Rochester, MN UCC - "You Shall Go" - Jeremiah 1:4-10

Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy."  But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a boy'; for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you.  Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord."  -Jeremiah 1:6-8

The Old and New Testaments are filled with call stories- those times when God chose the unlikely, unusual, and the ordinary to do amazing things.  Common to many of these stories is the almost confusion that those being called to what God is wanting them to do.  This week, we join Jeremiah as God calls him to be his prophet and he has the audacity to argue with the creator of the universe. 

“I’m too young!” he protests, “I don’t even know how to speak.”  I sympathize with Jeremiah in his futile response to this holy call- how could any of us feel prepared to speak God’s word?  Who am I, among all the people of the earth, to call people back to God, when I am just a sinner like everyone else?  Yet, God reassures Jeremiah that they will be with him, that this call is to wander alone but to move with purpose, following the call of the holy wherever that might lead. 

Like Jeremiah, we are ALL called to the ministry of God in this world.  Each individual has been blessed with gifts and talents for the work of sharing God’s love.  You who are reading these words: you have gifts and talents that the world needs, that God’s people need.  This week, I have witnessed the people of this community and Peace Church share their gifts with the children of our community.  I am confident that each volunteer sees the work they are doing as “good”, but I think it’s holy.  It’s Holy to love children who aren’t yours.  It’s holy to share the faith with the young and give them the blessing previous generations shared with you.  The ministry of this church was blessed and expanded this week, because so many dared to say “yes” to God’s call to share the gospel with our children.  What gifts do you have?  You do have them.  What ministry is God calling you to?  How can we, as a beloved community, encourage you to answer? 

Join us Sunday as we celebrate a God who pulls us into the awesome, surprising work of the Spirit in the world and consider how we can help one another answer, “YES.” 

Pastor Shannon Smith