Welcome to the New Gift-Carrier

It is a big deal in the life of a congregation to change senior pastors. We have learned to respect,
love, and trust our Senior Pastor, Chris. More than that, “we have grown accustomed to his ways.” We
recognize his phrases; we watch for his familiar gestures; we hear the accents of his preaching, and notice
the quirkiness that belongs to him. We have been glad to have him as our pastor; and now he is retiring.

We have a new senior pastor to whom we will become accustomed. We will soon discover that
Pastor Linda has her own pet phrases, her own familiar gestures, her own accents in preaching, and her
own peculiar quirkiness that we will grasp more fully and appreciate even more as time goes on. We will
be increasingly grateful for her pastoral leadership, and learn to respect, love, and trust her as our senior
pastor.

Soon we will welcome Pastor Joan who will bring among us her particular gifts as well. The
arrival of these gift-carriers marks an important “beginning again” in the life of Central. The Apostle Paul
recognizes that different folk in the church have different gifts:

And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then
deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various
kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work
miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret (I
Corinthians 12:28-30).

Pastor Linda brings her extraordinary gifts among us. And our best engagement with her is to receive and
respond to her particular gifts. Of course we already know and appreciate many of her gifts of hand and
heart. We already know about her gentle, welcoming tone through which we can hear what she has to say
to us of the gospel. We readily engage her dramatic gestures as she sketches out the truth she speaks. We
notice and appreciate her attentive diligence to scripture and its address to us. Her good humor keeps us
open and responsive to her good word. As time goes on, we notice and give thanks for yet more of her
gifts. I have no doubt that her peculiar gifts will greatly bless, nourish, strengthen, and sustain Central
Church in its great work of missional life.

While there are varieties of gifts and no person has them all, we do share some great gifts of the
Spirit:

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness,
gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

Along with Pastor Linda, I anticipate that we can and will grow together in these shared gifts, because I
have no doubt that the Spirit is at work among us in the congregation. These gifts are the hallmark of a
missional life. As we grow together in these good gifts from God, we will become increasingly grateful
that Pastor Linda has come among us to maximize these gifts, and to lead our missional performance of
these gifts. After Paul has listed the diversity of gifts in I Corinthians 12, he goes on in the next verses to
speak of “a still more excellent way” (I Corinthians 12:31). It is the way of self-giving love that is patient,
kind, and never ends (I Corinthians 13:1-13). That is our way forward along with Pastor Linda and Pastor
Joan whom we welcome in eager anticipation.

Walter Brueggemann
May 11, 2023