Evening Prayer Sermon for the 202nd Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia
The Very Rev. Al Crumpton, IV
Our Savior Episcopal Church
Dean, Augusta Convocation
Sermon – Year A – EDOG Convention Evening Prayer
November 9, 2023
Text: Luke 11:9-13, 1 Corinthians 12:4-14, & Psalm 139:1-9
When the weather is nice, one of the things I enjoy is grilling on the back patio of our home. When cooking outside, I use lump charcoal, which means that the process of starting the fire is not immediate like with a gas grill. Those of you who are familiar with lump charcoal know that it is not uniform in shape like manufactured briquets that are mostly the same size. I sometimes think of this form of grilling as being similar to cooking over a campfire. The lumps of charcoal, in a variety shapes and densities, must be stacked in such a way as to allow for air to flow through the heap. After lighting the stack, I make sure the bottom and top vents are open to allow for the greatest amount of air to flow and feed the smoldering flame. After about 15 to 20 minutes, I usually return to find the embers ablaze with fire and ready for whatever needs to be cooked.
As I thought about the theme for the 202nd Convention of the Diocese of Georgia which is “Kindle our hearts and awaken hope,”, the image of starting a fire for grilling came to mind. The starting of the fire begins with my decision to take action in doing what needs to be done to get things in order for the initial flame to have the greatest chance of igniting. One of the key components for this process to be successful is allowing for the right amount of air the pass through the flame that will cause it to grow and spread. As air hits that small flame, kind of like the Holy Spirit hitting our souls, the result can be fantastic. This image brought me back to our Collect of the Day that we will pray in a few minutes when we will call upon God to, “grant that by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit we may be enlightened and strengthened for service.” (BCP p. 151)
As we ponder these images, we might also be prompted to recall a familiar passage we hear at Pentecost. Luke tells us in the second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles that, “suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them.” (Acts 2:2-3) I am aware that we are well past Pentecost Sunday for this year, but the last time I checked, the Holy Spirit DID NOT keep a calendar for when to show up and show off. The question is, are we paying attention to the Spirit’s presence, that may not be literal fire and wind, but is definitely a presence that can burn brightly in our souls as the Spirit whirls in, with, and among us?
In order for the Spirit’s presence to be known, we must be open to allow the Spirit to move within us and remember that we have no control over how or when this movement may occur. I remember being at Cursillo 113 at Honey Creek back in 2008. It was time for us to make our way to the Chapel of Our Savior. As we entered that sacred space, there was only candlelight and the consecrated elements of bread and wine on the altar. Like it was yesterday, I can still recall bowing my head and feeling an overwhelming presence of the Holy Spirit. It felt like a scene from Pentecost. It was as if the unbridled Spirit was all throughout the room at once. It was a powerful experience of God’s amazing presence that I shall not soon forget as it was exciting and intimidating since I had no control of what was happening.
In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, we hear once again about the Holy Spirit in action. Paul says, “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” (1 Corinthians 12:8) Notice that this passage says NOTHING about the recipients of the gifts picking and choosing what they want. The fact remains, it is the Spirit who chooses the gifts that are best for us to use in serving our Lord. According to Paul, “All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.” (1 Corinthians 12:11) Not all of us will utter knowledge. Not all of us will have exemplary faith. Not all of us will have the gifts for healing, miracles, prophecy, and discernment which is exactly how a healthy body functions. No one person or part has it all. The unique gifts the Spirit bestows to each of us are intended to be used by us for the benefit of the greater community as we come together to offer our gifts in supporting each other as we engage in the work and mission of our Lord. To sum up this fact, Paul concludes by stating, “Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many.” (1 Corinthians 12:14)
Thankfully, we don’t have to search very hard to discern the hope filled kindling presence of the Holy Spirit who is always eager and willing to be with us when we are ready. This fact is noted when the Psalmist asks, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” The Psalmist continues by saying, “If I climb up to heaven, you are there; if I make the grave my bed, you are there also. If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea…Even there your hand will lead me and your right hand hold me fast.” (Psalm 139:6-9) Nowhere is out of reach for the Spirit.
In an article for Church Times, The Rev. Dr. Robert Davies Hughes offers a quote about the importance of the Holy Spirit from Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, Ignatios IV, as translated by Metropolitan Kallistos Ware when he states, “Without the Spirit, God is far away, Christ belongs to the past, the Gospel is a dead letter, the Church is a mere organization; authority takes the form of domination, mission is turned into propaganda, worship is reduced to bare recollection, Christian action becomes the morality of a slave.
But in the Spirit God is near, the risen Christ is present with us here and now, the gospel is the power of life, the Church signifies Trinitarian communion, authority means liberating service, mission is an expression of Pentecost, the liturgy is making-present of both past and future, human action is divinized.”[1]
As we engage in the work of the Diocese of Georgia over the next couple of days, do we see our actions as being divinized by the Spirit of our Lord? Are we opening ourselves for Pentecost moments to happen at anytime and anywhere? Are we loving each other and allowing that love to spill over into our words and actions for the benefit of others?
As we face challenges and seek new opportunities, I believe that with God’s help and our committed efforts our eyes can be opened to the Holy Spirit’s motivating presence. We can make the gospel the power of life! We can share the Spirit with the world as our hearts are kindled and awakened to hope. Perhaps we can see ourselves as being like pieces of charcoal in various shapes and sizes waiting eagerly for the flame and wind of the Spirit to rush through and ignite us into a roaring blaze of faith and action.
[1] Robert Davies Hughes, “Nearer Now Than When We First Believed,” Church Times, March 11, 2016, https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2016/11-march/features/features/nearer-now-than-when-we-first-believed, articled accessed 11-1-2023 and 11-2-2023