Fr. Bill Walker – June 23, 2024

Please be seated.

Good morning, Christchurch Church.

Good to be with you all today, to

get to preach and hopefully lead the service,

especially as most of the staff are

away this week and be beginning this weekend

in Guatemala.

On a mission trip together with the mission

team with our long term partner there, Potter

House. I know they got in late last

night and had an early worship of service

this morning and are recovering. So we pray

for them and are happy for their opportunity

to be there together.

For those of who I may not know,

my name is Bill Walker, and I've served

previously,

on staff here as the director of vocation,

overseeing a faith and work ministry and vocational

formation programming. I'm still helping out here and

there with that and doing that same kind

of thing in the city more broadly with

the center for faith and work. But my

main job now in the last 2 years

has been to direct Hill House Christian study

center, which is familiar to some of you.

We serve Ut campus, and we try to

bring Christian faith to bear on all of

the subjects And disciplines and questions that students

are encountering in their college years,

topics and ap,

and cultural engagement, engagement,

politics,

faith and work, these kinds of things. And

we've partnered with Christchurch for a few events

and we hope to do more of that

in the coming months and even years,

last weekend, on Sunday evening,

that was the last time many of us

were together for those who were there. We

gathered to,

celebrate and and

install father Matt Dam as our new director

of Christchurch Church.

And, yeah, It was it was a celebratory

moment, and I came

eager to participate, but with probably low expectations

thinking it would feel more like a formality.

And it was anything but that, I I

was I I was surprisingly just moved deeply.

Maybe some of you shared that feeling in

response to to any number of things that

happened throughout the evening from our...

Enthusiastic

embrace

of Matt when he was announced and received

as our new record to the time afterward,

to the lit g throughout, and especially for

me it was also Bishop Todd's words,

spoken directly to Father. And then by extension,

I think to all of us in this

time of transition still in leadership.

And so I wanted to draw just from

a few of his comments and repeat them

back to you because I think they also

helped to set up some of what we

want explore this morning in the gospel story.

And Bishop Todd was was primarily reflecting on

the passage from Joshua 1 just versus 7

through 9, a very familiar set of verses

too many of us.

And that last verse, maybe most famous

says this,

Have I not commanded you?

Be strong and courageous?

Do not be afraid.

Do not be discouraged

for the lord your God will be with

you.

Wherever you go.

Bishop Todd commented that that phrase that language

be strong and courageous could also be understood

as saying

be not

alarmed.

Do not be alarmed.

Why?

Because you are in the care

of another.

Be not alarmed, you in the care of

another, cannot not be afraid

Be strong and courageous do not be discouraged.

The lord your god is with you.

Wherever you go?

Will you pray with me?

Oh, god, as as Christ church and as

your followers, we do wish to be people

of strength and courage, who are not easily

made afraid or alarmed

By the many things, there might be reason

to be fearful about.

So teach us Lord this morning to trust

you and guide us into more truth through

your word, We pray Holy Spirit.

I'm in.

I recently

got to read as part of a book

club that I'm in,

a book entitled the anxious generation,

by Jonathan Hai.

Some of you may know this work. It's

recently published, fairly widely discussed and height has

a reputation already for publishing similar such books

in recent years that are very good,

conversation starters and raising

awareness and attention about important issues facing our

society as as a moral and social

psychologist.

And the subtitle of the book tells a

bit more of the story, it reads

how the great wheat re wiring

of childhood

is causing an epidemic of mental illness.

Now having just talked about not being alarmed,

this is not

exactly an example of that. It feels a

little bit like an alarm,

like he's sounding the alarm,

but appropriately,

so, it's me based on what he's saying.

The research, the evidence. Things that maybe many

of us have sense about

technological

changes in recent years, but now the data

to back up seems of the problems that

it's causing. Among young people especially and their

use of

smartphones, social media, technology screens in general. Right?

Some and that's a big part of the

book, but this another part I wanna talk

about this morning. His thesis essentially

height is claiming in the book is that

we have...

As a society, so far under

under protected

our young people

in the virtual world,

and that's seems clear enough. Under protected our

young people in the virtual world. But also,

he says, and this is more interesting and

surprising for our purposes today.

