2010 Chimes Web Compressed Pics

Chimes
The
A WESTMINSTER PUBLICATION 2010 V.4
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Advent Calendar of Events
Unbinding Your Heart
Gifts From the Heart
Caring For Our Neighbors
Did You Know
Among Our People
Sermon: The Christmas Shibboleth
The Season of Advent
Advent begins the Christian year. The four Sundays preceding Christmas mark a time of preparation. Advent comes from a Latin word meaning “coming” or “arrival.” The main preparation Christians make to welcome Christ anew into their lives is through self-examination and repentance. Advent is a season of penitence. It is similar in purpose to Lent and was modeled after it. Christians
remember their own need for God to come again in their lives, confessing their sin and separation
from God, and expressing deep longing for what God alone can give – the gift of new life and salvation. Advent is a time to remember that we also wait for Christ to come again. We are still sinners in
need of redemption. The whole world longs for peace and justice. We continue to look for Jesus
Christ to come to save us.
We hope that you will join us as we
welcome this Advent season and look
forward to the joy and splendor of
Christmas.
MINISTERS
All members of the Church
STAFF
George H. McConnel ...................... Pastor/Head of Staff
John W. Neely ............................. Assoc. Pastor for Music
Nancy S. Hodgkins . Assoc. Pastor for Youth & Mission
Laurie B. Davis......... Assoc. Pastor for Spiritual Growth
John S. Shonle .......... Interim Assoc. Pastor for Pastoral Care
Jim Henry* ............................................. Mission Associate
Jerry Taylor* ............................................. Music Associate
Craig Showalter ......................... Business Administrator
Judy Hamilton . Executive Assistant to Dr. McConnel
Amanda Newhart ......... Music & Education Secretary
Carol Porter .. Membership & Pastoral Care Secretary
Kate Stephenson ................Communications Assistant
Shari Hulsman* ........................................... Bookkeeper
Wayne King*.......................... Maintenance Supervisor
Marvin Fleming.................................................... Sexton
William C. Schram ................................... Pastor Emeritus
* part time
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The Chimes ● Winter 2010
Advent Calendar of Events
First Sunday in Advent
Sunday, November 28, 10:00 a.m.
The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper
All Church Advent/Christmas Dinner and Program
Sunday, December 5, 5:00 p.m.
An evening of food and fellowship for all ages
Following the potluck there will be a short play presented by the children and youth (grades K-8),
and music will be performed by all of the children and youth choirs as well as the Junior High Bell Choir.
Lessons and Carols
Sunday, December 12, 10:00 a.m.
A traditional service of Christmas scripture, music and prayers. Music will be sung and played by
the children and youth choirs, Westminster Choir, and the Adult Handbell Choir.
Noonday Carol Sing and Lunch
Wednesday, December 15, 12:10 p.m.
A fun and festive community event with special music presented by the Xenia High School Choir
Christmas Cookie Walk
Sunday, December 19, after worship
Purchase a delicious variety of home-baked cookies,
and support the mission ministries of Westminster Presbyterian Women.
Blue Christmas Service
Sunday, December 19, 12:30 p.m. (Chapel)
Come and join in sharing and hearing prayers, scripture and music
that acknowledge God’s presence for those who mourn and struggle.
Christmas Eve
Christmas in the Stable
Friday, December 24, 4:00 p.m.
This service is designed as a family service,
but all are invited. Children are encouraged to
come to the worship service dressed as their
favorite character from the Christmas story.
Christmas in the Cathedral
Friday, December 24, 10:00 p.m.
Prelude, 9:20 p.m.
