When I returned on March 1st after my sabbatical, I opened my office door, took off my coat and plugged in my computer. Do you know what I did next, before saying hello to anyone? I walked upstairs into this sanctuary, this holy temple of God. I missed this holy space. Now, there was no one sitting on a throne, and no seraphs flying around, nor was there smoke. And I must admit the hot coal that Isaiah describes in the temple did not touch my mouth. But I did feel the presence of God here that Monday morning, and it felt very sacred to me.

In this passage from Isaiah, there is this heavenly scene, a visual picture using words which bring mystery and awe – like a dream or a vision – bigger than life.
The king and the people have incurred guilt. They have failed to trust in their God.
The prophet suddenly hears the voice of the Lord saying whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Now there have been other prophets who have heard a call from God, like Moses and Jeremiah and many others. But this prophet, instead of first refusing a call given to him directly by Yahweh (like Moses and Jeremiah) volunteers that he himself will undertake the task, whatever it is, without hesitation. “And I said, here am I; send me.”

Did this prophet have a clue what God was asking him to do? Doubtful.
Did he have the talents or skills to do what God was asking him to do? Probably not.
But he was willing and ready for action. He was ready now.

The great prophets all seem to end up confronting society – the leaders as well as the lay people – and they do not have a comfortable place within the religious community. Like Isaiah, some people are called to speak about situations which cause others to harden their hearts against change. Others are called to love. To care. To do something big for the world. We can all be instruments, ready to carry out God’s task, whatever it is.  

This story is an encounter with God in the temple – and yet we have daily God encounters. I don’t think we take them (or God for that matter) seriously.
But Isaiah took this question with complete seriousness: Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?
God asks the question – who is willing to carry out the task—and then accepts the spontaneous declaration of readiness. Here am I Lord, send me.

One of my goals for my sabbatical was to grow personally and spiritually and spend time with music and the arts. I had signed up for several workshops on worship that would take me through the spring. The first one began in November. I thought seriously of skipping this workshop. It didn’t sound that interesting anyway. At the last minute I still had this nagging feeling to get in my car and go to this thing! So I reluctantly did. And it was the start of a huge change in my life.

At this workshop I met Mr. Mark Miller who is a composer, worship leader, teacher and performer of sacred music. He serves on the faculty at Drew University and at Yale University where he teaches in the music department. I was mesmerized by his piano and organ playing, his energy and passion of singing the music he had written. I purchased most of his music, which were really choir anthems – nothing I could use much, and went home that afternoon and sat down at the piano once again. I had neglected my piano for months. Too busy, too tired, too distracted to practice or even play for enjoyment. That was about to change.

During my sabbatical I ordered most of the rest of his music, yes more choir anthems, since that’s what he writes and I worked on the accompaniments which weren’t always easy. One day I came across an anthem that just sang to my soul: Here Are We! Instead of Here Am I, it incorporated all of us. Here are we, God. What would you do with us? What would you do with this church? It became a prayer. And that’s when I wrote to Howard and to Andy and said, here’s what I want to do – purchase this music for the choir, accompany them and share this message with the congregation. And both of them said yes! I will be playing with the choir at the second service today. I practiced this and other music almost daily and it brought me back to what’s important in my life.  

So how can we take this scripture seriously? How might we say without hesitation “Here I am. Use me, God.”  “Here are we, Glenview Community Church. Use us, God. Move us to action.”

Some groups have already accomplished amazing things – WA, PYF, Confirmands, Men’s Ministry, Resource Development Committee, Missions, Children’s Sunday school and many others. Thank you for your work. But I think we can do more and do it bigger.
Let me share with you two stories.

If you were here last week for Confirmation Sunday, you witnessed first hand what can happen when people think bigger! The 8th graders wanted to work on a class service project and chose a ministry that helps mothers with former addictions, and their children. The class didn’t just read about St. Martin’s in Chicago and send a check. No, they visited the home and babysat the children and read books to them so that the moms might have some free time for themselves. When the class decided the kids needed new mattresses, the confirmation teachers talked about the financial goal in order to do this project. And the class decided on $1500. When the adults heard this, our first thought was, “Right.” Thus began Project 1500 which many of you helped sponsor. Thank you.
Did you hear the big news? The youth actually raised $2029! Or ¼ of the total needed for the mattresses. Action!

My other story also involves a confirmand who created a longer service project since he knew he would not be able to come to class each week, but wanted to do make up work that had meaning for him. His goal was to buy food for the Northfield Food Pantry each week. He decided to donate $5 (half of his allowance) toward food. His parents said they would match it so he had $10.
Then this young man, who is very smart, called both sets of grandparents who said they would also match $5 a week, as long as he emailed them. Now he had $25 a week to spend. So he and his family shopped and delivered the food each Thursday for 20 weeks. The food helped feed 565 local families who visit the pantry each month.
What did he learn?
--That a good sale is 15 boxes of mac/cheese for $10
--Coupons are great! Watch the paper on Wednesday.
--Food cost a lot
--It’s always good to buy the basics first

He was able to normally purchase approximately 27 items if he calculated everything.
He understood the value of what $25 a week can do to help someone eat. He was even concerned once about buying lots of hamburger helper for $1.00 a box, thinking the families might not have hamburger to go with it. But the pantry had plenty.

One of the questions I ask on the service project reflection sheet is: How did the work you completed have anything to do with being a Christian? He answered:
--It helped others
--It also makes my church look good because they see someone inspired by their church to do something good from their faith community.
--It’s important to do the right thing for the right cause.

I asked this young man if I could use his name and he said no. He said I could tell his story, but not to mention his name because anyone could do what he did. He wasn’t that special.

While I was away I wanted to try new experiences – things that were difficult – things that would require me to listen to someone and attempt something totally out of my comfort zone: like forming clay at a potter’s wheel and actually create pottery. Thank goodness there were no children or youth in the class to watch us, only scared adults.
But we did it! And I realize now the work and effort that goes into pottery that I’ve purchased from artists in the past.

I kept talking about recording some favorite hymns on a CD, songs which I had grown up with and know every verse, even the page of the song in the hymnal. I was letting the idea slip away when I opened a birthday present in December from my brother and his family. It was a gift certificate to a recording studio in Ft. Wayne. Oh- oh, now I really do have to do this dream of mine. And I almost didn’t make the appointment for the recording. But something pushed me to go for it. I did and am finishing work on it the next few months.

I took time to read, to dream, to think about my life.
We all have time to read, to dream, to think about our life.
We all have time for ACTION.

So how might we pause and live our life differently?
“What would you like to be free of – the part of you that dares too little and fears too much? You know - the terrible voice that pipes up “you can’t” and the next month says “Don’t!”   (Author, Paula D’Arcy)

What expectations blind you to what really wants to happen in your life?

It’s about taking life as it is and turning it into something good, beneficial for others, what brings us peace.

The late Teddy Kennedy said, “I’m an enjoyer of life.” Are you enjoying your life?

Author Sue Monk Kidd said, “This is what I want…to know what I was born to do. And I want the courage to do it.”

Only you decide whether or not to listen to what beckons you to goodness – to the call of Christ. Will you let the Spirit soar through your own circumstances and move you forward to action? How big can you dream?

For a group of 8th graders the dream was $1500 to help children and their moms. The reality turned into over $2,000.

For a young man the dream was to take $25 a week to feed people. The reality turned into over $500 for food for people in our community.

Our God is big. And these young people who were confirmed last Sunday will never forget this.

What could we as a community of faith do together to change Glenview or Chicago?   
What could you do to change the life of someone else forever?

Here am I Lord, send me.
Here are we Lord, send us to do your work.
Here are we.  Amen.