NEC

Sermon for 19th April 2009 (Acts 4: 32-35; John 20: 1-18)

For the next two weeks we are thinking about being an NEC. What’s an NEC? – isn’t that the big exhibition centre near Birmingham. Yes it is, but what I am thinking of is Normal Ecclesial Community.

This is all about Christian community being Christian Community- caring sharing, supporting each other.n After years of uncertainity now we have light at the end of the tunnel. After years of not knowing what will happen to the Vicar’s post here, now we not only know what is happening, but we know who is coming, Mark Kinder, and we know that he is a good pastor and theologian so you will continue to be stretched. But what for? What kind of community does the Bible show us God wants us to be. Today we have two readings which show us just that.

Both readings show us aspects of what should be ‘normal’ for Christians when they gather in community. In the Acts reading we have people who act in ways that may not appear normal. These are poeple who give enormously generously for the sake of others in the community. It is the people who have the most who give the most. The richest amongst them were land-owners. The poorest among them would have been those Jesus had healed, previously unable to earn money, or widows – no social security system for them. Seeing their need, those who had gave so that the poorest had enough to live on. This is practical, normal, sharing and caring. Now we have social security and all have some income, but for the community to work we have to pay our way for the work of the existing church, paying my salary, and for training of future clergy, but also the costs of the building, heating, lighting, the services. Over the years those who have a reasonable wage have given generously and those who have less have given what they can and that situation continues today. Some give particularly in terms of money but others give of their time. In the early church some became, effectively unpaid ministers to teach and to care for others in the church. Some were good at cooking, some at administration. Whatever they had they gave. So a normal part of being God’s community is sharing what we have for the sake of others.
Another aspect of normal life is that these are not great giants of faith. Thomas is a great blessing to the church as a reminder that there will be times when we are confident in God’s provision and some times, particularly when life gets uncertain when faith is hard to hold onto. Thomas went through a complete wobbly over Jesus’ resurrection. Despite all that Jesus had said about himself; despite what his fellow believers said, he simply could not believe Jesus had done what he had said he would do. But note how the other believers responded to him. They tried to help him believe but accepted him as he was. That gave him space to find out for himself; he was with the believers when Jesus appeared. He is forgiven by Jesus – and by the community. As we have struggled about the future of this church we have allowed each other to voice those concerns and not rejected anyone for having those doubts. Tha is another way of giving to each other.

Secondly Ecclesial. ‘Ecclesia’ (church) means people of God, not the building – people committed to the teaching of Jesus. In the Gospel story the disciples, knowing Jesus was back were even more committed to Jesus’ teaching; we know from Acts chapter 2 that the early church had a model of coming together very regularly to learn from the theologians, just as some of you did over Lent, joining with St Matthew’s or on the START course here as well as what you learn on Sunday. We have access to books as well and I know some of you read Christian books to get more teaching. But the NEC requires a people of God who are committed to learning and sharing together. And with Mark coming in you will have a whole new lot of teaching –after several years for some of you, many of you have a good idea of what I will teach each Sunday, so Mark will bring new things to learn from – another opportunity.

Finally Community. This is about ordinary people giving each other support with all they have. Next week we vote for people to make decsiions on our behalf in the Church Council, to represent us at Deanery Synod and the PCC, people to be wardens and then there are all the other roles, those who lead in the childrens’groups, those who serve coffee; we are looking for someone to deal with Brenda’s tax. When we have Passover or any other event, we all just muck in like family, for that is what we are, brothers and sisters. People to support each othe when life gets tough; we remain faithful to each other so we take home communions to four people from St Luke’s. Family is family even when they are not here.

So, we are NEC, Normal Ecclesial Community, caring for each other, giving what we can, learning together and supporting each other in doing so. Next week we look ahead to the future of this communtiy, but we do so knowing that God has called us to be here, for each other - and for the sake of the wider community. By this shall all people know that you are my disciples – by the (practical) love you have for each other