Acts 2:42-47
One of my favorite poets is Robert Frost, and one of my favorite Frost poems is “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.” The last verse contains these words:
The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
I always wondered what promises he had to keep that would take him more miles to go before he could rest. There are some days I find myself feeling like I have miles to go before I keep all that I have promised to do, either to myself or to someone else.
Most of us take promises pretty seriously. I can remember, even as a child, when someone – especially a parent – said they were going to do something for me, I would ask, “Do you promise?” I knew that promises were made to be kept. A promise is “an oral or written agreement to do or not do something; a vow,” according to Webster’s New World College Dictionary. Being curious, of course I had to look up the word “vow,” and found this definition: “a solemn promise or pledge, especially one made to God, dedicating oneself to an act, service, or way of life.” Wow. That doesn’t pull any punches about how serious it is to make a vow, to make a promise.
We make all sorts of promises in life. Some are made with little or not thought. “Will you keep this a secret?” “I promise.” “You won’t forget to do this, will you?” “I promise.” But then there are other promises that are more involved and require a greater commitment. When people get married, they make promises to each other, which we call marriage vows. And when someone becomes a member of a United Methodist Church, they also make promises, vows, made to God that commit us to a certain kind of life. We promise to support the church through our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness. But what does that mean, really?
We promise to pray for the church. We should pray for the ministry and mission that takes place in the church or through the church. We pray for all of the members, those people who sit around us on Sunday morning, and those who don’t attend so often, or even at all. We pray for the leaders of the church, both in the local church and the greater reaches of our Annual Conference and denomination. Hopefully you pray for the pastor; I always say that you are welcome to pray about me as long as you also pray for me! Prayers make a difference in how we see each other and how we relate to each other. Prayer affects our outlook and our mindset about the church and what we are about in the world. Prayer is basic.
We promise to support the church by being present. It matters whether or not members attend worship and other activities. Being a part of a community affects how we understand what a church is and what a church does, and it affects our ability to live out our faith in the world. While it is true that you can worship God anywhere, there is something special and sacred about worshiping God in a sanctuary surrounded by other people of faith. There is a fellowship, a sense of family, a sense of God’s presence, that does not happen anywhere else. And it is important to attend other activities, as well, to be present for Bible studies or book studies, for dinners and holiday parties. These things help to build a stronger sense of belonging to the community.
We promise to offer our gifts to the church. That means financial gifts, through our pledges and offerings. But it means much more than that. It also means offering our spiritual gifts and our talents that have been given to us by God. If you can sing, join the choir. If you can cook, get involved in our community meal ministry. If you can organize, be willing to chair a committee or plan an event. If you are an encourager, then reach out to those who need to hear a kind word. If you can teach, then offer to lead a study group. If you have a green thumb, come and work on the church grounds. There is a place for every person’s gift to be used.
We promise to offer our service. That means service to the church – serving on a committee or as an officer; serving in the choir or ringing handbells; working to clean or cook or decorate for community meals; embodying the spirit of service that was modeled for us in Christ, who came to serve rather than to be served. That also means service in the community – I know there are several of you involved in the Thrift Shop. There are also other ways that we are connecting with our community, offering our meeting space, coordinating with the Town Welfare Officer and other leaders. If people see our willingness to serve, they will want to be a part of what is going on here.
And finally, we promise to support the church through our witness. That is the one that most intimidates people, I think. But all it means is the willingness to talk about your faith in Jesus Christ, your relationship with God, and your participation in the life of the church. It can be as simple as offering to pray for a neighbor or co-worker who is having a rough time. Or inviting someone to come to our next community meal and making sure they feel welcome when they get here.
This morning we are going to participate in a Reaffirmation of the Baptismal Covenant. Usually we would remember our membership vows any time we have a baptism, but we haven’t had any baptisms since I have been here. And so I thought it was important for us to go back and remember the promises we made and recommit ourselves to keeping those promises. There is water here at the front, and you may come forward if you would like, touch the water and then touch your head, but not in a way that is a rebaptism. Methodists don’t believe in that! Or you may just touch the water with your fingers. Remember your baptism. Remember the promises that you make at each baptismal service. And make the commitment to keep your promises.
