Partners Philippians 1:3-8 The Philippian Prayer The Royal Oak Prayer

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1 Partners We are companions in Christ. Philippians 1:3-8 Rev. John H. Hice October 12, 2014 Royal Oak First United Methodist Church, Royal Oak, Michigan The Philippian Prayer It all starts out with a prayer. Paul, this seasoned missionary who s traveled far and known many writes this letter to the dearest of churches. I thank my God every time I think of you, he says. His thanksgiving is intense. It s from the heart. 1 There he is in prison, death sentence hanging over his head, and yet when the thought of them crosses his mind, he s overwhelmed with joy because they are more than a nice set of people. Joy, because they are more than a success story he can claim in his life. Joy, because they are more than nice to him, more than admirers, more than friends. Joy, because they are partners. The whole church in Philippi are true companions who have rolled up their sleeves and worked with him in effort to bring the Good News of Jesus to bear on their community and others. Partners who have held him up in prayer: not just for his health and well-being and release from prison, but also for his mission to be successful everywhere he goes. True companions: who have reached deep into their meager financial reserves to invest in Paul s work, maybe Paul s legal defense, and certainly their own endeavors of ministry. That s the whole gist of his message: there is such life in his knowing they have his back and share his work that he s moved to joy and thanksgiving and compassion that comes out of the depths of Christ. The Royal Oak Prayer Which has a way of moving me to prayer when I think of you. Feel free to keep your eyes open; this will be a prayer. I expect it will be one of the longer ones you ve experienced in church. When I think of Royal Oak First United Methodists I m moved to prayer, O God, because of the way they welcomed Laura and James and me six years ago. Laura was sick and in treatment. We had names to learn and work to do, yet you were patient. They prepared a parsonage for us, and because Laura was ill, came to our door again and 1

2 again with casseroles and salads, chicken, and seafood stir-fries and homemade pies. They invited us to their homes for coffees and told us their names; and they shared with us their faith and their vision and hope for the church they heard you saying we would become. When I was a stranger they welcomed me. God, I thank you for ROFUM this group of Methodists whose forebears became the first gathering of Christians in Royal Oak to call themselves church. They stir something in me that wells up to joy. A group of them had been meeting for a long time on Tuesday mornings, studying your Word and books that challenged their minds and fed their hearts. They wanted my partnership with them for me to teach them. And even though I was reluctant, trying to balance the tasks of ministry, they persisted. And they enlisted; and made me a teacher so together we ve grown, had our minds teased with scholars who sometimes tried to write over our heads but we ve grown. Others shared with us studying the Bible and wrestling with theology, in classes I ve led, or Laura led; and others who gathered in small groups and classrooms still partners with us and with each other in growing to strong faith and spirit and vision to be your people. It s right for me to feel this way about all of them, as some venture to teach our kids on Sunday s and Wednesdays and adults studies on Wednesdays, and youth and children s groups. It s like more and more they are a people on a quest to learn all they can about you and about how they can be a people of faith. Like Paul your apostle said about the church in Philippi, they share in the work of the gospel. So many of them care for people who come to the downtown festivals. They serve the hungry who come to our door for a lunch. They build bridges of friendship with brothers and sisters in churches in Detroit and Kaunas, Lithuania. They put their hand to the task at projects in Detroit and even states far from home. Some show up to scrub the walls and floors, weed and plant the gardens. They stir up that joy within me, O God. The people of this church work hard for our worship services to look right and sound right and be filled with song and hospitality and praise. 2

3 And some even spend hours at meetings, listening for your voice so they can be leaders who lead us well to create and enhance effective ministries and facilities for a growing and vibrant church that makes a difference to people all around. I am confident in them, Lord, that this work you started in them will be brought to completion. They will help each other grow and serve. They are companions in Christ whose encouragement will get us through all the challenges they face. Partners. Paul spoke of the way the Philippian Church stepped up to financial need. They saw the purpose. It was an investment. An act of partnership with Paul and even more importantly, with you. They gave as people who were grateful. They gave with purpose, to change the world through the work of their church and through the work of the Apostle affecting lives far away. That s the way I want to be, Lord. That s the way I pray we all will be here. I want my tithe to count and I believe that here it will. I ve seen the work it does here. And I know that everyone s gift counts, because like the Philippians together with Paul, we your church in Royal Oak are changing a world. So help us to build a strong church for the future. With a renewed ministry and a renewed facility to enhance our work with each other and those present and in the future to be added to our partnership. Partnership, Thanksgiving, and Praise Lord, our God, I paused on a mountain top. I was with a life-long friend who was my roommate in college, the best man at my wedding, and is my colleague in pastoral ministry. Truly a companion in Christ. We were at the apex of a fruitful retreat. The listening and care we gave each other in you was renewal in the best sense. Spirits enlivened, problems better understood, healing given and received, even work for back home achieved: we were at the top of the mountain. 3

4 Wind driving, cloud surrounding us like your presence on Mt. Sinai. Scant snow brushing our shoulders as it fell to melt upon the rocks. And expanding outward as far as the eye could see were ridge-upon-ridge of mountains in all their glory, lakes like jewels nestled between them, a hawk or maybe an eagle negotiating the turbulence. A warbler flittered in a branch of the low bush by our side as we took sandwich in hand and sang a prayer: Praise God from whom all blessings flow Praise God, all creatures here below. Praise God, above all heavenly hosts. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The thought occurred to me, and I said it out loud. Tom, the next time we sing that song it will be in our churches. And we ll think of this moment. It connects us with them. Tom agreed; because we are companions with you and with the church he serves. Companions in Christ. Lord, hear my prayer. Amen. Did you know that no matter where you go and no matter what happens to you: we all have your back? That s partnership. That s us. 4

5 1 Hooker, Morna D., The Letter to the Philippians, The New Interpreter s Bible Commentary, vol XI. Nashville: Abingdon Press. Copyright p