I came home last Sunday from a deeply moving hour-long benediction. The pastor of my church was giving a blessing to the congregation as he leaves after more than 13 years, and the congregation was sending blessing back to him. This was his last Sunday. He is leaving because his terminal cancer is demanding continuing chemotherapy. The service began with an “expression of gratitude” from the church Board by the Chair. The pastor responded with a brief statement of his own thanksgiving built around two phrases: “I love you” and “I trust you.” I had expected an emotional morning, but warm affection was throbbing through the place before the service even began. Seven people were baptized. Water from the baptism was saved in a pitcher for later in the service. The pastor quoted the scripture from memory (Mathew 3:13-17) and preached on the identity we have in our baptism. The congregation was invited to come forward and receive the mark of the cross made with the water of baptism on the forehead or the hand with the words : “You are a child of God and God takes great delight in you.” Members of the ministerial staff all received cups of the water and shared in giving the blessing.
The closing hymn was a hymn of dedication ”We are God’s People.” We sang “We are God’s people…born of His Spirit, established by His Word…We are God’s loved ones, for we have known the love of God outpoured…We are the Body of which the Lord is Head …He wills us be a family diverse yet truly one…We are a Temple, the Spirit’s dwelling place, formed in great weakness, a cup to hold God’s grace; we die alone, for on its own each ember loses fire: yet, joined in one, the flame burns on to give warmth, and light and to inspire. (Selections for text by Bryan Jeffery Leech)
We were blessed with the clear call to get on with being who we are.
The pastor gave the closing benediction and the congregation gave him a long spontaneous standing ovation to which he responded simply. “Thank you.” We had spent an hour and a half (this all took time) blessing each other. I may not ever be the same.
(Church: First Baptist Church of Asheville, NC. Pastor: Guy Sayles)
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