United Church of Pittsford

selected portions of Ephesians 4

During the course of our discussions in the Discipleship Class
about the Church . . . and what it means to be a member
of the Body of Christ, the Church, we studied scripture,
and reviewed our Church Covenant.

By definition, we realized that our Church Covenant is a vow,
a pledge, a promise, a solemn agreement, words of assurance,
that we share with one another every time we read it together,
as the Body of Christ, the United Church of Pittsford.

In the course of those discussions the students considered
what “promise” might mean, and decided that when we make
a promise, we are offering, stating, proposing something
that we are not only able to accomplish, but intend to accomplish.

The Epistles of the Early Church are filled with definitions, expressions,
lists of characteristics that reveal what it means to be the Body
of Christ, the Church.

We encounter some of that in those brief words I shared from that letter addressed to that fledgling Church in Ephesus.

That discussion ended with the challenge to: “be imitators of God,
as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us . . .”

The foundation of life in the Body of Christ, the Church . . . is love.

How we treat one another is our witness, our testimony
to the reconciling love of God in Christ . . . a love that is able
to overcome our sinfulness and restore our relationship with God.

Our Lord is quoted in the gospel of John as saying, “I give you
a new commandment, that you love one another.

“Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciple, if you have love
for one another.”

Nowhere in the Bible does it command us, encourage us, or ever
expect us to like one another.

The truth is, we are all different . . . with different ideas, beliefs, opinions, perspective,and personality quirks that make us unique.

We can disagree with one another, we can upset one another,
irritate one another, even anger one another . . . but through it all,
we vow, we pledge, we promise, as members of Christ’s Body,
the Church, to love one another.

To love one another means to honor, respect, support,
care for, be patient with, and willing to forgive one another
when we feel wronged or hurt.

To love one another means to pray for one another, to put up with one another, to live at peace with one another, in spite of
our many differences.

Our Church Covenant speaks of all of this!

When we recite it together we are promising to abide by that vision . . . we are assuring one another that we can be trusted,
that we can be counted upon to fulfill that promise of unity and love.

The members of this year’s Discipleship Class realize that . . .
and by their witness, challenge all of us to consider
our Church Covenant as a solemn promise to one another.

Our Covenant also speaks of Spiritual Disciplines . . .
it speaks of a commitment to regular worship attendance,
to prayer, and to study, through the support and participation in
our ministry of Christian Education.

Not only are these disciplines designed to inspire and encourage
a more intimate relationship with the Lord . . . and a more faithful life
of discipleship in His name . . but likewise, when practiced, they serve to support and encourage others.

We all know how uplifting and inspiring it is on those rare occasions
when our sanctuary is full . . . we could all experience that each and every Sunday if everyone would honor their promise, their commitment
to be regular in worship.

In a similar fashion, we would all gain valuable support, insight,
and inspiration for faithful living, if we were more faithful
in our support and participation in our ministry of Christian Education.

Later in this service of worship, we will once again be invited to read together our Church Covenant.

We have prepared a copy of that Covenant, made a bit more personal, and the members of the Discipleship Class will be distributing it during the singing of a hymn prior to their joining this,
our particular expression of Christ’s Body, the Church.

The more personal Covenant will begin with each one of us stating our name, as in: I, Jim Hegley, promise . . .
and throughout the document, “I” will replace “we.”

Scripture tells us that we have all been chosen by name
to be a part of Christ’s Body, the Church.

We have not earned this honor or privilege . . . it has simply been bestowed upon us . . . and with it comes the responsibility
to be faithful to that calling . . . the heart of which is to love the Lord
and to love one another.

Our calling does not imply that we are perfect . . . many of our ideas, beliefs, opinion, and perspectives are not those of the Lord . . .
but together, in a spirit of mutual cooperation and love, we can strive
to discern his will . . . and help each other fulfill that will through faithful living.

Our Church Covenant serves as our marching orders as we attempt to be Christ’s Church in this time and in this place. Amen.