A Love Letter Concerning a Work in Progress

Philippians 1:3-6

I thank my God for every remembrance of you, always in every one of my prayers for all of you, praying with joy for your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

__________

Introduction

Today we mix a little bit of Valentine's Day and Advent as we read Paul's love letter to the church in Philippi. It is a letter of validation and encouragement as Paul writes, "And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight." (v. 9) What's particular about this love letter is that Paul isn't writing it in a room surrounded by softly glowing candles and harp music playing in the background. Instead, Paul is in a Roman prison, corresponding to a group of believers he holds close to his heart. It is a letter meant to inspire, encourage, and remind them of his love for them and the love of God that holds it all together. 

And if you need a reminder this morning, your life is bracketed (sandwiched) between the purpose of your life God instilled in you and the love of God that will see all good things completed. Perhaps we need to hear that reminder of God's love today as we find that the holidays can be challenging. Therefore, a love letter is addressed to you this Advent season, highlighting your inherent worth and guiding you to achieve your Advent preparations. And the words of this letter surround you with the hope of God's larger purpose, which affirms the promise that through the hard times and good times, there is a love that will not let us go. 

Love Letter to the Church

As I prepared for today's sermon, I realized it was the last Sunday of Advent and the last "traditional / formal" service of the year. So I thought I would take a moment to share a love letter with you all, following in the footsteps of Paul's letter to the church in Philippi: 

In 2019 when I arrived, I did not know what I was fully getting into when I accepted the call. Rev. Kenneth Mast served the church for almost or nearly 30 years; you experienced a rocky interim period; there was discord regarding the management and operation of the preschool, and there were concerns about what would happen next, and there was a concern about the church's financial health. A lot of hurt, trauma, and healing needed to be done, which is what a lot of my first year at the church was focused on doing. We didn't make any impressive changes, but we listened, we worked on changing our internal culture, and let the healing Spirit of God lead us. 

Looking back over the last two years (as I've been here almost four years already), I can say that the First Presbyterian Church of Mahopac is not the same church it was when I arrived in 2019. It's better. It's better because you all (the people here and online) have created a healthier culture, caught hold of a new sense of mission, and are more willing to take risks and trust that the Spirit is leading you. During the pandemic, when many churches suffered significant losses, our church grew! We welcomed some familiar faces back, as well as new ones. And while the memory and fear of finances still linger, the reality is that we are making our way back to pre-pandemic levels thanks to your generosity!

All of this was only possible by placing your trust in God. All the progress you / we have made is only possible because you put in the hard work to innovate. I understand that it doesn't always feel that way (either because our church isn't as full as it once was or we don't offer the same programs), but the love of God that you place your faith in will see that all these things contribute to coming kin-dom. 

The Work Ahead

All of this is for what Paul would say, "for the glory and praise of God." (v. 11) However, this love letter that Paul wrote, the love letter we might receive from Paul, is not one of finality. Paul still has some things to say. While Paul is writing this love letter to the church in Philippi and us, it is a love letter to a people who are still a "work in progress." As with all things, love changes over time as we change throughout the course of our lives. Yet the message is clear. The love we have received, the works we make manifest, and our spiritual nurture rely on our commitment to live in the mercy of God's love, which sets forth a different agenda from that of our commercial-driven world. 

Ready for God’s Love?

The love we celebrate this Advent season is the love of God that touches us so profoundly that we cannot do anything but live in the fullness of God's mercy that it alters our reality. However, that takes work, and we are a people who are still a work in work in progress. As we continue to progress in our sacred calling, the question (once again) of when reappears, and as Brueggemann writes, "The urgent question always in the final days of Advent is: 'Are you ready yet?'" (53) Are you ready to receive the fullness of God's love? Are you full of knowledge and insight? Are you without fault or sin? If so, you might be ready. 

The truth, however, is that most of us are not ready, or should I say, "Not ready yet?" Not yet, but we are under way; we are making progress each and every day we wake up, fill our lungs with a breath of fresh air and offer our praise to God. We are a people who are a work in progress sustained by the love of God that builds a sure foundation. And on this sure foundation, God will bring our lives to a point of completion (made whole). So as we near the end of another Advent season, let's take a moment to be grateful and fill ourselves with love from God and those who support us as we carry on and wait. 

Conclusion

Friends, do not forget that you are loved this Advent / Christmas season. Do not forget that even if there are parts of your life that are broken or in need of mending, that doesn't change the fact God still loves you. God wrote the ultimate love letter to us (works in progress) when Christ was born all those many years ago in the form of love incarnate. Never forget that you are loved and that as you are loved just the way you are, you have a responsibility to share it with all the world. Let us give the ultimate gift this year, the gift of love so powerful it can heal, reconcile the tattered pieces of our hearts and communities, and inspire us to look forward to what comes next in God's unfolding story.