Treasure: Old and New
Romans 8:26-39; Matthew 13:31-52

On this 125th Anniversary Sunday at St. James, I want to share some thoughts about the gospel, about treasure - but I also want to share some thoughts about this church – a love letter if you will.

There is a Zen story of an old farmer who had worked his crops for many years.  One day his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbors came to visit. "Such bad luck," they said sympathetically.

"Maybe," the farmer replied.  The next morning the horse returned, bringing with it three other wild horses.  "How wonderful," the neighbors exclaimed.

"Maybe," replied the old man.  The following day, his son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown, and broke his leg.  The neighbors again came to offer their sympathy on his misfortune.

"Maybe," answered the farmer.  The day after, military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army. Seeing that the son's leg was broken, they passed him by.  The neighbors congratulated the farmer on how well things had turned out.

"Maybe," said the farmer.

If treasures were easy to come by, they wouldn’t actually be treasures would they?  The very hiddeness of something, its difficult-to-attain character, makes it more precious.  It takes time to search, to locate, and to acquire true riches.  And when they are found, we realize that some are very old, some are quite new.  Almost all are unexpected.

I have to wonder what might have been in the minds of those who in 1883 gathered to form a mission of the Episcopal Church know as Trinity Mission.  With services held only once each month and apparently no regular place for meeting, the handful of early Eureka residents (one historian counter seven) in the newly formed Diocese of Arkansas must have viewed Anglican worship as “worth the price.”

In 1887, St. James was organized and was assigned a priest.  After two years in a small chapel on Mountain Street, the congregation moved into the Cromer school building.  Over the next 25 years, the city and the church grew and in 1913, the church building was formally consecrated.

Following the trend of population in Eureka Springs with its post-WWI loss of population, St. James declined over the next 50 years hitting a low in 1945 with only one recorded service.

It was then that the church began to reconstitute itself and by 1948, we had a new resident priest and soon had almost 30 communicants. Growth ensued over the next 15 years but in August, 1962, tragedy struck in the form of a fire which destroyed the organ and much of the building.  Renovation began shortly thereafter and Easter 1963 saw the first service in the newly renovated church – the one in which we sit today.

Thanks to Carolyn Pugh, the history of St. James has been preserved in a little booklet and made accessible to those who will follow in our place.  Through the 125 year history, the life of St. James has flowed and ebbed – one can only wonder at the forces that at times led to growth, at others splits followed by reconciliation, at others, silence.  But, like our family histories, it is who we are, it is the root from which we sprang, it is our legacy.

What we need to recognize is that in the midst of change, we make decisions and take actions that are guided by our past, informed by the pressures of the present, and bear implication for our future.  It is the nature of life itself that change comes, crises develop and resolve, and time separates the good and the bad.  In our shortsightedness, we often assume the good things that happen will bear good fruit; the uncomfortable, unpleasant thing, bad fruit.

It is Paul who writes that “all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”

Many years ago, I found the Episcopal Church and found it in such a way that I felt I had found true worship.  I, sad to say, let contentious conversation among those around me rob me of my joy in that discovery and I left.  Now that sounds like a bad thing but in the ensuing years of searching, I discovered some things about myself, including a strongly renewed calling to ministry.  A family crisis – “that’s terrible” – worked through to lead me into AlAnon and the start of accepting myself as a child of God.  What seemed so bad led to something very good.

It was 1982 I think – I resolved that whatever else, I had to revisit our old Episcopal Church.  At the time they were without a priest, without any regular pastoral care, and folks were staying away – those that had not left.  “That’s bad.”  But because women and men from the congregation were stepping up to lead Morning Prayer and worship out of a sense of love and joy rather than duty, the Spirit (that’s with a big S) spoke to me in a new way – “John, this is where you belong.”

Most specifically, from that first Sunday, I remember a prayer from the Prayers of the People for those who suffered with AIDS, for those who cared for them, and for those who hated them.  Here was a church that could embrace humanity, enfold it – warts and all – into the love of God and offer living water to heal what was broken.

I don’t think I’ve ever looked back on the decision to return to the Episcopal Church.  For me, it as an essential part of the Kingdom of God, a treasure of great price.  It is at once ancient and modern - bringing forth from its treasure “what is new and what is old.”

We manage to be as contentious and fragmented as was the early church when the first council at Jerusalem was convened to deal with issues threatening to split the church.  We sometimes seem to lash at ourselves but somehow find our way to this table where we invite all to gather, to share, to partake.  We find forgiveness for our own shortcomings and speak Peace to one another as we also forgive.

And, perhaps most importantly, we then go out into the world “… in peace to love and serve the Lord.”  If we could only grasp the depths of the meaning of that.  Love, mature, genuine, fulfilling love, is always about the other – not about self.  It is self-giving and serving by its nature.  It is not exploiting nor is it manipulating.  And it must flow from a heart at peace with a sure knowledge that in those things which threaten our inner peace – those thoughts, fears, self-condemnations, mistrusts - we are more than conquerors through Christ.

Bishop Larry Benfield, in the Lambeth Journal quotes Brian McLaren when he writes:

He is insistent that young people are not interested in our internal debates, but instead are looking for someone to respond to the needs of the world: the crises of hunger and disease, corrupt governments, greedy corporations, and the place of the marginalized.

We are the responders who carry hope – and action – to a hurting world.  We are called to serve the world in the name of Christ - to go in his love and with the knowledge of his grace.

This church has served Eureka Springs and the surrounding area for 125 years.  Our history reveals treasures from the past, you are our treasure in the present, and how we use the gifts we have are the investment in the treasures yet to come.  Come; dine; receive the peace of God in Christ Jesus.  Then go; love; serve.

Amen

The Rev. John Dryden Burton
St. James’ Episcopal Church
July 27,  2008

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