This beautiful candlelight service
is the culmination of the Advent season.
www.westminsterdayton.org
Page 3
Unbinding Your Heart Exceeds Expectations
Submitted by Laurie Brubaker Davis
“For everything there is a season” (Ecclesiastes
3:1) – even for something as “un-Westminster” as
attempting to involve 80% of our worshipping
congregation in a six-week spiritual growth opportunity centered on praying aloud together and
faith sharing (evangelism). As Stan Herr said, “I
knew that our small group was not sold on the
idea of spending six weeks dedicated to evangelism, but after I volunteered to lead the sessions,
everyone signed up, bought their books and
promised they would give it a chance.” Susie
Weaver was most surprised by the people who
signed up for her small group. She describes
them as “members of the congregation who are
already very involved in the life of the church and
fairly long-time members. These folks were still
willing to learn and experience new ways of doing
something as intimidating as ‘evangelism’ especially since they thought the whole church (as
well as themselves) would benefit from this process.”
And they were right. The response was remarkable, not only in numbers but also in spiritual
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growth. First the numbers: we fielded 29 small
groups (19 new groups and 10 pre-existing small
groups) totaling 296 participants. We also directly involved 90 children and youth for a total
involvement of just less than 400 Westminsterites. Eighteen of the groups met on Sundays at
Westminster, the rest met throughout the week at
a variety of sites: in member homes from Vandalia to Centerville; at a coffee shop in Bellbrook;
Bethany Lutheran Retirement Community; and
online, meeting “virtually” via computer. The children followed a parallel curriculum, “Hi God: Unbinding Your Heart through Prayer,” in their
CrossRoads Sunday school classes. Some of
the youth opted to participate in a small group
using the same book as the adults. The Sunday
night youth program was also coordinated with
the Unbinding themes. From young to old and
with long-time members as well as first-time visitors jumping on board, we surprisingly not only
met but exceeded our 80% goal.
Evidence of spiritual growth is more difficult to
measure, yet this small sampling of participants’
The Chimes ● Winter 2010
Sunday-morning activity to a daily (often 3 or 4
times a day) activity. [God] has shown me that
he is there to lean on when I need support and to
listen when I need to talk.” Sally Dyer realized,
“This study/experience came at just the right time
in my life. It has brought me peace and healSally Dyer wrote, “My Presby Group has been
together for about 20 years. In the past couple of ing. There were many instances when the daily
scripture really spoke to me. The ritual of daily
years, the enthusiasm for being together has
study and prayer has enriched my life in so many
dwindled. Those of us who met together for
ways, and I look forward to continuing the practhese six weeks discovered the joy of being together again. It was wonderful to reconnect on a tice.” Brent Manley observed, “Throughout these
six weeks, I was reminded that my own personal
spiritual level with the others, to share thoughts
about God, evangelism, our faith journeys, and to relationship with God is the most crucial element
of a growing church.”
pray for each other—even out loud—a new experience for most of us. We are anxious to keep
meeting in the future to continue growing our faith What about the faith-sharing (evangelism) part?
"It really pushes you to do that evangelism thing,”
together.”
writes Rebeca Goetz, a member of the teen small
“Unbinding Your Heart was a healing time for
me,” reflected Brent Manley. “After some ‘budget group led by Nancy Hodgkins. Rebeca continwars’ in the past couple of years, it was refresh- ued, “It's inspiring. If you tell your friends, you
reflections indicates real progress. Stan’s group
“moved from being very uncomfortable about
praying with each other to really finding meaning
with our prayer exercises.”
“Unbinding Your Heart was a healing time for me.”
ing to sit with other members, pray together, and
discuss scripture. It has led me to some of the
most ‘spiritual’ conversations I have had with
other members in my 20 year history at Westminster.” As one member in Brent’s group stated,
“More groups like this would go a long way in diminishing the label of the ‘frozen chosen.’”
Participants of all ages found new avenues for
connecting to God from day to day. One small
child left a note in the pew, asking God to give
her grandfather (who passed away last year) the
picture she drew. Teen Bridget Gladden, our recently ordained Deacon, said, “The prayer practices encourage us to take time out of our busy
lives. They direct us onto a path that allows time
to devote ourselves to God.” Debbie Lloyd was
surprised by how enriching the Unbinding experience has been for her in ways “I never would
have imagined possible. Prayer has gone from a
can really change
someone's life." Susie
Weaver learned
something she hopes
she won’t forget: “I
want to remember that people are just waiting to
be asked to come to church…it isn’t so ‘outside
the box’ to simply ask. Because evangelism has
developed a bad rap, we have negated our responsibility to welcome people to our church and
then to engage them in fellowship here. I think all
of us need to extend ourselves to each other in
more caring and supportive ways.”
