Psalm 31
Into thy hand I commit my spirit…
Psalm 31:5 (Luke 23:46)
Most of us spend much of every day making decisions, with the assumption that what we decide to think, say and do matters and makes a difference. We as Christians do not believe in blind fate. We have choices to make between the way of light and the way of darkness. Everything we do counts. As St Paul said, “I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of the body, that is, the church…” (Col 1:24). What is lacking in Christ’s afflictions? This sounds jarring. But it means that God needs us to accomplish all that He intends for the salvation of the world. He needs us to think and weigh and decide and act: this is the heart of Christian stewardship. And all this decision-making is brought together under these words, “Into thy hand I commit my spirit.”
Bur what about those times when we seem to have no choices left at all? In St Luke’s gospel these words from Psalm 31 were also the very last words of Jesus from the Cross. “Into thy hand I commit my spirit” is the ultimate confession of faith at a moment when there are no options left to weigh, no judgments to make and nothing to do.
Normal Extraordinary Parish Life
On Sunday I had the privilege of joining Bishop Michael of New York for the 40th anniversary celebrations at Holy Cross church in Medford, New Jersey, where Father John Shimchick has been pastor for 27 years.
From start to finish it was inspiring to be part of the celebration. True, I have a deep family connection there (it was my mother’s parish for thirty years), intertwined with a long friendship with Father John and Matushka Barbara and their family. But what impressed me, and why I’m writing about it, was that Holy Cross parish is representative of every good parish in the Orthodox Church in America. People of faith committed to God and to each other, through good times and bad, working through irritations and losses over a long period of time because that’s what families do. It’s normal, not exceptional.
Parish Warden Gary Mosser’s speech captured this sense, and I share it here (abbreviated and slightly edited) to encourage parishioners and priests and council members everywhere and to reassure them that their work in the Lord is worthwhile. If you stay the course you will get your reward not just in the next life, but here and now, as was so clearly demonstrated by what I saw and experienced on Sunday.
* * *
Looking back through photos and listening to some of you talk about years past, I’m struck by how much we are like a family. Not just a Church family, but a real family. We have been there for each other in good times and bad. Seen each other at our best, and at our most desperate. We have watched countless children be baptized, grow-up in the Church, become teenagers, young adults, some have gotten married, and still others have even started a family, and are starting that cycle of raising their children in the church. Generations of our families are now forever connected with all of us and our Parish.
As with all families, there is sadness too. We have said goodbye to many dedicated, hard working, and loving Parish family members over the years. Their love for our Parish was evident by their constant presence at Church. The lessons they taught us about how to be good Christians by their actions, and how they have led us by example, are qualities that we will never forget. Their memories will be Eternal.
As the Parish Warden, I have had the opportunity to get to know many of you much better over the last 5 years or so. Let me tell you right now, it has totally been my pleasure! There are occasions when being the Warden is difficult but I have gotten much more in return from all of you. My wife and I were married in this Church; my daughters were baptized in this Church, and we have raised our family in this Church. The love, support and friendship you have shown us over the years is truly a blessing. Whenever I have asked for help with a committee or project, you have all been there. You have raked, shoveled, cooked, swept, cleaned, dusted, planted, watered, painted, organized, and cared for our Parish for these past 40 yrs. The amazing part of this is that you all have always done it with a smile. Even though there were times when you yourselves did not feel well, had work or family commitments, or generally were busy, you always have made time for our Parish and our Parish family. And for that as the Warden, and as a Parishioner, and as a friend, I thank you.
The question I am most asked is, how can I help? It really takes a commitment by all of us to keep our Parish running and to stay vital and important in our lives. Every committee, the Parish Council, St. Helena’s Guild, the inreach-outreach committee, the Choir, the 40th Anniversary Committee, and of course the leadership of Father John, all play a role in keeping us focused on leading our Parish into the future.
Just the fact that Father John has been our Priest for the past 27 years is amazing. For a lot of our Parishioners, he is the only Priest they have known here at Holy Cross. Father John has been a constant force in our Parish lives. He is always giving us direction, and helping us learn about God, and teaching us how to be better Christians. Over the years, Father John has been there for all of us in one way or another. He has probably visited almost every one of us, or a family member, when we were sick or injured. Whether it is in the hospital, nursing home, or at our own home, he has always been there for us.
From those of you who have been with us from the very beginning, to those who have joined us this month, and everyone in between, we as a Parish are thankful for all of you. We have remained a loving, caring, and spiritual community. We thank all of those who came before us, the builders and benefactors of our Parish. Those who took it upon themselves to start The Orthodox Church of the Holy Cross. All of those who have worked countless hours. All of those who have helped financially over the years. All of those who pray with us and attend services. This is a special day in all of our lives. God’s plan for us is to be together, as a family, here, today, in this place. I thank you all for coming today so that we can celebrate together, as a family should.
We all have gone through many, many changes in the past 40 years. One thing that has not changed here, and with all of you, is your commitment, drive, your passion, your love of God, and love for each other. Your willingness to work together to perpetuate and grow our Parish is amazing to witness, and be a part-of.