Each year, the first action of the Annual Conference as it is called to order, is to participate in a worship service of Thanksgiving and Remembrance...or, in common parlance, the memorial service. Until we shortened conference, it was always after lunch on Memorial Day; now, it's the night before.
As the rest of the society celebrates the sacrifice of soldiers for their country, our conference remembers those who have spent their lives for the Kingdom of God. It's a profoundly counter-cultural statement for the church to make. Our national heritage will ultimately fade away, even with the sacrifice given willingly by our veterans and their families. But we understand that the Kingdom of God will not pass away, and the gift of a life in its service is one which will be everlasting.
So while others might be headed to the beach or firing up the grill, we were doing something completely different. Music as diverse as a new choral setting of "God of Grace and God of Glory" and "Seasons of Love" from Rent gently encouraged us to consider the motivation of these pastors and spouses. The
sermon, from Dr. Elijah Stansell, reminded us of our mandate and delight to bear witness to the immense love of God. And we sang our way through the liturgy for Holy Communion, which gave us a tangible, visceral experience of the sustaining grace of God.
One of the pastors I've known the longest in the conference was remembered at the service--Rusty Watkins died while getting ready for Sunrise Service on Easter. The funeral packed the sanctuary and overflow areas of one of our larger churches, and I know that many of the folks who came to last night's worship remember his wacky sense of humor, his capacity to listen, and his deep, deep love for God and God's people. As his name was read, I realized that there was so much else I could be remembering at this time, or the hundreds (1ooo+?) of folks present for the service could be remembering. And yet, the choice we made on a humid Saturday night near Houston was to remember the One who hosts the Communion of Saints.
What is it that you remember? What is it the you memorialize? For what do you spend your time, your life? And how long will it last after you've gone? I hope that we will be intentional in seeking after the things that have true reality, true worth...truly eternal things.
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