What next? Stay tuned. With so many Westminster hearts beginning to unbind, and a flurry of
new energy and new ideas, there’s no limit to
what the Spirit can do.
www.westminsterdayton.org
Page 5
Gifts from the Heart
Submitted by Sally Dyer
Christmas time – For many of us, those two
words invoke images of a beautiful, decorated
tree, family gathered in the kitchen baking
Christmas cookies or preparing a tasty holiday
dinner, standing inside a warm house looking
out the window at the snow-covered yard, and
shopping at the mall for the perfect gift for our
daughter or son.
Christmas time – For many families at E.J.
Brown, it invokes totally different images. Consider
these
common hardships
many
families
deal
with during the
holidays. Some
families
may
splurge on a
live or artificial
Christmas tree,
but more of
them go totally
without. In the
past, Westminster members
donated artificial trees to
needy
E.J.
Brown families,
and one year
we had a donation of six fresh-cut trees. For
other families, a heated house or apartment is
not taken for granted, much less proper winter
clothing. Children telling their teachers that “we
are too poor for Santa Claus to visit” is not unusual. Empty pantries or refrigerators are common at Christmas as the parents have to make
tough choices about how to spend the few discretionary dollars they have.
Christmas time – During the first three years of
our partnership with E.J. Brown, the school social worker identified a few families that needed
help at Christmas time. In the beginning various
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relational groups at Westminster "adopted"
these families. Gifts from the Heart grew out of
a desire to serve more children and families at
the school, and was initially modeled after a
similar program done at the Oxford Presbyterian Church in Oxford, Ohio. Over the past 10
years, the small group of "Women on a Mission" has made this program a part of their
Christmas tradition.
In the past 10 years, more than 1,200 children
(comprising
more than 320
families) have
been adopted
by WPC members and/or relational groups.
In addition to
the thousands
of gifts that
have
been
given to these
children, more
than 300 food
baskets have
been given to
the
families,
ensuring them
a holiday meal
that may otherwise not have been enjoyed.
Christmas time is fast approaching and so is
the need for people with open and generous
hearts to adopt an E.J. Brown student during
this year’s Gifts from the Heart campaign.
Hearts with the student’s name, age and gender, and a letter about their hobbies, interests
and Christmas gift wishes, will be available in
Fellowship Hall after worship on November 21.
If shopping isn’t your thing, donations for the
food baskets are always welcome. Please consider helping make an E.J. Brown family’s
Christmas memories brighter this year.
The Chimes ● Winter 2010
Transitions in Pastoral Care
Westminster is living through a transition from the era when The Reverend Kay Davis-Dudding
headed up the responsibilities for pastoral care, to sometime in the future when we will decide on a
new way of staffing that responsibility. In the interim we are incredibly fortunate to have The Reverend John Shonle serving as our Interim Associate Pastor for Pastoral Care.
One aspect of John’s responsibilities is to assist the Deacons, Personnel Committee and the
Session in determining the staffing needs for this area of ministry as we move into the future.
Sometime in early 2011, we will begin to look at
the options for the next stage of pastoral care
staffing for Westminster.
When the timing
seems right, part of the Session’s discernment
process will be to include open town hall meetings to receive input from the congregation.
If the church were to call a new Associate Pastor for Pastoral Care – and that is not a foregone conclusion – a search committee would be
formed with seven members. Such a committee
usually takes a year to complete its work.
In the interim, please pray that we would be led
to staff this valuable area of the church’s ministry in an appropriate way. The Session looks
forward to your input at the opportune time.
