Kickoff Sunday is coming soon: September 18th. If you were out of town and missed Rev. Ben’s sermon on Labor Day weekend (http://mpcfamily.org/sermons/honest-work/), you may not have yet learned that your work can be an act of prayer… particularly if your work is the preparation of a sublime cappuccino. Well, on September 18th I’ll be preaching, and in addition to calling it Kickoff, I’d like to call it “Bring Your Cappuccino Machine To Church” Sunday. This is because we’ll be having a Blessing of the Tools, a unique ritual that may be new to you.
The idea behind Blessing our Tools is exactly what Ben articulated in his sermon: any work, when done well, is glorifying to God. As Presbyterians we do not believe that the work of pastors is superior or more spiritual than the work of the congregation. Celebration is brought to you by many people. From those who arrange flowers, greet people, sing in the choir, or take care of the children, to those who enlist signatures for petitions, offer a listening ear to those in need, or (of course) brew enough coffee for all of us, our gatherings are truly the “work of the people.”
The Work of the People – a term church geeks may recognize from its derivative word “liturgy,” continues Monday through Friday as well, however, as we scatter to our different places. Some run committee meetings, some diagnose computer malfunctions, some walk dogs or care for cats, some take care of children, some create beauty, and some make sublime cappuccinos – whether for the commuting masses, or for a loved one. All of this can be holy work, if it is done for the greater aims of kindness, justice, beauty, and truth.
So bring your cappuccino machine to church on the 18th! Bring your spade, your mixing bowl, your pen, your electronic must-have. Bring your drill, your stethoscope, your ukulele, your notebook. You might not be able to bring your pickup truck, but you can bring its key, or a photo, or something similar. Whether these things represent work you produced at the height of your creativity, or a hope for work you might produce tomorrow… whether they represent paid or unpaid work… whether they seem mundane or extraordinary… whatever you bring, we will bless them and give thanks for the work they represent.
This will be a great day to come to church! I say this not only because you get a built-in conversation opener to break the ice and meet new people (“so, tell me about your cappuccino machine…”) but also because we will be showcasing some of the work of the church more formally in a Committee Fair during Family Hour. You can find out about what work we are doing together, and maybe find a way to connect and join in that work as well.
See you then if not before!
Blessings,
Rev. Talitha Aho