11/04/2025
The Lost Benediction
Depending on the length of the sermon, I try to add a little something extra in my benedictions. This week I wrote up a benediction but then realized we’d be singing and waving our umbrellas to some New Orleans jazz. As much as I loved the celebration we had, it meant that I wouldn’t be needing it. But I do quote one of my favorite authors, and as you know—I love to share quotes--so I’m going to prevent this benediction from getting lost in my sermon file, and share it with you here.
In his book, Beyond Words, Frederick Buechner writes:
“The feet of saints are as much of clay as everybody else’s, and their sainthood consists less of what they have done than of what God has for some reason chosen to do through them. When you consider that Saint Mary Magdalene was possessed by seven devils, that Saint
Saint Francis started out as a high-living young dude in downtown Assisi, you figure that maybe there’s nobody God can’t use as a means of grace, including even ourselves.”
He goes on to finish his thought:
"The Holy Spirit has been called “the Lord, the giver of life” and, drawing their power from that source, saints are essentially life-givers. To be with them is to become more alive.”
Let us be the life-givers to the next generation. May we be alive with Christ so clearly and passionately that those around us may one day honor us when our time comes to be with Jesus. Let us live now so that when our time comes Jesus will rise to his feet to welcome us home.
Let it be so—Amen.
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I wasn’t preaching Sunday, Reverend Jackie Chandler was. And she talked about the power of influence you get when you practice what you preach. This famous illustration came to mind. It fits Jackie’s points quite well. Enjoy!