Westminster Presbyterian Women
The Westminster Presbyterian Women enjoyed a festive Fall Gathering on Saturday, October
30. The topic of the program was Homelessness in Dayton. Presenters included The Reverend Judith Barr, Director of the Samaritan Healthcare Clinic for the Homeless; Roberta Longfellow, Montgomery County Housing and Homeless Solutions Administrator; and Westminster
member Martha Burgess Slager, Director of
Philanthropy at Samaritan Hospital. Presenters
spoke about the current demographics of people who are homeless in the Dayton area and
the new directions local agencies are taking to
address the needs of people who are homeless.
Joyce Ferguson also shared a presentation
about the recent mission trip to our sister
church, Primera Iglesia (First Church) in Barranquilla, Colombia. Joyce shared stories of
teaching the women of the church to knit prayer
shawls.
www.westminsterdayton.org
Page 7
Caring for Our Neighbors
Submitted by Craig Showalter
The Lord watches over the strangers.
Psalms 146:9a (NRSV)
By the simple act of helping people get state identification cards, Westminster is helping hundreds gain access to needed social services in Dayton. Each
card costs only $8.50.
Starting in the last months of 2009, and continuing well into 2010, there was at least one person
every day coming to or calling the church looking for financial assistance. By the summer, that number had more than doubled. The current economy has become a compounded curse on the poor of
our community. With fewer jobs, there is more need for emergency assistance. But along with the
increased need, there is also much less money that charities have to give.
For many years, Westminster tried to offer some salve to everyone who came to us. Where they
had hundreds of dollars due for rent or utilities, we wrote their landlord or utility company a small
check for around $20. Most were grateful to have anything, even though it was often not enough to
stop the shut-off or the eviction. So, we partnered with the Sunrise Center and promised a few thousand dollars a year to help the needy with their rent and utilities. Sunrise Center screens the applicants. Now we write checks for $100 or so, but we know these are making a real difference.
The idea for paying for state IDs arose when many people came to us saying how they could not
get assistance because their IDs had been lost or stolen. An ID is an essential part of being eligible
for any aid program. To obtain a license, Ohio requires a person to provide proof of identity, including a Social Security card and a certified copy of a birth certificate. Because many people who do
not have IDs also do not have birth certificates, we started helping with that, too. A birth certificate in
Montgomery County costs $22.
Word hit the street when we began to specialize, and we have been flooded with requests. Even
with a valid state ID, the Dayton Metro Housing Authority also requires a birth certificate. Birth certificates are required for all students to enroll in Dayton Public Schools. Neither hospitals nor the
government issue birth certificates for newborns in Ohio. Mothers have come to us needing multiple
birth certificates in one request for themselves and their children.
To control the tide, we have limited our ID assistance to Tuesday afternoons and Thursday mornings. This has helped us focus our attention more, but it has not decreased the number of people
who still come to our door. We expect to spend $14,000 for this program this year, which is $6,000
more than we allotted. Even so, we are committed to not deny a valid request. The need is clearly
too great to say no.
How Can You Help?
Pray for this ministry and the people in need in our community.
Give generously to this ministry at our special offering for
Helping the Needy on Sunday, December 19.
Page 8
The Chimes ● Winter 2010
Between Jobs
As the economy continues to struggle, many people have fallen victim to layoffs,
cutbacks and business closures. Between Jobs is a ministry that was created to
help members of Westminster and the community who are out of work. This important program, led by Elder Vic Barnett, meets twice a month for support and
encouragement. Westminster members volunteer as advisors, mentors and referrers helping those looking for work update their resumes, practice interview
skills and network with local businesses. The group provides spiritual and emotional support during a difficult time. If you or someone you know is looking for
employment, or if you are aware of employment opportunities or would just like to
help, please check Westminster’s Web site for more information.
