Irreplaceable
In a number of United Methodist Churches today, new pastors will be in their new pulpits. Former pastors have moved to new appointments or retirement. Congregation members will be in a special spot between pastors past and new pastor present. It’s bitter-sweetery all around.
I had the chance to talk about this last Sunday in my sermon at Asbury UMC, where I was concluding a great ‘get-to’ of being one of the pastors there for the past two years.
I talked about what was a bit of controversy in the church at Corinth. People were choosing sides between Pastor Paul and Pastor Apollos. In that great art museum, The Googleheim, I even found a depiction of them by an anonymous 16th century Italian artist, though I assume the artist knew his/her own name.
Missionary Paul spent a year and a half in Corinth. Apollos was reputed to be an eloquent speaker and scholar. (Acts 18) By his own admission, Paul wasn’t so impressive in person, was considered better in his letters. (2 Cor. 2.10)
Paul’s eloquence did come through as he compared the church to a garden - Apollos and himself to gardeners. ‘One plants, another waters, but God gives the growth.’ Pastors do their parts and have their places. But God is the one who works through and in spite of sundry pastors and church members. (1 Cor. 3)
Newly assigned pastors come with some grief for where they have been and considerable excitement for where they are arriving, maybe a bit scared, to begin a fresh life chapter.
Church members often have their mix of feelings. Many have had a close relationship with the former pastor. That pastor may have been there for us in pivotal moments – births, deaths, weddings, funerals, iffy and wonderful times – doing life with us.
Now, here is another pastor, another person. Does the new pastor take the former pastor’s place? Is it a bit of a betrayal of our former pastor to transfer loyalty to the newcomer? To both questions, one answer: No.
In the array of relationships in our lives, no one takes anyone’s place. By the wow-ness of God, each person can make their own place in our lives, and we in theirs.
So, a new pastor creates a new place in our hearts and lives.
Having served 8+ churches across the years, as a pastor, I can say that no church takes another church’s place. Each church and its people have their special place in my heart and life.
This has me thinking about the irreplaceable dynamic in all of our lives.
I have witnessed couples who experienced ‘second time around love’ after the loss of a spouse. One by no means took the place of their former husband or wife. But by grace, a new chapter can come with someone who makes their own place in their lives.
I have witnessed well-meaning people trying to help friends who have faced the loss of a child…saying such as, you have other children, you can have another child. No. Poignantly, painfully, for sure, no one takes that child’s place. Yet by grace, I have seen parents continue on with the unique place of other children in their lives.
For sure, not on the level of human loss, but many of us know the loss of a beloved pet is no small matter. A while back, I spoke of a Jack sized hole in Dianne and my heart after our 13 years with that beloved dog.
After a dog-free couple of years, Sam entered chez Morgan. From galumping Labradoodle Jack, now to kaboinging Sam, though Sam does get called Jack on occasion, each has his own place in our lives and hearts. I love the picture of Jack’s portrait above Sam looking out the window.
The zigs and zags of my mind even scare me a bit. Out walking with Sam, I had this ‘irreplaceable dynamic’ on my mind. Through my synapses wafted the tune and words of Nat King Cole and daughter Natalie singing ‘Unforgettable’.
Go through the picture album of your life: faces of friends, teachers, array of family members and more. With grief, grace, and gratitude, hum, sing if you can…make the word the change…
“Irreplaceable…
In every way
And forever more
That's how you'll stay.”