Over protected,

over protected

are young people in the real world.

So what is what is this about? What

is he saying?

Hide goes on to sites, what I... What

I take to be common knowledge for the

most part in

middle psychology, which is to show how we've

learned a good bit about some of the

things,

kids really need, for example, between age ages

3

and 10.

And I'm tuning in especially to this as

a parent of 3 kids in that age

range.

This sounds important. So I'm listening. And he

talks about how 1 of the things that

kids have typically had in most times in

most societies for most much history. As far

as we can tell is something called

free play.

Free play and some abundance.

And that free play is cares for by

a few things that are that are important.

Relative it's relatively

unstructured.

It's relatively un

supervised,

and it's relatively very relatively

risky.

There is an element of risk. There is

the possibility of something going wrong, Nothing too

serious hopefully,

but a cape could get hurt.

Someone's feeling is good get hurt. There could

be conflict. Adults might not be immediately able

to rush in and helps solve the problem

kids have to kinda work it out for

themselves. And that this is very important for

their development, all the better when it's kids

of different ages and even more so when

they're outside

as opposed to inside

And that this has been this this this

this experience kids in their development allows for

the growth of their confidence,

their self esteem, They're courage for resilience. Their

ability to actually fail and realize it's not

the end of the world,

and they can try again and do hard

things.

Their And not just the last 10 or

15 years, but really the last 30 or

40, he's saying.

We have afforded

collectively,

less and less

time for free play to our young people.

And this is part of what has led

to. Part of the story of what leads

to the anxious

generation.

Underlying all of this, how it goes on

to say,

is a deeper condition.

He calls for us and an addiction.

To safety.

Safety. He even he characterized. He calls it

safety ism. We are we are stricken by

safety ism,

is this making sacred the value of safety

so much so that when other practical

and moral demands,

ask something of us, we're unwilling

to compromise

to meet those demands.

Does this sound familiar Does sound accurate to

y'all all of all. This this this is

resonate.

I think it does... I know there are

other big

idol.

And addictions and problems in our society, but

this does seem to me to be 1

of... It just as by way of illustration,

I think I think back to Covid

And hopefully, we have enough time removed to

toward. This cannot be as

touchy of a of a thing to comment

on and recognizing that different people had comfort

levels and responses to Covid, but there was

this extreme kind of polarized

response by different folks. On the 1 hand,

those who didn't take it seriously at all

and that led to some harmful consequences. And

there are others who it

absolutely controlled them.

And,

instilled great fear and that led to other,

undesirable outcomes as well.

And this is probably the more mainstream

narrative and response,

because safety has become this tremendous value this

sacred

thing that we hold dear in our time.

Right

Even the expression be safe. Stay safe, started

to sort of get thrown around more, I

noticed with sal and greetings. Like, as though

that is... That's it. Right?

Clinging need to safety. And we say it

probably ourselves sometimes Don't don't mean any harm

by it, but it's gotten more popular.

And this would be fine.

You need if

1 of the chief goals of Life or

to be safe.

If being safe of being secure of being

protected if remaining unharmed was,

Absolutely important.

Of course, we know as humans in general,

that's not true. And as Christians, especially that's

not true.

That we're meant to live for much more.

And focusing on safety can inhibit the flourishing

life that god has for us.

Again, this is not to say though that

there aren't necessary good precautions that need to

be taken. Right? This sonic this isn't going

against practical wisdom, Of course, we need to

be careful. Especially when raising kids.

And we do have we do have all

this information now that I think makes it

especially hard. Right,

for or,

We know the bad things that can happen.

We know more about what can go wrong.

We hear the terrible stories and so we're

more on alert. We're more informed, and that

that makes it... Seem like the world perhaps

even more unsafe than it actually is to

some of our kids. Right?

We don't trust each other as much.

We don't know our neighbors as well.

We're more focused on

making sure our kids are set up for

success until we provide structure around that and

all kinds of programs and activities that are

fine and good,

but they don't allow for as much of

that age appropriate free

play.

And height again says it's because

we're ultimately afraid.

And we're not trusting in a certain kind

of,

collective

common effort to to, work together to raise

our kids in more healthy ways. And he's

speaking as an on Christian, which is fascinating.

