Eagle Harbor Congregational Church, United Church of Christ

Sermon preached by Rev. Emily Tanis-Likkel

September 11, 2011

     Go Forward

a farewell sermon

Exodus 14:10-31

Water surrounding

God says move on ahead now

Grab hold of a hand

The Hebrew people were terrified when they turned around and saw Pharoah and his Egyptian army with chariots quickly approaching their small rag-tag group on foot. They cried out in fear to God. Why do you cry out to me? God asks Moses, responding to the cries of fear from the people behind him. And then, tell the Israelites to go forward (move on).

Now there is debate among scholars about whether they walked into the sea before it split or after. To me, it doesn’t make a great deal of difference, because both would be very frightening and surreal experience! Both involves putting faith in action. Faith is a journey, and we are always moving. On this day of endings and beginnings, we would do well to remember that these are movements. The act of ending is a living act. The act of beginning is a living act.

On this day of September 11, I also see this metaphor of movement. Our individual and collective rememberings of the tragedy of ten years ago has a life to it. Going back in time we remember how we felt on that day, we remember the horror but also people reaching out to each other in new ways. In light of the tragedy, we can have renewed faith to work for justice and hope in the world. It is God who gives us the strength.

When we go forward, we remember the past with gratitude. The Israelites remembered the stories of their ancestors.  They remembered hearing of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  Their family line began with a couple who were well beyond the age of childbirth. The Hebrews who were approaching the sea, got to where they were on miracles.

        In going forward from Eagle Harbor Church, I remember with gratefulness my very first conversation with Dee. I had called her out of the blue to ask her if she’d like a seminary intern. The three amazing things she told me is that: she would recruit people from the church to help my family move, I had a lot of freedom in how I would spend my internship. She asked me how often I would like to preach, and I was surprised that I could preach once a month (unusual for interns). I had had few opportunities to preach so I was thrilled. The final, most wonderful thing Dee said in that phone conversation regarded my then seven month old baby girl. When I had mentioned that I would be looking for childcare, she said, we love babies around here. You can bring her with you. Eva and Dee quickly forged a strong bond.  Eva spent many hours scattering toys and squashing cheerios into the carpet in Dee’s office. These first glimpses became themes for my time at Eagle Harbor Church. Our family has felt completely loved. We received such support during my pregnancy . . . after Day was born . . . when I had pneumonia. Many of the older ladies of the church knew when I was battling post-partum depression just by looking into my eyes. Most recently the compassion we were shown when Brett was on vocal rest really carried us through.  The freedom to minister that I experienced in my internship also carried throughout my time here. I was not limited in the scope of my service.  The opportunities I have had to plan and lead worship are holy opportunities, they bring me to my knees, as I seek to hear what God’s wisdom. I also consider visiting people in their homes or hospital beds such a privilege. What sacred ground I am invited to traverse when welcomed into a home, whether for tea and cookies with small talk, for listening, for holding space for another to cry or be validated or prayed with. What an honor to sing hymns to a precious person as they approach death.

We go forward remembering our past. Take a moment and think about a time in your past that holds special meaning.  Thank God for it. We remember the past with gratitude.

We go forward knowing that God is protecting us, assuring us safe passage and enough light. We need to see where we’re headed, even if just the next step. God’s light of discernment can shine on us when we are looking for it.

There is a wonderful detail in the story about the movement of the angel of God and the pillar of cloud. As Pharoah’s army approaches, these both moved from in front of the Israelites to behind.  They had been guiding them forward, providing light and safety. Now behind them, they could better assure them safe passage, providing a protective barrier between them and their enemy.

We all have times when we need the assurance of God’s protection. In my life I’ve called on God to give me courage to speak when I feel afraid.

Last Friday I told stories to Eva’s third grade class. Her teacher asked me to tell the children how I became interested in storytelling. Well, I told them, when I was your age I was extremely shy. I spent recess sitting on the ground just outside the door, waiting for the time to pass. But shyness sometimes comes with an ability to be comfortable talking in front of groups of people which was the case with me. Besides, I saw my Dad get up and speak before a church congregation twice every Sunday, and I thought, that is what I’m going to do. A boy asked me what helped me overcome my shyness. I told him that I learned to push myself to talk to people. I still recognize when I feel uncomfortable in a situation, but have learned the value of approaching someone who also may be uncomfortable.  Not always easy, but always worth the effort. Eva’s teacher, Alice Mendoza, coaxed the class to recite their quote of the week, You must do the thing you think you cannot do, Eleanor Roosevelt. I hadn’t remembered, but discovered then, that Eleanor Roosevelt herself was painfully shy. Yet she went on to speak to thousands.  She had something to say, so she pushed herself. When we have faith that God is with us, that God’s light burns within us, we have even more power to step out and do the thing we know we must.

