The Institution of Carol Luther
The Rev. Dr. Jack Eastwood
Rector, St. Paul's Church, Oakland, CaliforniaNovember 14, 2004
I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name.
--John 15:15-16
Well! What a special day this is! The Church of the Redeemer and Carol Luther are to celebrate in a new common ministry. Even more, Carol has a new title- a new name- called "Vicar." And so this is a celebration about names like "Vicar" and "Redeemer." But we all know there's a lot more to the story than just a name. A whole lot more.
Names are important. They tell us and others who we are. They are part of our identity. Like John, "the beloved." Names are essential. They embrace meaning. They speak to relationships like "the brother of John" and "the sister of Mary." Names are empowering because they tell a story. One of the favorite stories these days is The Lord of the Rings. If you haven't read Tolkien, you probably have seen this one about the story of the Hobbits and Middle Earth on the big screen. I won't sketch the story or the characters for you but just know that this is a classic one. There is a scene in which the characters Merry and Pippin encounter an Ent - a talking tree.
Merry and Pippin ask the Ent his name. Listen to what the Ent has to say in reply:
I am not going to tell you my name; not yet, at any rate. For one thing, it would take a long while. My name is growing all the time, and I've lived a very long, long time; so my name is like a story. Real names tell you the story of things they belong to in my language.
When Jesus says to his disciples, I have called you friends, he gives them a name. And that name has a story, a life-giving story, it is the ministry of redeeming love, and that is what we are here to celebrate today. Because today is not just a joining together of a priest and a congregation. It is about the love of God that strengthens us and surrounds in everyone who has faith. It is a love that calls forth, as Jesus called forth his friends, to be what our lessons this afternoon remind us to be: on mission and in ministry to one another and this community.
When Jesus called them "friends," he called them in his name, as one would insert a small branch in another tree or transplant a living tissue into a body, he grafted them and us into his story. And his story is the story of life. And the way to live that story, one that lives for a very long time, is to use the what St. Paul tells us to use, our gifts, our gifts for the ministry of redeeming love.
Carol, would you stand please? In a moment you are going to get what the Prayer Book calls, "The Induction." Before that happens I want to add my two cents. You are a good friend and you have broad shoulders and you have the gift of presence to let people know you care. All of that working with the Holy Spirit will help you to move the story of Redeemer into a new adventure in faith. But you know, at St. Paul's in Oakland, where we use to hang out together in ministry, the kids still love to hang out on the tree outside the chapel after the Sunday morning family service. And that's a great image for you. Through your leadership in this place, you will make strong the people of Redeemer to be like that tree, growing strong in its life-giving ways, being attractive to those who seek and desire to learn about God's redeeming love. Let that fruit bearing tree be a reminder of the ministry God has called you to in this place. In dark times- and there will be some- and in times of light- and there will be many- continue to shine God's light on that tree so that it can grow and flourish.
And now, I would ask that the members of Redeemer to stand with Carol, please. You all have the name "redeemer." Like the talking tree, your name grows all the time. And it will grow for a very long, long time, in ministry with your new Vicar. "Redeemer," like the tree, is a real name and it has a story, and you know you are always learning more of it, for it takes a long time to tell. When you leave here today, remember that wherever you find yourself, with whomever you are with, you are the Redeemer story and your mission is about being "life-givers."
But, again, remember, it is a long name, and it takes a long time to tell. And so be patient, it takes time to grow. Be patient so that for the generations to come, people young and old, will know who you are and more especially, whose your are. And they will want to weave their stories into yours, and into the story of the one who has called you and chosen you. And the tree will continue to grow. In the Spring it will blossom and in the winter is will restore itself, and whatever the season, middle earth or this precious earth, know you are always coming to life. AMEN
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