Holy Trinity Sunday - May 26, 2024
I want to start by apologizing to those of you expecting a well-crafted sermon on the Holy Trinity. That’s not really going to happen today, because today is my last sermon for a while. As we prepare for this time of sabbatical, I thought a more general “state of the congregation” sermon might be appropriate.
First, let’s talk about the sabbatical. I hope this isn't news to you if you've been around for more than a few weeks. We’ve been sharing information diligently so that this wouldn’t be a surprise. As mentioned in newsletters and bulletins, a “sabbatical” is a significant time away from ministry responsibilities for both professional growth and personal renewal. It’s not a vacation. There will be learning and growing, both for me and for the whole congregation of St. Philip. I will be back in September.
Many people have asked, “Where are you going on sabbatical?” And mostly the answer to that is, “nowhere.” Aside from our usual trips with each side of the family and a week at Lutheridge, the only additional traveling we’re doing is a trek up the East Coast to hit a lot of things our kids haven’t seen - Philadelphia, Hershey, New York City, Boston, and Maine. Aside from that, it’ll be Myrtle Beach. We’re not holing up at the Vatican for three months.
Among these trips, there is a project, too. As you may have noticed, we are a growing congregation, with people visiting and joining regularly - over twenty people have officially joined with us in 2024 alone. So, how do we continue to grow and grow well - in healthy, proactive ways that aren’t limited by the way we or I do things right now?
What do we need to change to integrate the next 50 people God wants to send us? Because 50 more people will shift things. The goal of this learning is to develop a plan for the future health of St. Philip so we can keep growing the ministry we do and welcome more people to take part.
While I’m away, St. Philip will have an Interim Pastor, Rev. Beth Neubauer, who will lead worship, provide pastoral care, and offer guidance as needed. We will install her into her role in just a little bit. John Sparkman, of course, will help Beth with many of those things and continue to offer his gifts to this place. Council will take on a larger role, and who knows, maybe you will feel a tug to step up in ways that are needed this summer and beyond.
So that’s what is happening this summer. I’ll be away for a while, but I will be back in September.
Another thing that might be on your mind is the Capital Campaign projects. Since I will be gone, here’s your last update from me for a bit. If anything momentous happens, I am sure you will be updated.
Just to recap, in Spring 2023, we held our Forward Together Capital Campaign, setting a goal of $700k to accomplish three main projects. Our congregation generously pledged $730k at that time, with a few more gifts offered since. On top of that, we received a gift from the Chapin Foundation for $100k. I said it a lot about a year ago, but it bears repeating: thank you for your generosity that has put us in a wonderful position to enhance our worship and welcome at St. Philip.
The first item on our wish list was a new organ, which is well on its way. We voted on April 7 to accept the bid from Allen Organs. The organ is scheduled to be installed in the newly renovated worship space. Exciting updates, like photos and major milestones, will be shared with you so you can be excited, too.
The building renovations seem to be right on track. If you are curious as to what those might look like, we have a few drawings posted around in the narthex area and in the fellowship hall. Many people here can help walk you through those plans to turn the sanctuary around and build a larger narthex.
A lot of the behind-the-scenes legwork is being done in the coming months. This week, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical engineers will meet with the architect on-site to do their observation, info-gathering, and planning.
The different committees we have are all doing their jobs. The Liturgical Furniture Team has met a few times and solidified some ideas. The Aesthetics Enhancement Committee will likely meet over the summer to start their work on “what things will look like.” Even the Finance Team has met to start talking about cash flow and having conversations with various lending institutions.
All the pieces are falling into place so that in the fall we can reach out to general contractors and then begin work on an appropriate timeline.
And then there’s the parking lot. At least there isn’t an RV parked there, right? In August of 2022, St. Philip Council approved our contract with the design and engineering company. The City of Myrtle Beach approved all of the plans, easements, and variances on April 16, 2024. We have had conversations with several paving contractors, with two bids to come in “by the end of the week” and “in a couple of days.” You might actually get to approve a parking lot over the summer - maybe even in a few weeks, if we are ever so fortunate.
People’s gifts toward these improvements have been coming in regularly. And again, thank you for that. But, this is also a reminder that if you were waiting for things to start moving before you gave, they are really about to get going!
We’ve accomplished a lot in the past year - conducting a successful capital campaign, hiring a gifted new director of music ministry, and managing projects not covered in any Seminary class I took.
A lot has happened in this place in the past year, past few years, past ten years. And all of it, the ups and the downs; the hard, stressful parts; the people we’ve welcomed and those we’ve said goodbye to; the new ministries we’ve started; the way we’ve shared grace with others; all of it has brought us to where we are today. I’d say, we’re in a pretty good place.
There is good leadership here. Council is prepared, there are various volunteer leaders for all sorts of different ministries and groups, and, of course, John, Beth, and Linda Hendricks will be stellar. I fully trust them to continue the worship, welcome, and ministry that helps define this place.
Beyond that, I know you are in good hands. No offense to Beth, John, Council, or anyone else - but I don’t mean them. You’re in good hands because you’re in God’s hands. God’s Spirit is working in this place. God has a hand in all that has happened, is with us in all that is, and God is going to keep leading us into the future.
God is going to work to raise up more people to step in so we can worship in new and familiar ways. So we can welcome like we’ve always done. So we can share the love and grace of Jesus with Myrtle Beach and beyond. God is going to do that through a community - through you.
And while I understand that some of you like me, this work isn’t about me or whether I’m here or away on sabbatical. It’s about what God is up to in this place. You are in God’s hands, and God is faithful to the promise of abundant life.
God promises to keep relationships intact - in, through, and despite all things. God’s abundant, inescapable love will continue to be shared with the world in tangible ways - through water, through bread and wine, through you.
The Holy Spirit is at work, bringing people together; fostering a welcome that is uplifting, gracious, and Christ-like; so people say, “I want to be part of that.”
Over the next few months, please know that I will keep you all in my prayers. I’ll wonder and think and pray for and about St. Philip often. I trust that God's grace will guide and sustain us through this sabbatical, and I look forward to returning, renewed and ready to continue our journey together in faith.
We’ve done a lot. We still have a lot to do. Or rather, God still has a lot to do… through us. May God be with you all. Amen.