Sermon for The Fourth Sunday After Easter The Rev. H Elizabeth Back St. James Episcopal Church April 22, 2018 (CombineD service with reception for me as new rector) Acts 4:5-12 1 John 3:16-24 John 10:11-18 Psalm 23 Go ahead and read the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke too. Today is really all about one person isn’t it. Jesus. You didn’t think I was going to talk about me did you? Well, it is after all a special occasion. We are celebrating the Fact that St James Episcopal Church has called me to be the new rector. That’s why all those who usually attenD eight o’clock church are here at 10:30 so we can have a combined worship service with all my Favorite people in one room. ToDay this incluDes my parents Margaret anD George who have traveleD all the way from Oklahoma City with my ‘little sister’, their Dog Bella. Welcome to my running buDDies, Hannah with her husbanD Jonny, Karin with her mom LinDa. AnD last but definitely not least, my Bruce. So let’s do talk about Elizabeth For just one minute. The number one question I am asked is “What Do I call you?” AnD I know you are wanting to hear From a short list of options like “The Rev. Back” or “Mother Something.” Please call me Elizabeth. You may Feel disappointed by that because you want to employ a title of respect. I appreciate that. In my ears Elizabeth is that title oF respect. Here is how that works. When you call me Elizabeth I am not thinking of the Queen. Happy BirthDay to her. (She turned 92 yesterday). When you call me Elizabeth I am thinking of Jesus. Because Elizabeth is the name of Jesus’ Auntie, Mary’s cousin. You’re gonna wanna reach into your memory banks or just google it on your phone right now (yes it’s ok to use wifi in church), for the Gospel of Luke chapter 1. Remember the story about how Mary makes haste to visit Elizabeth aFter Gabriel breaks the news that they are both pregnant with impossible-to-believe babies. So here’s this miraculous salvation plan being worked out between two women From the same Family tree. They didn’t have a strategic plan or a budget. They just had the real estate in which God decided to work GoD’s plan. Elizabeth, who is too old to give birth, gives birth to Jesus’ cousin who grows up to become John the Baptist, Jesus’ opening act. AnD Mary, who is too young to give birth, anD upon whose name much of the world clings, gives birth to the heaDliner. My Full name is Heather Elizabeth Back anD for the first 45 years of my life I went by Heather. Four years ago, in the midst of a Family upheaval, I laid Heather to rest and took up Elizabeth. AnD Elizabeth has been there for me ever since just the way she was there For Mary. Elizabeth is the best FrienD oF everyone’s best FrienD. Elizabeth is leaneD on by the woman upon whom much of the world leans. Elizabeth is the person who God uses to prove that even someone too old and too empty to be creative can be the source of new life anD fulfillment. At the time I took up Elizabeth olD-anD-empty is how I Felt. So I clung closely to Elizabeth For she was the one who clung to Mary. And Mary is the one to whom Jesus clung. I want to be close to people Jesus is closest to. — Page 2 — Remember what happens when Mary runs to Elizabeth. First John the Baptist jumps for joy inside Elizabeth’s womb. The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth inspires heaps of art Depicting Elizabeth as the Joy-Bearer and Mary as the God-bearer. There’s one where the painter shows a sixth month size baby in Elizabeth’s womb jumping while Elizabeth hugs Mary in whose womb is shining a little avocado-size light. AFter the joy-jumping, Elizabeth says to Mary, “BlesseD are you among women anD blesseD is the fruit of your womb.” (That became a Famous prayer). Then Mary sings the entire MagniFicat, the song about GoD’s FiDelity anD what salvation looks like. On that Day one hundred million composers are given job security. The MagniFicat became a famous prayer which is turneD into countless famous songs. Elizabeth blesseD Mary anD inspired Mary’s own magniFicent blessing. IF that’s not enough, keep reading in Luke: when it’s time For everyone to celebrate the birth oF John the Baptist Elizabeth’s husband Zechariah sings HIS Famous song. Elizabeth, as a witness of God’s Fidelity, is she whose love inspires song. SO, Elizabeth is both the name I was given anD the title for which I am asking from you. I was baptizeD on September 14, 1969 at St John’s Church in Portsmouth New Hampshire. Charles Hodgins, their rector took me in his arms and said, “Name this chilD.” My parents saiD, “Heather Elizabeth.” That baptismal name stuck pretty gooD on me just like in John 10:3 where Jesus says how the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. At another time I will tell you all about how I heard GoD’s voice louD anD clear telling me --this-- St James, would be my liFe when I was Four years old. — Page 3 — Jesus says “I know the sheep by name.” It’s important to me to know your name because it’s important to Jesus. So yes thank you For wearing a name tag. IF it’s important to the shepherd it’s important to the sheep. What’s also important to Jesus is the FreeDom to lay one thing Down in orDer to take up another thing. He says, “I lay down my liFe and I take it up because the Father has given that power to me.” In the power of Jesus, Heather laiD Down her liFe so Elizabeth coulD take it up again. I laid down ministry at Calvary in order to take up ministry here at St. James. I have a hunch you lay down certain things in order to take up the many ministries you FulFill both insiDe these walls anD outsiDe in the community. There is only one shepherd. He is Good despite sending his Flock out into the midst of wolves. His name is Jesus and he is the person about whom toDay is all about. I am not your ShepherD. I just get to be the lead lamb, Following the GooD ShepherD as closely as I can. AnD even though the path may lead through the predator’s habitat, Jesus doesn’t lead lambs anywhere he hasn’t gone First. Only because I’ve followeD Jesus into the Dark can I tell you about His light. That’s why my message is “Come on, keep up. You can Do this. He’s worth Following. Even when the path is dark and the storm roars loudly, when you can Feel the teeth oF the wolF coming at the back of your neck anD you may have lost sight of where old-anD-empty meets new-anD-creative, Don’t worry. Just like he Does for me, he Does for all his lambs. Jesus lays down their lives in His so he can take them up into his eternal life.” So there you go. I am your Elizabeth. Your lead lamb. And when you use the name Elizabeth which has been both given to and taken up you are paying me the highest — Page 4 — respect anD I am grateful. I am here to bless you. It’s in my job Description. AnD your job is to bless me right back. AnD bless one another. AnD bless the world. Like Mary’s MagniFicat, our mutual blessing is a Far bigger anD bolDer song than a hundred million composers could capture. I will always be ready to hear the MagniFicent songs you sing about GoD’s FiDelity anD what salvation looks like both inside these walls anD outside. I can’t wait to see where the GooD-ShepherD-Song- Leader leads us. Amen. — Page 5 — .