Breakfast on the Beach
(John 21:1-19)
About a month ago, I attended the
Executive Committee of Pittsburgh Presbytery’s retreat held up at Camp
Crestfield. I have served on the
committee for about 5 years, but there were some new faces. As part of the beginning “get to know you”
phase of the retreat, Executive Presbyter, Sheldon Sorge asked us to go around the
room and tell everyone just a bit about ourselves. One of the items that we needed to include
was how old we were when we held our first leadership position in the church.
Now, the make-up of the Executive
Committee is relatively diverse, as it should be. But, nonetheless, the average age skews toward
the upper end of the age scale, just like that of your average
congregation. Those in the room who were
my age and older got their feet wet in leadership roles early on in their lives
– some as young as 10 or 11, but nearly all of them through some kind of youth
ministry at their church. The fewer
younger members of the committee, those in their thirties or forties, began
with having leadership roles in the church later in life and nearly all of them
even came to church life, later; not having had that youth experience that many
of the older members had.
After the “get to know you” phase
ended, we took a short break and many of us “older folk” sat around talking
about the experiences we’d had in church and growing up in the church, while the
much fewer “younger folk” had not had that experience.
These discussions got me to thinking
about my own growing up years in the church and the experiences I’d had. I thought about how those experiences had
shaped me, how they may have shaped those members in the room who had dedicated
their lives to the work of the church – many now in their sixties and
seventies, and even eighties. Those
stories and those experiences were so different from those who were younger,
having come to church life as adults.
They came to Christ from a very different point in their lives. How did that shape their accept of Christ, to
believe in the teachings of the church, to come to an awareness of God and how
important that ended up becoming to them in a very different way?
I’m still wondering if the lack of
younger people and younger leaders in the church is because of this very
reason. That they didn’t have those
youth experiences that many of us did which may have molded and shaped us so differently.
Like most of you, I’ve always been
involved with my church. I was baptized
at a young age, went to the nursery school program while my parent’s attended
church, was raised in the Sunday School program, sang in the children’s choir,
attended the church’s WOW program – which was short for Worship on Wednesday
when all the families came to church for dinner together, we sang some praise
songs or hymns with an extremely short message, then the kid’s went to an hour
program while the adults attended Bible Study.
We began at 6:30 and were out the door just after 8. The menu was pretty much the same each
month. One Wednesday it was Hot Dogs and
Hamburgers, the next Wednesday was Spaghetti, the third Wednesday was Soup and
Sandwiches and the fourth Wednesday was Pizza, if there was a fifth Wednesday
in the month, it was a Pot Luck dinner.
And they did it for about 200 people – every week, during the months
that they had it – which was about half the year.
My family didn’t go every Wednesday, often due
to other commitments. We did, however,
go to Sunday School and worship every Sunday. Attending church was a must in our
family. What is interesting is that I
remember those Wednesday Night experiences with all the kids and adults sitting
around the tables, having fun, learning something important that was explained
quickly and pointedly, much more clearly than I remember any Sunday morning
service.
From those early experiences at church, I got more
and more involved in church related programs and ministries. As a teenager,
I became part of our youth ministry. We attended
a conference at a beach in New Jersey, I think.
On our last morning, we got up early.
It was still dark, but the youth leader wanted us down at the beach when
the sun came up. We built a fire (not
even sure if that’s possible anymore), sang some songs, prayed and watched the
sun come up.
As the light around us brightened and the sun’s
deep orange and red colors painted the ocean, the youth leader gave the
following instructions. We were to each
come to the center of the circle and sit with our heads down and eyes
closed. Then one by one, if you were
interested, those around the circle would come up behind you and whisper
something they loved about you, something positive and rewarding.
I’d never experienced something like that
before. I watched as my fellow youth
group members went into the center, I took my turn going to them and saying
honest and caring things about each person that I knew well. As others had done, I didn’t go into the
circle with those I hardly knew because I didn’t know what I’d say to them.
Then it was my turn to go into the circle. And suddenly, I was nervous. As I sat down, closed my eyes, I wondered;
what if no one comes into the circle with me?
I’m not a worthy person. I’m not
really someone people should like. What
if I sit there until the sun is beating down from the sky directly above and no
one has anything nice to say to me?
Of course, my fears were un-founded and people
came, wrapped their arms around me and whispered nice things. It was one of the most profound experiences
in my life. It happened nearly 40 years
ago, and I remember as clearly and vividly as if it was only yesterday.
That memory always makes me think of Peter and
this dialogue he has with Jesus on the beach which we read from the Gospel
according to John. Peter was not
worthy. In Christ’s most demanding hour,
when he needed his friends’ support, Peter had run away. Peter had denied even knowing Christ out of
fear. And then the horrible events of
Good Friday arrived. Peter couldn’t undo
his lack of faith or take back his actions when the grip of fear took
over. Then suddenly the surprising news
of the resurrection and Jesus alive, like he said he would be. Peter was not worthy.
Now, just a short time later, there he was, on
the beach and Peter had to face his Lord – the Christ, the son of the living
God – the friend about whom he fled in fear of being associated with. I imagine their dialogue was a bit longer
than what is recorded in scripture. I
imagine the same scenario we had on the beach with one another, but this time
it is Christ wrapping his arms around Peter, as Peter sits head bowed, eyes
closed. And Jesus whispering in his ear,
telling Peter that he is forgiven, telling Peter that despite his fear he will
be a rock upon which the church will be built, telling Peter that he is worthy
of being called a child of God.
But, out of that love that Jesus has for Peter
and that Peter has for Christ, comes responsibility; tend, feed, and care for
the sheep and lambs.
I imagine another scenario, as well. You are all on that beach, summoned by Christ
for breakfast. Do any of us feel
worthy? Have we done things we are
ashamed of? Like Peter, has fear or evil
gripped us in the moment and shaped our actions?
But, as he welcomes you, Jesus, the King of
Kings, the Lord of Lords, God incarnate - leans in and whispers the words
you’ve yearned to hear in your heart.
You are loved, you are forgiven and you are most indeed worthy to be
called a child of God. Then Jesus asks,
“Do you love me?” What will be your
response?
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