Keep on Doing!
DATE: November 2, 2008
SCRIPTURE: Philippians 4:4‐9
Back in 1929 a young man named Richard Elliot was called to serve this congregation. He would end up being pastor here for fourteen years.
One of the first challenges Dick had to face was the stock market crash that launched the Great Depression. Over the course of two weeks in late October and early November of 1929, the Dow Jones Average lost 40% of its value. And over the decade that followed, there would be all sorts of major economic difficulties for our country ranging from foreclosures to extremely high unemployment rates.
But Dick Elliot was a hopeful man, one who called Saugatuck to look to the future with a sense of anticipation. And just two months after the crash, Dick spoke of some of the concerns facing the congregation at that time. They sound familiar. The needed to mount an Every Member Canvass for pledges. They needed to create a nominating committee to solicit volunteers to serve on boards and committees. They had to plan for needed renovations and repairs, And they needed to draw in new members. (Richard Elliot, Saugatuck Congregational Church Annual Report, 1‐8‐30) But these were all viewed by Elliot as challenges, rather than problems. For, despite the turmoil surrounding the nation at the time, "the possibilities…," he said, "are very great for this work [of being the church." (Ibid)
In January of 1930, Dick Elliot was still wet behind the ears. He had been pastor for less than a year. He had started his time under difficult circumstances. But he understood the need for the church, in St. Paul's words, to "keep on doing." "Keep on doing the things you have learned." Keep on doing the things that make it possible for Saugatuck to be a light, a beacon, a shining place of comfort, hope and help for our community.
Our passage from Philippians was also written during a time of great challenge. The small church in Philippi suffered under real persecution. They struggled to stay afloat in the midst of opposition.
Still, in the midst of their own struggles, the Philippians had responded to Paul's request that they make a contribution to the collection he was taking up for the impoverished church in Jerusalem. And this letter served as a thank you note—an acknowledgement of their generosity. It also served as a word of encouragement. "Do not worry about anything," he writes, "but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made to God." (4:6) He lists the virtues that they should pursue, the good things on which they are to be focused; the true, the honorable, the pleasing, the commendable. And above all else, he says, continue to be the church in Philippi. Continue to do those things that are necessary for you to be a community of Christ in their particular time and place. "Keep on doing the things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me," he writes, "and the God of peace will be with you." (4:9) In the midst of the persecution you face on a daily basis, God will be present. No matter the circumstances, God will help you as you keep on doing the things you are called to do.
And sisters and brothers, the challenge and promise made to the Philippians, is the same challenge and promise made to us. Yes, we must keep on doing, but God will be with us. But what does it take to keep on doing? It takes prayer. It takes time. It takes talent. And it takes financial and material resources. Just as the Philippians had to raise funds to do their work, so too does Saugatuck. That was true back in Dick Eliot's time, when the budget for 1930 was $6312. That was true in 2008, when our budget was over $732 thousand dollars. And that will be true in the year to come. And we need to raise most of that through pledges—yours, mine and ours. For the church to be able to keep on doing, you and I need to keep on giving.
And what is it we do? Some things are obvious. We worship. We pray. We teach our young. We offer counsel to those in times of trial. We feed the hungry, and comfort the sick. We work for a better world. Yes, much of it is obvious. But maybe you've never thought about just how much it means to those who are helped, those who are taught, those who are impacted by our work.
I have a folder full of notes, for instance, from folks who've sent words of thanks after a Memorial Service. Many of them are from non‐parishioners—community folks who need a place to honor their dead and counsel in a time of loss. Our willingness to open our doors, to prepare a service, to bake cookies and serve coffee, to provide a time and space to remember a loved one, is invaluable. One non‐member wrote: "Altogether the service, the reception and the beautiful day boosted everyone's spirits." All made possible because you keep on giving, because you keep on doing.
Last week, we were treated to wonderful reports about our middle school and high school mission trips. We heard how our young people helped homeless folks, built house, fed hungry men and women, and provided livestock for those overseas in need of a hand up. And we heard about how much our young people learned about what it means to love and serve our neighbors. Loving teachers, staff members, parents and others, supported by our congregation, helped them move closer to that time when they will take their own place in the world. As youth group member Chloe Ellison said, "We can't grow up without you people." Our church school, our youth groups, our children and youth choirs, our confirmation class: the ways we educate our young people are made possible because you keep on giving, because you keep on doing.
Our buildings, of course, require a great deal of attention. Their upkeep represents a significant part of our budget. Most of us realize how important they are to our own work. Many of us realize how important they are to various community organizations But do you know in providing space to others we are literally saving lives?
Just a month ago I received a letter from someone who attends twelve‐step meetings here at Saugatuck. You can tell she's not a member, because the letter starts: "Dear Father Danner." In the letter she talks about how significant the rooms here at Saugatuck are in her life: "I have been a Christian since I was 13 years old," she writes, "but I have struggled mightily with addiction. Through the meetings here at Saugatuck Church Christ has led me to healing… For years I prayed and prayed to be delivered from my addictions. [And then] …God led [me] to the twelve step rooms at Saugatuck… Please, please, let the people of the congregation know that real healing is taking place in these rooms…" Healing, real healing, for hundreds every week. All because you keep on giving, all because you keep on doing.
There is little question, times are hard right now. Even here in well‐to‐do Westport, as the Times reports just this morning. Things are topsy turvey in our world. But it is in times such as these, that we most need to work together to maintain and advance the good work of this congregation.
Dick Eliot knew that back in 1929. And in his Annual Report, written two months after the crash, he offered up his own words of encouragement. "As we go forward," he wrote, "this work will go forward as we are able to take care of it. It is my hope that we may go on joyously and happily together, that we shall not be afraid of undertaking anything great, that we shall not hesitate at something that seems beyond s if for no other reason than the fact that we believe in our work…and in the possibilities of the future." (Ibid)
We are here today, sisters and brothers, because Dick Eliot and our forebears kept on doing back in 1929. We are here because they understood that the God of peace was with them, even as God had been with the Philippians. And now it is our turn. It is our time to keep on doing what we have learned from them and those who have taught us how to give. Early this week you will receive a pledge card in the mail. I urge you to fill it out and return it next Sunday. For friends, it is now our time. Yours and mine. It is our time to keep on doing, for when we do it not only honors the past, it not only makes possible the present, it also points with hope to the future.
Amen.
John H. Danner