I probably don't have to tell many of

you that in the Bible,

perhaps are arguably the most frequent command depending

on how you define it.

Some 350 to 400 times is this command

to what?

Not be afraid.

To fear not.

To not worry to not be anxious, but

to trust

in the Lord our God who is always

with us, who will never leave us, who

will never for sake us.

It's almost as if god knew

that this would be 1 of the chief

pitfalls

of the life of faith.

Is wouldn't fear grows stronger than faith itself.

And look, we we all know y'all. It

would be silly to pretend, like, it's easy

to do this or, like, the world is

is safe.

The world is not safe.

The world is dangerous. The world is scary,

and I very much understand. This is not

to shame anyone, and myself included for being

afraid.

There is much reason to be afraid and

feel unsafe.

Much good reason.

That we live in a relatively safe part

of the world compared to others. It would

certainly be

less safe

for most people for the average person to

be in a place like, say, Ukraine

or Sudan or Gaza right now.

And other places could be named.

But we too are not

all that safe.

There are dangers everywhere. There are dangers

in the food that we eat, in the

air that we breathe and the water that

we drink on the roads that we drive

on. In the schools we send our kids

to an a tent

in public places.

We know that there are real risks in

real dangers. This is

not a safe world.

And so what really is

the invitation and challenge from God from Jesus

in this story today? To the disciples in

the boat and by ascension,

to us.

What are we being asked to do? What

are we being told to put our faith

in exactly?

And this is hard because this is the

straightforward reading of the story could be something

like this.

When you face trouble, when you're in a

storm, what do you do?

Cry out to Jesus. Why don't you care

where are you? Don't you don't... You're not

even awake?

Come on, rescue us.

And in this case, he does just that.

He rebuke the storm. He calms he calms

the wind in the waves and they are

safe.

Like immediately.

And that's great. And that happens.

That happens often sometimes. I mean, we see.

We experience own lives.

But we also know probably normally, that's not

what happens.

Right?

We cry out. We pray.

We ask God where he is, and it

feels like seems like he's asleep

or doesn't care?

Don't you care they ask.

Right

I wanna turn back to 1 more thing,

Bishop Todd said to father Matt this past

Sunday.

That was encouraging along these lines.

He said 1 1 of his final comments

and I'm I'm gonna para. To Matt, I

I If it's 1 thing I wish most

for you, my prayer, my hope is that

when you look back,

on your time,

hopefully, many years from now as rec of

of Christchurch Church,

that you would be able to say

of you and of your people and of

your leadership. You were

you were companion

by God.

You were companion My god. You sense God's

company.

The spirits company, Jesus was with you, and

you you knew it, you felt it. You

could sense it. And there was a strength,

and there was a courage that was available

to you.

That you drew on that you enjoyed

that was not your own,

but it came from the Lord. And it

sustain you through all kinds of thick and

thin.

This was the bishop

final word of encouragement to father Matt and

to us by extension. I as

Christ.

And I do think this is at least

1 key point and theological takeaway from the

story

of Jesus calming the storm. It's that above

all or at least most obviously,

yes, there's a storm still, and sometimes it

seems like Goddess, sleeping or not caring.

But actually, Jesus is with us.

He's in the boat.

God is with us

We are not alone.

We've never been alone,

and we will never be alone, and we

will never be forsaken, he will never leave

us. He is with us. And he is

still god.

That is no small thing even though it's

easy to say it and harder to feel

it and trust it and believe it. But

that god is with us is an enormous

promise and recurring

refrain throughout all of scripture, we constantly being

reminded to trust in and lean into and

live in power from. Right? That God is

with us.

And furthermore, that not only is Jesus with

us in the storm, but Jesus, while he

may not stop the storm right when he

want him to,

or in our lifetimes,

He has power over the storm.

He is stronger than the storm. He out

outlast the storm

in some indirect way, he offered the possibility

4 storms,

and therefore, we too will outlast the storms.

Even in the face of death. And Jesus

has already been through the worst kinds of

storms.

The storm of facing and taking on all

of our sin, all of our suffering, death

itself

and overcoming it and conquering it

and giving life to us

on the other side.

