The Fire Within
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series IV, Cycle A
"I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." (v. 11)
In 1989, I was the youth minister of Grand Avenue United Methodist Church in McAlester, Oklamona. I also assisted in leading worship, including reading scripture in our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. As I was driving to the church for the service that year, I saw a disturbing sight near the church while I was about two blocks away. The church sat up on a hill, so I had a clear view of two bright red fire trucks parked on the street just east of the building. My heart sunk as my eyes widened. The Presbyterian Church was immediately north of our church. I know it was wrong and shallow, but after seeing those trucks I offered a quick prayer: "Please, Lord, let it be the Presbyterians. Let it be the Presbyterians."
As I pulled in the parking lot, I soon discovered it was not the Presbyterians. The fire was at Grand Avenue UMC, a stately four--story brick building built in the 1920s. Christmas Eve fell on a Sunday that year and apparently a children's Sunday school class didn't blow out the candles on their Advent wreath after their lesson that morning. Fortunately, they did close the door to the classroom before they left, so the fire was contained to the one classroom. Later as choir members arrived for a quick rehearsal, some of their children ventured to the third floor and discovered smoke leaking out from under the door. They very wisely didn't open the door, or the fire would have spread instantaneously. Instead they told their parents who called the fire station.
By the time I arrived, the fire was out, but there was still the issue of the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. Because the sanctuary was adjacent to the classroom, there was too much smoke damage for the room to be utilized for a worship service. Very quickly, we began setting up chairs in the fellowship hall to hold our service. The firemen were not gone long before we started the service. One of the inspirational moments of our service every year was ending the hour by singing "Silent Night" while everyone holds a lighted candle. It was an interesting feeling that year to hold a candle knowing the fire we held in our hand had almost destroyed our church building. It was eerie, but at the same time, it also created a real sense of gratitude for what we had. We could have lost the building, but we didn't. More importantly, we could have canceled the service, but we didn't. Instead of creating chaos, the fire had pulled the congregation together in a new way that forced us to focus on God instead of possessions.
We generally think of fire for its destructive capabilities, but it also has a positive strength. John the Baptist extolled that Jesus would baptize with fire. That baptizing fire would create a new being. The fire that chased us out of the sanctuary created a way for all the worshipers to leave as changed people. Our hearts were warmed in a unique way that evening as the Christmas story was retold. As we left after the service, we left with a new understanding of being the light of Christ for the world. I believe that we left with a new fire within.
In 1989, I was the youth minister of Grand Avenue United Methodist Church in McAlester, Oklamona. I also assisted in leading worship, including reading scripture in our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. As I was driving to the church for the service that year, I saw a disturbing sight near the church while I was about two blocks away. The church sat up on a hill, so I had a clear view of two bright red fire trucks parked on the street just east of the building. My heart sunk as my eyes widened. The Presbyterian Church was immediately north of our church. I know it was wrong and shallow, but after seeing those trucks I offered a quick prayer: "Please, Lord, let it be the Presbyterians. Let it be the Presbyterians."
As I pulled in the parking lot, I soon discovered it was not the Presbyterians. The fire was at Grand Avenue UMC, a stately four--story brick building built in the 1920s. Christmas Eve fell on a Sunday that year and apparently a children's Sunday school class didn't blow out the candles on their Advent wreath after their lesson that morning. Fortunately, they did close the door to the classroom before they left, so the fire was contained to the one classroom. Later as choir members arrived for a quick rehearsal, some of their children ventured to the third floor and discovered smoke leaking out from under the door. They very wisely didn't open the door, or the fire would have spread instantaneously. Instead they told their parents who called the fire station.
By the time I arrived, the fire was out, but there was still the issue of the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. Because the sanctuary was adjacent to the classroom, there was too much smoke damage for the room to be utilized for a worship service. Very quickly, we began setting up chairs in the fellowship hall to hold our service. The firemen were not gone long before we started the service. One of the inspirational moments of our service every year was ending the hour by singing "Silent Night" while everyone holds a lighted candle. It was an interesting feeling that year to hold a candle knowing the fire we held in our hand had almost destroyed our church building. It was eerie, but at the same time, it also created a real sense of gratitude for what we had. We could have lost the building, but we didn't. More importantly, we could have canceled the service, but we didn't. Instead of creating chaos, the fire had pulled the congregation together in a new way that forced us to focus on God instead of possessions.
We generally think of fire for its destructive capabilities, but it also has a positive strength. John the Baptist extolled that Jesus would baptize with fire. That baptizing fire would create a new being. The fire that chased us out of the sanctuary created a way for all the worshipers to leave as changed people. Our hearts were warmed in a unique way that evening as the Christmas story was retold. As we left after the service, we left with a new understanding of being the light of Christ for the world. I believe that we left with a new fire within.