For more information about these programs or others that we offer, please go to
www.westminsterdayton.org
Good Things from the Good Earth
Anyone who ventures down to Fellowship Hall after worship on Sunday
mornings during the summer and fall months is greeted by a table full of
fresh garden produce. The Garden
Surplus table, which began in the early
1970’s, is overseen by Ann Barr. This
hunger ministry encourages people
with extra produce from their gardens
to bring items they wish to donate to
church. Those fresh vegetables, flowers and herbs are then made available
to members in exchange for a donation
to the Westminster Hunger Fund. This
year, Garden Surplus donations
reached an all time high of $1,600.
www.westminsterdayton.org
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Did You Know...
Part of the Deacon ministry at Westminster Church is to provide a meal for members
when they return home from a hospital
stay? Deacon Erin Staub coordinates meals
to be brought to patients returning home and
to their families. The Deacons also provide
meals to families in crisis. Please contact the
Deacons if you know of a family undergoing a
stressful situation that could benefit from this
ministry.
On October 24 the Calvin Fellowship Group
(grades 4-6) gave a Halloween Party for the children and mothers living at the YWCA Battered
Women’s Shelter? Donated costumes and face
paint applied by the brightly costumed Westminster children culminated in a “Monster Mash” parade
of 30 children, infants and moms.
The ETA Presby Group has been working
with Linda Vista, a non-profit organization providing housing for referred homeless women
with children? This wonderful program, run by
Carmen Gooden and Sherry Rogers, houses
up to 12 families at a time, providing housing,
furniture, medical support, educational encouragement and family support, in the hope
that program participants will graduate into
independent living situations in two to three
years.
Page 10
Boxes of 2010 offering envelopes will be
available in Heritage Hall starting Sunday, December 12, for those who have indicated that they prefer to give their offering in marked envelopes.
The money from this year’s Cookie Walk
sponsored by Westminster Presbyterian Women
on Sunday, December 19, will benefit the Presbyterian Hunger Program, Heifer International, and the House of
Bread?
Please be advised that per IRS regulations, all gifts must be received or postmarked
by December 31, 2010, to receive tax credit
for 2010.
The youth invited friends to a Party in the
Park on September 26 at Yankee Park in
Centerville? This festive event included a picnic, games, music,
crafts, snow cones, cotton candy, and the opportunity to introduce
their
school
and
neighborhood friends to
their
W e s t m in s t e r
church friends.
A small cast of ten children and youth ranging in age from Kindergarten to eighth grade is
preparing a short play entitled, “The Transfiguration of the Gifts,” directed by Laurie Davis and
David Vicarel, to be performed during the Advent/Christmas Dinner on December 5?
The Chimes ● Winter 2010
The Annual Mission Arts
and Crafts Sale (December
5, 12 and 15) supports needy
artisans around the world as
they seek to provide a better
quality of life for themselves
and their families?
The church offers a convenient electronic
giving option that allows donations to be made
on a scheduled, automatic basis. We highly
recommend this method of giving for visitors,
former members, and others who wish to support the church on an ongoing basis. This
year, you may set this up for yourself by going
to the church Web site and clicking on the donations link.
Or you may contact Craig
Showalter ([email protected] or
223-7285).
Westminster is a Legacy Partner with the
Dayton Foundation, which entitles
our members to their professional
services at no cost for setting up
planned gifts to the church and
other charitable organizations?
Contact Craig Showalter for more
information.
Many other churches are collaborating
with schools in much the same way we are
with E. J. Brown Elementary
School. In the past year,
Mission Associate Jim Henry
has helped form 11 new
school church partnerships in
the Dayton area. Overall,
there are now 85 churches
assisting 53 schools, some of
which are out of state. These
partnerships are helping
thousands of children with
books, school supplies, tutors, mentors, student-of-themonth pizza parties and
much more.
Members of the congregation are invited
to observe Session meetings. The Session
meets the first Tuesday of the month at 6:45.
Please let Judy Hamilton (223-7285, or
[email protected]) know of your
intention of attending by noon the Friday before the meeting. A new Session bulletin
board will soon be placed outside the Chapel
and will include the most recently approved
minutes.
Beginning this fall, teen volunteers are
helping out once a month in the Sunday morning nursery and toddler program? They are
also volunteering in the Come and See program with the children in grades 1-3.