I turned

40 this last week.

It's a it's a big birthday.

I recognize that it's still young ish, right,

kind of, and

I shouldn't be too alarms.

But it's 1 of those birthdays like many

anniversaries or birthdays or milestones where you are

prompted to get this opportunity to reflect.

And consider and take stock. And I've been

doing trying to do that.

And I can say,

it's it's a blessing to be able to

say that... By and large, what I've been

focused on is and and trying to

appreciate and just receive and be grateful for

is

the bo of,

just gifts and blessings and and

all the good things in my life

that are that are... That I do not,

deserve and that I nonetheless

get to receive,

and it's a practice of gratitude, and I...

It's overwhelming when I think about it,

So many things you long for and hope

for and even maybe expect which you just

you don't know for sure. And then you...

Next thing you know, you have you have

these this rich life.

And so that... That's not lost on me

in 40 years.

And and it it equally, perhaps

prompts

and throws into relief and light, things that

are not yet the way you'd like for

them to be in your life.

Aspects of yourself

that do not yet look the way. You

know God wants them to be Ways that

you are not yet fully the person god

intends for you to. You're not living bully

in faith the way God invites us and

commands us too. And I see this. I

feel this. I I recognize this in my

own life, There is too much fear still

fully Mostly, it's small, but sometimes it grows

too big,

and I I really it really inhibits me.

Whether it's fear fears that you all can

relate to fears about

perhaps not having enough. Being able to provide

fears

related to failure in general or failure, in

certain ways with work. Fears

about

that is dis approval of others or

just end significance.

These are fears that I I can't say

I've overcome in 40 years, and I don't

know when I will, but I I know

I do sense. Very clear. And this is

why the the passage is so challenging to

me. Yes, it is

it is wonderful to remember, and I... And

we must, practice,

god's presence in our life,

and companionship.

And and be comforted by that.

But as Jesus shows us. Right? He's the

1 who,

puts his full trust in the care of

another, his good heavenly father all the way

to the cross

and does so in such a way where

he's still able

knowing what's ahead

to live with a freedom

and a power

that bless others and claims the gospel to

them and sets them free.

This kind of faith,

this kind of courage and strength,

gospel This is what we are gathered and

then sent to go out in.

Right?

To be the hands and feet of jesus

in the world.

We are... When we have faith, we get

to really live for others for the sake

of others. And only then,

Yes, it's a comfort to us to trust

in these things,

but think about a whole people

together trusting in it. And what they can

do. Their collective witness, the church in the

world in your places of work in your

neighborhoods and your families.

In your in your in your extended communities.

When

fear of all kinds of scary things does

not have power over you anymore.

Because you trust in the 1 who is

already in the storm with you and who

can and has conquered all storms.

That unlocks and enables the church to be

on mission and to fully

participate in god's red d work in the

world.

This is what faith does y'all when it's

when it's trusting in Christ.

And this is the invitation.

And I'm I'm I'm receiving it as much

as you all today. And I need it.

I want fear to be chased out of

every corner of my heart

So let me

conclude with a question posed to you all.

I invite you to consider.

Might there be

are there areas in your life where there

is

inordinate fear?

Undue fear

that has gotten

too much power

over you

or that inhibits a life of full flourishing

as Jesus would have for you.

Imagine, imagine that quest that he puts to

the disciples

directed to you,

in compassion, in love,

Because he wants the best of you, not

in judgment, not in shame, though there is

a rebuke there, of course,

but saying, why are you afraid?

Jesus asked you, why are you afraid?

Can you answer that question? Well, how would

you answer that question? And how would you

respond to the invitation to redirect your faith?

Into the 1 to the 1,

who gives us no reason to be afraid.

I wanna read lastly,

words from Jesus elsewhere in the gospel, the

gospel of John.

This is chapter 16.

Isaiah 16 · chapter mention

Perhaps you know this verse.

We're again speaking to disciples after a lengthy

teaching Jesus says.

I have told you

these things.

So that in me, you may have peace,

In the world, you will have trouble,

but take heart,

I have overcome the world.

And the name of the father and of

the son and of the holy spirit.

Amen.