, glad news! We belong to the God who specializes in raising the dead. We belong to the God who is forever working in us resurrection.
Ezekiel comes across the valley of dry bones – not just bones, but bones that are done, old, parched; bones that have been there, done that and had the t-shirt bones. And God asks Ezekiel, "Can these dry bones live?" To which Ezekiel, who was obviously a Lutheran by his theological outlook, answers, "Only you know, O Lord."
And, by God's grace and Ezekiel's obedience; by Word and the Holy Spirit; the bones are gathered and become fleshy, recreation, renewal and resurrection bind these bones back to life!
Isn't that what we have prayed and longed for here at Sts. Stephen & James since its inception as a consolidated congregation in 1962? Even as the stones of St. James were torn down across the street, didn’t we pray and believe it was a resurrections story for St. Stephen's? That God had brought these congregations together so that dry bones might live and that there should be new life at the corner of Hamburg and Hanover Streets?
For 56 years, that is precisely what happened. From this place and people, the good news – not unlike what Ezekiel prophesied over the valley – was spoken over the city, over this corner of God’s kingdom entrusted to your care and stewardship.
For 56 years, with your good pastor Lowell Thompson, you have faithfully cared for one another and discipled three generations in the name of Jesus Christ. The life giving waters of baptism were poured – as recently as last Sunday!; the Word was preached and lived out in education, fellowship and service; the Bread was broken and the wine poured for the forgiveness of sin and strengthening of faith! The scripture gives witness: such seed will bring forth precious fruit, your labors are not in vain.
There are some who lament that this day has come, that the closure of Sts. Stephen & James represents some kind of failure. If only we had tried this, if we could have done that ... we give into the "shoulda, woulda, coulda" of our culture of self-reliance. Somehow, it's our fault.
But that's not how it is with God.
This congregation has tended well its parish for this season, but with four other Lutheran congregations within a mile of here – the parish will not go untended. This congregation has faithfully gathered for Word and Sacrament in the midst of this people, with Salem Church under redevelopment just blocks from here, Word and Sacrament will continue. This congregation was organized for the sake of an immigrant community, as we cultivate Mountain of God, a Lutheran congregation of West African immigrants, around the corner, Sts. Stephen & James' witness to the immigrant community will continue – not in German or English so much as in Swahili and French. This congregation has maintained the highest traditions of liturgy and music, and Christ Church and Zion Church will continue that tradition for the sake of this neighborhood we love.
Can you hear it? That's the sound of dry bones knitting together. That's the work of resurrection underway. It's not what we had hoped for. It's not what we expected or prayed for. Still, in the closing of this congregation, God is bringing forth increase – fruits for the future.
This, dear friends, is a resurrection story — and the resurrection of Jesus Christ is what we have to offer to the whole world. It's the Word that we have to preach to the "dry bones" all around us.
The great church historian Jaroslav Pelikan once made this powerful two-part confession: If Christ is risen — nothing else matters. If Christ is not risen — nothing else matters.
I bring you this good news: Christ is risen and so shall Sts. Stephen & James rise again! It won't be in this place, but it will be in this people. The measure of your legacy will not be measured in all of the treasures shared from this place, but in how this people live out the gospel from the moment we leave this place. Our thanksgiving for this life we shared is not in our memories, but in how we seek out and live into new communities of faith next Sunday, continuing the work to which we were called in baptism.
Can these dry bones live, God asks? And like Ezekiel, we look to God for an answer that will ultimately come from God through us as we prophesy to the future with our live and labors, God's own Spirit within us!
Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone, but a single grain. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. That is the glad news for this difficult day: resurrection, in Jesus' name!
The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. He said to me, "Mortal, can these bones live?" I answered, "O Lord God, you know." Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord." So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live." I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude. Then he said to me, "Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, 'Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.' Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act, says the Lord." – Ezekiel 37:1-14