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69th Stated Meeting ~ Presbytery of the James ~ June 17, 2008 Dear Friends, It was not your usual Presbytery meeting! On Tuesday, June 17th, we participated in a discernment process as we gathered at River Road Presbyterian Church. I appreciate the opportunity to preach at the worship service and I have been asked to provide a synopsis of my sermon. We have a rich treasure here in the Presbytery of the James. Our meeting was held at River Road Presbyterian, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. The meeting was co-hosted by Louisa Presbyterian, which is planning a centennial celebration next year. Since coming to Virginia three years ago, I have seen first hand what I had been told before moving here - Virginians are proud of their history. The Presbyterian Church has played a significant role in the history of Virginia and in the history of our country. We have a rich treasure here in our presbytery. Some of you will know what I am talking about when I mention "the crystal skull," "the temple of doom," and "the lost ark." These are the names of Indiana Jones movies. I don't want to spoil the plot for you in regard to the most recent sequel, but the journey is treacherous, the villains are evil, the chase scenes are outlandish and the hero, Harrison Ford, is victorious in the end! The treasure hunt is a classic quest of searching for something precious, valuable and hidden. In the epistle lesson the apostle Paul speaks of the rich treasure we have in Christ. In this letter Paul's love for the church in Ephesus comes through. He gives thanks for them. He prays for them. He desires for them that they know the hope to which they are called, the power of the Holy Spirit that is within them, and the rich treasure they have in the grace of Jesus Christ. They have hope, they have power and they have treasure. Paul's love letter to the Ephesian church is no less than God's love letter to us. God desires that we also know the hope to which we are called, the power of the Holy Spirit that is within us and the rich treasure we have in Christ Jesus. I have a friend who returned home for the holidays after her first semester in college. On Christmas morning she went downstairs and saw that under the tree there was not a vast array of presents but instead a single envelope. She opened it to find a clue. The clue led her to the attic, with another clue leading her to the basement, with another clue leading her to the front porch - she was sent searching, hunting, looking for her present. The final clue directed her back to where she began, in front of the Christmas tree, and pointed her to look in the branches of the tree. There was a small box, which had been there all along. She simply had not seen it. She opened it to reveal an antique ring. Her mother explained: "This ring is from your grandmother. She wanted you to have it on the first Christmas after her death. Wear it and remember her love for you, her support for you and her presence with you throughout your life." Friends, as we gather today we enter a discernment process. We are searching. We are looking. You might say we are on a treasure hunt. The truth is, the treasure is already within us and among us. As we enter this discernment process, let us remember that we have the hope, the power and the treasure to do God's work in the world. Let us remember the hope to which we are called, the power of the Holy Spirit within us, and the rich treasure of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Grace and peace, Brenda Halbrooks
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Presbytery of the James |