First Presbyterian Church
This Gracious Work
Sermon for July 2, 2006
by Maryalys Urey

A few months ago a friend asked me why I went to church. This was asked in a thoughtful, non-judgmental way. After thinking about it for a few minutes, I answered: because of the loving support I have received, and others I know about have also received, when it is needed. I will never forget the kindness of John Duke and Jim Monroe plus many others in this congregation when Jack, my husband died in 1997.

The second reason is more cerebral: This church offers an opportunity for me to stand for what I think are Christian political positions which may differ from what others claim are Christian positions.

There are many surprises along the way as we ponder the beliefs of others. Life is a continuous learning experience and we must keep our minds open and our hearts involved in loving and respecting others as part of our experience of life and our religion. Living in many places in the world has helped me in this constant learning experience.

Trying to discuss the advantages of birth control with Haimanot when we lived in Asmara, Eritrea was a challenge. Haimanot worked for us; she made it possible for me to play golf 3 times a week. I knew no Tigrinya, she knew a little English. She did seem to get what I was advocating when she pointed her finger heavenward and said “God will strike me dead!” This is a different experience for me than just writing a check to NARAL (National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League). A little more of Haimanot's story is pertinent as we consider the complexities of economic equality. She was divorced; they had 2 children—about 10 and 12 years old, I believe. In the divorce settlement, her husband was awarded the son because he was more valuable economically. The daughter lived with Haimanot .

Growing up close to where my Grandma Evans lived, I was well aware of her strong beliefs of what you should and should not do on Sunday. Certainly no work or anything that involved work for somebody else. It wasn't until I had grown up and thought about my grandmother's life that I came up with what was really going on here. She had 8 children , a husband whom I loved dearly, but I never saw him in the kitchen or performing household tasks. He read a lot. And he had a busy life as a school superintendent and later as a farmer. How else could my grandmother get a day off except by enforcing this "no work on Sunday rule"?!

Seeing these connections between the real world and what become church rules doesn't bother me. The church is part of the real world.

The Catholic Church dealt with shortages in meat or a surplus of fish (I have heard both explanations) many years ago by requiring that Catholics eat only fish on Fridays. To me, this is the same kind of solution to a problem as my Presbyterian grandmother figuring out how to get a day off. The church is part of the real world we live in, and our beliefs should help us deal with real world problems.

My own pride in the Grahams (my grandma Evans was a Graham) and their courageous actions with the Underground Railroad provided me with a new appreciation of my father when I was visiting my Evans cousins on a recent trip to Ohio. My cousins did not know that precious family history. The only reason I did was because of my father's faithfulness-- and I think enjoyment—in telling me the family stories.

The reading from second Corinthians makes a strong case for our working for economic equality. An issue like this cannot help but be involved with the political choices we make—minimum wage , equal pay for women, fairness in our tax laws -- for a start.

Our history in this country on equality is not a good one; many years of slavery—inequality to the extreme. I have just finished reading Doris Kearns Goodwin's Team of Rivals. It has given me new insight into the brilliance of Abraham Lincoln and how he dealt with what may be the most difficult decisions in our history. His commitment to learning, in spite of practically no formal education, turned him into one of the most knowledgeable and eloquent leaders this country has had. I was surprised in reading Doris Kearns Goodwin's book, how much of that reading included the Bible and how frequently he used it as a source.

Reaching equality can be a tortuous, heart-rending process with steps along the way that are supposed to bring equality, but they may do just the opposite.

I worked for the Girl Scout Council of Greater St. Louis in the ‘70's; this was a huge council with 40,000 members, 10,000 adult volunteers, members in 13 counties. This was at the time the Supreme Court had ordered steps be taken to racially integrate the schools.

There were about 100 municipalities in St. Louis County, many of them designed to preserve segregation. One of the schools I worked with was Kinloch whose students were 100% black. It was surrounded by municipalities that were mostly white. Traditionally, Kinloch provided household labor for the surrounding suburbs.

The way the order from the Supreme Court was being implemented, was to have the black students from Kinloch school bussed to the 5 or 6 surrounding suburban schools which were primarily white. This was fragmenting the cohesiveness of Kinloch , breaking up friendships and relationships.

I remember talking with the principle of Kinloch school. He was devastated with what it was doing to the community. I had always enjoyed visiting Kinloch; it reminded me of small schools in Ohio near Columbus which some of my relatives attended.

This action was being justified by saying it would make the schools which had been mostly white have a higher proportion of blacks.

Remembering Paul's words to the Corinthians, let us reconsider Equality: what was lacking in this Kinloch story which was supposed to be bringing equality to the schools was what Paul is telling us in this letter to the Corinthians is essential: “your love is also genuine.”

He says: “Now as you excel in everything—in faith, in utterance, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in your love for us—see that you excel in this gracious work also.

“I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine.”

I think we see that genuine love which must accompany our striving for equality, that genuine love accompanying equality, which Paul requires of the Corinthians , I think we see it in the work of this congregation. We see it in the process of distributing our money through decisions which the Session makes—in some cases upon recommendation of the Mission Committee; the compassion and work of the Deacons, the skill and time of the adults who work with our Sunday School and youth group—all these and many more that many of you are aware of. There have been special commitments like those of Nova Sue Harrison and Naomi Kulog and the many service projects of the PYGS (our youth group)—their work at Campbell Farm, the Crop Walk, many more. All these demonstrate a striving for equality with genuine love--A GRACIOUS WORK.