We go forward knowing that God is protecting us. Think about a time when you’ve desperately asked for God to help you do the thing you knew you must.  Maybe you are living that prayer daily.

We go forward reaching out to others. When I imagine the Hebrew people drawing in their breath and taking that first step forward into the sea, they must have been holding hands. It is instinct to grab hold of another person when we are afraid.

I love how the animated movie Prince of Egypt by Dreamworks shows people helping each other and their animals traverse through the walls of water. The terrain at the bottom of the sea is complicated with hills, jagged cliffs and low valleys. They needed each other to get through. They needed to participate in the miracle. We too need to reach out to each other. We also need to reach beyond our circle of friends and forge new relationships. Together,a community can accomplish so much more than we do on our own. We have a powerful collective imagination for what God might be calling us to do next.

I recently spoke with a woman whose family has tried out just about every church on the Island and has not found a church home. She told me her likes and dislikes. Included in her dislikes was hand-holding. Sometimes we get wrapped up in what they do or don’t like about church, we go in with our checklists. Clergy are the worst at this, by the way.  Does this sermon have a point? Did I like how communion was served? Did Children’s Time speak to me? How many people approached me at coffee hour? As churches move forward into an uncertain future, I believe it is imperative that we do not isolate ourselves, checklists in hand, assessing those around us. All we need to do is be faithful. In a faith community, we must not wait for someone else to come to us. We must not wait for the wider community to discover us. We need to grab a hand, and forge spiritual friendships. Everybody wants to feel that they belong. Everyone wants their gifts to be used and acknowledged. We all desperately want to be accepted and loved for who we truly are. We can only do this for each other. We can only do it together. We need to grab a hand, and together be the hands and feet of Jesus in the world.  God intends for us to walk together.

We remember the past

knowing that God is always with us.

We reach out to each other

going forward in hope.

We go forward in hope.  The Israelites put one foot into the sea, believing that in that action they would participate in the answer to their prayers.  Their frail hope urged them to keep on going, to keep on walking through the path in the sea, surrounded by immense walls of water. They anticipated getting to the other side alive.  They put their hope in the God of the Covenant who would bring their people to safety and security.

I anticipate with hope the next steps in my life. Nurturing a just budding community of faith called Tapestry. I am shifting vocationally, more accurately described as a church planter than a church pastor. I anticipate with hope holding office hours at Pegasus and Blackbird. Talking with those who are spiritually searching, and eventually coaching others to begin and lead new churches. I will be doing things that I never before thought I could.

        I may be moving on, but you are moving on as well. On to the next adventure that God is calling you to. As you go forward, I encourage you to anticipate with hope as well. During one of my bouts of depression, my Dad asked me if there was anything I looked forward to.  All I could think of, was getting through time, past the point in my life that I was at. Sometimes all we can anticipate is getting through our present circumstance. But we cannot stay in that dark place too long. God wants more for us. When the Israelites reached the other side of the sea, they rejoiced. They sang. Their hearts brimmed over. Miriam’s song and tambourine.  That is the exuberant joy I want you to have, my friends: So may God bless your eyes, that you may see miracles.  May God bless your ears, that you may hear from God you are my beloved. May God bless your nose, that you may smell the aroma of cookies baking or flowers stretching and be amazed. May God bless your mouth, that you may sing praise to God, that you may kiss a cheek and say something wonderfully loving to another. May God bless your mind with wisdom and understanding, your heart with empathy and compassion.  May God bless your hands and feet as you courageously do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God. May God bless your skin, that you may feel the Holy Spirit’s close exhale.

In life there are times when the sea splits and we are urged to go forward.  May we have the discernment from God to recognize when we are at a sea-splitting time. May we step out in faith:

We remember the past

knowing that God is always with us.

We reach out to each other

going forward in hope.

Thanks be to God.