This year’s Knox Choir (grades 7-12) is so
large that additional
music had to be purchased to accommodate all the new
singers? Presently
there are 50 members.
If you would like to be added to the Chimes
mailing list, please contact the Church Office
at (937) 223-7285 or
e-mail [email protected]
www.westminsterdayton.org
Page 11
Among Our People
Jackie Nowak Ordained
The Presbytery of the Miami Valley ordained Westminster member, The Reverend Dr. Jacqueline J. Nowak, as Minister of Word
and Sacrament, on Sunday, October 31, 2010, in the Westminster Sanctuary. A reception followed in Fellowship Hall. Dr.
McConnel preached and Elders Sue Merz and Dennis Piermont
also participated in the service. Jackie was ordained to the position of Director of the Institute of Applied Theology at United
Theological Seminary (UTS), Dayton. She also serves as Director of Care Ministries at Southminster Presbyterian Church, Centerville.
Dr. Nowak, who earned her Masters of Religious Education and
Doctor of Ministry degrees from United Theological Seminary,
has served in various capacities in the Presbytery of the Miami
Valley, including Director of Christian Education at Memorial
United Presbyterian Church, Xenia, and Associate for Pastoral Care for the Presbytery of the Miami
Valley. Jackie served Westminster as a Seminary Associate, and she filled in full time when Kay
Davis-Dudding took her sabbatical.
Jackie and her husband, Don, who have four sons and three granddaughters, live in Beavercreek.
Judy Hamilton to Retire January 28
Judy Hamilton, Executive Assistant to Sandy McConnel, will retire from Westminster on
January 28, after 14 years of service to the church. While at Westminster, Judy served as
Dr. McConnel’s assistant and provided support to the Session and many of the church’s
committees. She edited The Chimes newsletter, and served as coordinator of the office
staff. Judy also had responsibility for editing the weekly bulletin and supporting special services (i.e., weddings and funerals).
Besides her formal duties, Judy served as a pastor to all the
Pastors at Westminster with her wise counsel and active listening skills. She has been a valued member of the Westminster staff team and will be sorely missed.
Judy is looking forward to having more time with her family
and participating more fully in her home church in Englewood,
where she serves as a lay preacher, Worship Committee
chairperson and a Stephen Ministry leader.
Judy will be recognized in worship on Sunday, January 30,
and at the Coffee Hour following the service.
12
The Word Became Flesh and Moved into the Neighborhood
On Saturday, October 23, Westminster members spent the morning
working with six local agencies. Forty-five adults and youth participated
in the most recent Done in a Day mission project. Teams painted at
Daybreak, Linda Vista and the YWCA. Eight people dusted, vacuumed
and landscaped at the Peace Museum. One team sorted clothing at
Mercy Manor, while another rehabilitated a house with Habitat for Humanity. We even had a team preparing lunch at Westminster. At 12:15
the teams returned to Westminster for lunch, fellowship and an opportunity to share their experiences with the other teams.
Put your faith into action. The next Done in a Day will be May 21.
Marriages
•
Adrienne Moore and James Panning
September 18, 2010
Births
•
Jackson Parker Wemple—born March 13, 2010
Parents are Kathryn and Adam Wemple
•
Olivia Grace Gillespie—born August 3, 2010
Parents are Andrew and Jennifer Gillespie
Deaths
•
•
•
Liz Elliott—died October 30, 2010
John Herbert—died November 17, 2010
Jim Woods—died November 17, 2010
13
The Christmas Shibboleth
by The Reverend Dr. George H. McConnel
December 6, 2009
Matthew 1:18-25
One of my all time favorite television programs was The West Wing, a fictional
drama of a modern-day White House. It’s off the air now and I miss it. The show
was well written, had several actors who grew up in Dayton, and best of all it depicted a president named Bartlett, who was quite appealing.
