Union Church of Pocantico Hills

“Not yet” ---- says God.

 

“Behold, the tabernacle of God is among mortals, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away.” 

 

That hope is not a comforting dream for the pious to savor while the world goes to hell.  It is the vision that summons us to action.  The “not yet” of God means that the time of the Kingdom’s triumph beckons us now to work in its light and prepare for its triumph.  Why else would Jesus have taught us to pray: “Thy Kingdom come”?

 

You and I experience many “not yets” in our discipleship.  Sometimes we have been disheartened by them.  We are “not yet” the kind of person we dreamed of being; “not yet” the Christian we want to be; we have “not yet” the courage to be generous.  The danger is that we allow the “not yet” to fade and be replaced with the voice of the Tempter that says “never”.  Or, it may be that we hide behind the “not yet” because we are not willing to face the consequences of being a more faithful disciple, like St. Augustine who recounts a prayer of his youth: “Lord, give me chastity, but not yet.”  It may be, “Lord give me generosity, but not yet”.

 

It is for God alone to say to us “not yet”.  There are times when we hear the word “now”!  Now is the time to start praying and worshiping with joy.  Now is the time to do that job, you keep promising your conscience.  Now is the time to look through the confusions and tragedies of our time and see Jesus, the King, so that when God pronounces the great and final “NOW” and “the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ” we shall be among the faithful servants who hear the words: “Enter into the joy of your Lord”.  May that be a reality for you this Advent and Christmas!

 

Our trip to Morocco was very good!  I am preparing a slide show which I will share with any who are interested.  Thanks for your well-wishes and your warm reception upon our return.

 

Jack Blackburn will be addressing the congregation this Sunday, December 4.  He follows Kathleen Murray and Thomas Staudter who have spoken to us about the importance of our financial support of the mission of Union Church. 

 

Following Jack’s presentation you will receive a letter and a Commitment Card for 2012.  Please return it promptly.  Follow up letters will arrive on two week intervals.

 

Each of us is asked to give “as we are able”.  What can be more fair?  Please listen and hear the need.  If the need is not well enough defined ask questions of Jack, Tom, Kathleen, or of me.

 

What will I give?  THINK, please, and remember the commitment to give “as you are able”.  Giving as you always have may or may not meet the test of “as you are able” – THINK!

 

Contrary to all appearances Union Church is not financially supported by some “anonymous, mysterious Other” in such a way so as to relieve you or me of that privilege and pleasure.  Union Church does stand in an exceptional, but not guaranteed, position so as to enable your gift to do exceptional work here, offering worship in a setting of unusual serenity and beauty, friendship and fellowship with an unusual variety of people, service to those in need stretching from Appalachia to Westchester’s several humanitarian organizations, to Princeton Theological Seminary, to victims of natural disaster around the world.  This is a call to generosity – will it be met with your NOW; or your, “not yet” O Lord