Ephesians 2:14-22 (The Message)
Sermon Excerpt
A few weeks ago, Susan and I participated in Hodges University’s annual commencement ceremony. As professors, we know quite well how much the graduating class and their families look forward to that special occasion. This year we listened to remarks from a member of the graduating class and from a faculty member.
While those short addresses were interesting, the one speech this year’s graduates are most likely to remember is the commencement speech. Theresa Shaw, President and CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Collier County, shared her professional journey starting with serving as a special education teacher.
Teresa never imagined leaving that professional world until a friend named for her a giftedness she had not yet identified in herself. Once she saw it in herself she was able to move beyond her comfort zone and enter the world of nonprofit management. It is that world she has inhabited for the last several decades, and it is in that world that she has excelled and made a real difference for children in so many communities including our own.
I don’t want to repeat or even summarize her entire address. I shared just enough to get you to begin thinking about the graduations you have attended . . .
You may be asking yourself when you last attended a graduation, who spoke, and what they talked about. If you cannot recall the specifics, don’t worry – you are in good company. Most of us – myself included – would fail a quiz about our own commencement ceremonies much less ones we simply attended to support a loved one.
While this is a sermon on the occasion of a pastoral transition, I am aware that it has much in common with a commencement speech. Both types of speeches happen at a time that marks the end of something and the start of something new – often something that people have been waiting on for quite some time. The expectations of the listeners overlap in at least three areas.
- Both groups – those gathered for commencement and for worship – expect to hear a little about the speaker’s life experiences.
- Both groups expect the speaker to offer a few suggestions for the next stage of their lives or the lives of their faith communities.
- Both groups are ready to get on with life and welcome that which comes next. They hope the speech doesn’t go on and on and on.
Since those are likely your expectations and since I don’t want to disappoint you, I will . . . (read full manuscript).
So What?
This sermon is the final message I preached at the United Church of Marco Island as their Interim Senior Minister. Next Sunday their new permanent, settled minister will fill the pulpit and the next chapter will begin. They are in an obvious season of transition.
Regardless of where you may be on the journey of faith, I encourage you to share
- something of significance from your experience as a follower of the way of Jesus, and
- a piece of practical advice about the life of faith.