I recall an episode with a religious component. A cargo container arrives on the
West Coast with a human cargo of illegal Chinese immigrants. While detained by
the INS, the refugees claim they are persecuted Christians. This promises to be a political problem for President
Bartlett. The law requires the refugees be returned to China. The Christian Right promises a political scene if they
are returned. President Bartlett decides that he will meet with a representative of the refugees to ascertain whether
they really are Christians or whether they are using the Christian banner as a convenient ploy. The president tells
his trusted aid, Toby, that he will see if the Chinese representative knows the correct shibboleth.
If you were put in a life threatening position where you had to prove that you were a Christian by your “shibboleth,”
what would it be? Wait a second, do you even know what a shibboleth is? On the West Wing only the president
and the Chinese Christian representative know. This president knows everything.
In the dictionary, the word shibboleth is defined as “a custom, principle, or belief distinguishing a particular class or
group of people.” In layperson’s terms it is “the secret handshake." The actual word refers to a story in the 12th
chapter of the Book of Judges. In the story, the Gileadites held the fords of the Jordan River against the Ephraimites. The Ephraimites had to cross the Jordan to get home, so they’d approach the Gileadite sentries and when
challenged if they were an Ephraimite, they’d say, “No, I’m no Ephraimite.” “All right,” the Gileadites would reply,
“prove it and say the word Shibboleth.” And the Ephraimites, with their incurable southern accents, would say,
“Sibboleth.” So the record says that 42,000 Ephraimites were slain at the fords of the Jordan because they could
not frame their mouths to pronounce the word correctly.
In the guerrilla warfare that has divided American Protestants since the late 1800s and continues today, the Virgin
Birth has been the shibboleth of the Christmas story. Say “I believe in the Virgin Birth,” and according to conservative Christians, you’re okay. Refuse to say it, and you’re done for. You may not be slain at the fords of the Jordan,
but you will be called a modernist, a liberal, or an unbeliever. Some folks will be sure that you’re no Christian. They
will preach sermons against you in which they will warn people not to listen to you and assure them you are bound
straight for hell.
Now, that long and continuing history comes to mind as I approach, with some fear and trembling, this phrase in
the Apostles’ Creed, “…born of the Virgin Mary.”
The first thing I want to say is that it’s the wrong shibboleth. I can agree with the intent of the fundamentalists and
the evangelicals. They are concerned for the deity of Christ. Jesus Christ is more than a great human teacher,
more than a splendid human example, more than a noble human martyr. His life among us was at the same time
God’s life among us. While this truth of Jesus’ divinity may offend some people, we must affirm it if we are to be
Christian. But “born of the Virgin Mary” is the wrong shibboleth for that purpose.
The Apostles’ Creed contains much stronger and clearer affirmations of the deity of Christ than the words “born of
the Virgin Mary.” The deity of Christ is more strongly affirmed in the words, “conceived by the Holy Spirit.” It is
even more strongly affirmed in “he is seated at the right hand of the Father.” And the strongest, most basic affirmation is the one that opens the second article: “I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord.” The words “born
of the Virgin Mary” could be entirely omitted from the Creed, and the deity of Christ would still be affirmed with great
strength.
To make the Virgin Birth the shibboleth of Christ’s deity is not only to misunderstand the Creed but to misunder14
stand scripture as well. The stories of the Virgin Birth in Matthew and Luke are clearly part of scripture, a beautiful
and moving part. But, scripture does not depend on those stories to establish the deity of Christ. The great affirmations of the deity of Christ are found in the letters of Paul and in the Gospel of John and in the epistle to the Hebrews – and in none of those do you find the story of the Virgin Birth. The stories of the Virgin Birth could be entirely omitted from scripture and the deity of Christ would still be affirmed with great strength.
To quiz someone about his or her belief in the Virgin Birth – to hold that up as the shibboleth, the great test of orthodoxy – may reveal something about someone’s attitude toward biological miracles or toward biblical criticism,
but it would not reveal very much regarding his or her attitude toward the deity of Christ. It is the wrong shibboleth.
