Do you recall a season in which you were asked to undertake a responsibility for which you felt overwhelmed or underprepared? What did you learn? What sustained you?
These may seem odd questions to ask in a week when, in worship, we’ll be considering the narratives of the transfiguration of Jesus, and the departure of Elijah in a “chariot of fire”. Those two stories seem quite unlike our everyday human experiences, but these dynamic stories evoke questions for those who will “remain”. Peter, James, and John are the named disciples who were with Jesus in the transfiguration story. Their preference, or at least Peter’s, was to stay on the mountain in tabernacles rather than descend into the valley to face the daunting task of ministry there. Elisha, in the prophetic narrative, sticks as close to Elijah as possible before the departure of the latter, and realizing his upcoming challenge, asks for a “double portion” of the Elijah’s spirit.
Today, we are all are called to lead in varieties of ways. Could it be that, as Henri Nouwen suggested in his book, The Wounded Healer, we are best able to lead when we are in touch with our own wounds and soulful questions? He once said, “The great illusion of leadership is to think that people can be led out of the desert by someone who has never been there.”
It is also true that the disciples and Elisha were quite aware of the huge tasks that awaited them. Like them, it is possible for us to become overwhelmed with the call to minister in a culture that is divided, angry and despairing. Writing about leadership, Gil Rendle suggested that wise leaders make a distinction between problems and conditions. Problems have specific solutions. A condition, on the other hand, is not so easily corrected. In those cases, leaders must be willing to speak and act with greater clarity, bravery, and patience. This is our contemporary challenge.
We’ll chat about this Sunday in worship at St. Mark’s UMC. The sermon is titled, “Taking Up the Mantle: What It Means to Lead in the Contemporary World.” It arises from II Kings 2: 1-12, which will be read by Chris Haynes, and Mark 9: 2-9, which will be read by Mary Wheeler. We’ll be led musically by our Chancel Choir, directed by Gerry Sousa and accompanied by Lois Leong, as they present, “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.” We’ll also hear from the Chancel Ringers, under the direction of Lois Leong. Stephanie Conklin will present a moment for mission about a concert on Sunday, February 18 at 3:00 PM. We are calling this “Songs of Humanity and Healing, and proceeds will go to support the work of the Lucille Raines residence, a center for helping folks rebuild their lives as they recover from addiction. We also are including a time of blessing for Alayna Gray as she concludes her work as Coordinator of Children’s Ministries.
If this is your first time at St. Mark’s, or you will be joining us online, we look forward to connecting with you. Service begins in the sanctuary at 10:30. To join online, visit www.smumc.church, and click on the Livestream banner.