“Born of the Virgin Mary” - do you believe that? I’ll wager that if we were to count all our opinions in this room – the
“yeses” and the “noes” and the “I’m not sures” – the results would be inconclusive. Clearly, this is a doctrine where
Christians of good conscience disagree. All the many arguments pro and con from scripture, translation idiosyncrasies, doctrinal statements and theology are beyond the scope of this sermon if we want to get out of here before
Christmas. Perhaps it would make a good Advent study some year in Adult Education. I would, however, like to
leave you with something besides my opinion that the Virgin Birth is the wrong “shibboleth” and that the entire gospel does not stand or fall on the Virgin Birth.
First, we need not be concerned with the idea of the possibility. If God can make the world ex nihilo, out of nothing,
then surely God can create a human without the benefit of a male. As Luke himself put it in his version of the birth
narrative: “For nothing will be impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37) It is impossible to speak of impossibilities when the
action in question is the action of God. Jesus being born of a virgin is not beyond God’s power.
Second, I believe you can be a Christian without affirming the Virgin Birth. Even Billy Graham agrees with that.
While Graham does believe that Jesus was born of a virgin, he says, “I do not find anywhere in the New Testament
that this particular belief is necessary for personal salvation.” I hope that the doctrine of the Virgin Birth is not a barrier to belief for any of you. I hope this doctrine is not keeping you from Christian commitment or causing you to
doubt the incarnation. Personally, I would not put it past God to arrange a Virgin Birth if he wanted to, but I doubt
he did.
Finally, it is always good to remember that when we look at any biblical story we should ask the question that Jews
would ask. That question is not “Did this actually happen?” Instead, Jews would ask, “What does this teach?” This
story teaches us that God was especially operative in the birth of Jesus—that our Lord’s incarnation was a holy
and mysterious event, brought about solely by free divine grace, surpassing any human possibilities. The virginal
conception was understood from the very beginning as a statement about God and about Jesus, and only secondarily about Mary. Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit, supporting our claim of full divinity, and he was born of a
woman, supporting our claim of full humanity.
Friends, we need not be tied to any one interpretation of this story. If we choose to take it literally, we may certainly
do so. Indeed, if we feel we are led to do so, we must do so. On the other hand, if we feel the historical evidence is
insecure and inconclusive, if we wonder why so great an interpreter of the Christian faith as the Apostle Paul never
mentions the story, if we feel the literal interpretation threatens the fullness and completeness of the incarnation
and humanness of Jesus, then we are quite free to hold that, through the providence of God, the Spirit used the
ordinary events in an ordinary home for the glory of God, and that the clue to the story is the special operation of
the Holy Spirit through a human agent in the birth of Jesus.
One thing is clear. This is the wrong “shibboleth.” There is no reason to set this story in the forefront of the Christian
faith and doctrine. If it forms no part in the message of the evangelists Mark and John or of the great thinker Paul,
then we don’t need to make it a foundation stone in the edifice of Christian belief. In this story let each of us both
thoughtfully and prayerfully choose our own interpretation, and let us regard with sympathy and understanding
those who choose another way of finding God’s truth in it.
Now, back to The West Wing. When the Chinese Christian representative meets President Bartlett in the Oval Office, without prompting he says something like, “The shibboleth is that God was showing his love for the world in
sending to us his son, Jesus Christ. Our task is to love one another.” President Bartlett recognizes the Chinese
refugee for the genuine Christian that he is, and their group is given amnesty.
15
Looking Ahead…
Ahead
Presbyterian Heritage Sunday is January 23. Join us for worship at 10:00 a.m. when we will
celebrate our Scottish roots with the Miami Valley Pipes and Drums.
All Church Potluck Dinner and Talent Show will be Sunday, February 13, at 6:00 p.m.
The 2011 Annual Meeting will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, February 27.
Ash Wednesday, the first day of the Lenten season, is March 9.
Identical Taizé worship services will be held at 12:10 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
www.westminsterdayton.org
Distribution Date:
Friday, November 19
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Westminster Presbyterian Church
125 N. Wilkinson Street
Dayton, OH 45402