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PHIL IPP IANS 1:3-11 TIME FLIES WHEN YOU'RE HAVING FUN

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o For eight years I have struggled with a problen\ No ordeal has been

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quite as difficult.\ I have worried about it - fretted about it - felt
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inadequate because other ministers are so clearly superior to me in this
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area.| I refer to the composition of Sermon Titles.\ 1 have borrowed and

stolen some:\ I have created a few of my own:\I have used one word titles,

catchy phrases, contemporary chiche's:\when all else fails I have simply
called the morning rendering a "Reflection". \ I am not sure but that my

life would be totally happy if I did not have to make up sermon titles.

In a sense it's a terrible waste of time and energy.\ I am thoroughly
convinced that the only people interested in sermon titles are ministers.
In fact, I am always amused to read the religious page of the paper prior
to Easter and Christmas and to conclude, what any thoughtful reader would

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concludes. namely, that the same thing is going to get seid from hundreds
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of pulpits, but that an inordinate amount of time has been invested in
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creating the illusion that each one ds going to be different.

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And so, here comes my last Sunday in this pulpit - and three months

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ago a title popped into my head - and I have used it - a little

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irreveantly, to be sure - because_if God ever gave me anything to say it
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is this:\ "Time flies When You're Having Fun".

Actually it really didn't just pop into my head.\ In fact I HAVE BEEN

saying it regularly for some time in a situation that I find always very

funny, although no one else around me does.\ The situation is this - three

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times a week I drive out to the YMCA for a men's physical fitness class
over thelunch hour. \ Right in the middle of the program is an exercise I

hate with a burning passion.\ We sit on the floor, fold our arms across our

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stomachs.and then hold our féet in the air for one ninute\ It feels like
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an hour. \ And without fail - after about 30 seconds have passed, I muster

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my strength and gasp "Time Sure Flies When You're Having Fun."| And_no

one laughs except me.

Well - it does - and I nave. | Time - 8 years - has flown - because@
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TIME’ FLIES pa nary tela ay

hevetreré Fun - and I can think of a lot less significant things to say on
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this occasion than that. Ayicet

This, as you may now have guessed, will not be a farewell sermon.| I

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began to preach that on June 9 and concluded it tast Sunday.\ Besides, I am

notoriously bad at saying good bye my courage always vanishes and I
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would rather not do it at a1.\ And beyond that, I'm not at all certain that >

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Tt is appropriate \ I do not intend to dje - at least not yet: ever though

some of the kind words said about me skauX saund very much as if that, in

fact, has happened. \; was disconcerted to call at the hospital last week
and to be asked (Are You still around?" ) In any case, I do not regard what is

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happening here this morning as a farewell .\ I do not believe that relationships

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built on trust and love come to an end.\ 1 believe the o on and that the
rust ove meng they go that, they

continue not only to influence us, but to have great maning to us\\ I expect

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our paths will cross - many of us.\ At the very Teast in the context of a
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football and basketball rivaly between Purdue and a Big 10 School in Columbus.

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And so this is not a farewell - in fact it's not even much of a sermon.\ But

——— remem realty as
for a few minutes allow me to reflect on the past, present and future.
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The New Testament Lesson this morning was the opening of St. Paul's

letter to the early Christiah Church in Phitippi.\ Paul wote_it from prison
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and what is unique about the letter particularly the section I read - is

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that it is very personal \ In feet Paul the theologian becomes Paul the
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pastor who missesbis very good friends.

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In the opening PAUL says three things that interested me.\ First, he
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thanks God for the memory of his friends at Philippi as partners in the Gospel.
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Second, he expresses his feelings about his friends in terms of \"the

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affectionof Christ Jesus") And third, Paul tells them that what he hopes
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for them - what he prays for - is that their (rove should abound with
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knowled and discernment."
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LET ME USE THAT FORMAT so FEHHE=SERITON .| [ am thankful_to God for you -

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and for your partnership with mg in the Gospel. \ One of the real dangers oO
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TIME FLIES -3-
me 22
the ministery as a profession is that the minister ts so far out ahead of

his people that they lose contact\ I am convinced that that is one of the

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things that happened to the UPCUSA in the past decade.\ The Generals
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committed themselves to a battle and when they turned around the troops were
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far behind \ I have not experienced that with you, and I am grateful to God
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for tt.
Time after time this congregation has come through .\ When Big Brother/
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Big Sisters - was trying to get off the ground, the beset of the volunteers

were from this church.\ When the Lafayette City Council was discussing a

Hasing Code, members of this congregation were in atgendance.| when money
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was needed to buy legal aid for a group of young men in trouble, this Church

made the first contribution. \ When Project Commitment started, succeeded

and then floundered, people from this church were involved in significant
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numbers. \ We have been in ministry together: we have been partners in the
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Gospel and I am grateful. [Mention Secretaries \(1-canhéndiy nett—teshearthds

I am grateful for the affection that characterizes the life of this
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congregation. \ You know, without affection, the life of a church is stale.

In fact, it may be that affection is what gives life to a church.\ It
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certainly provides a certain freedom that makes being the minister ve

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interesting. My memories are full of incidents that made us laugh

together...
Of an our organist looking for a kleenex in her purse during worship
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and pulling out a disposable diaper instead..

Of our Director of Music waltzing into my office one morning, slipping
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and falling down.
Of Jim Small prowling the Narthex while I'm preaching, looking for God

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only knows what..
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— Of ahymn book tied shut with a red ribbon on Christmas Sundy.
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Of a birthday party comptete with flashing red lights in the street

and a bull horn announcing - (Come out with your hands up")

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TIME LFIES ' -4-

Of discreet wagers over the fortunes of the Pittsburgh Pirates and

Chicago Cubs

Of the unlikely duet of Don Wallick and Doyle Newton singing the
Hallelujah Chorus at an Advent celebration.

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Of the Bethany Bombers puffingtheir way thorugh two basketball seasons.
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Of Thanksgiving Dinners and Christmas Candlelight serv ices: and

communions and baptisms
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You have been you, and you have allowed me to be me, and the affection

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of Christ Jesus las been lose among us.

Paul told the Bhilippians that he prayerd that their Jove might abound

more and nore.\ 1 pray that for you because I believe it's what really

matters ina cnurch:| the honest love of God that not many of us can verb dize

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very well - but which is expressed in worship that is both reverant and

joyful :\ the love of the world which is expressed in ministry and mission:
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and love for each other in the church.
With all of that going for you, the future of this congregation is
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very, very bright. \ and be well assured that I will share that fuyute with

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you, knowing that we are partners in the Gospel, grateful for youraffection
and BitiReshRNH-KgaeiinHedht praying that your love may abound.
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In a little book about the ministry, James Dittes urites: (*stgnificant

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events never happen with the clarity and dramatic preparation which they

come to have in the writing of history and kxxgr es a -Only in retro-

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spect do events yield their pattern and aqurieinee 2 “a

I have found that to be true.\ I came here in 1966 66"-knowing much about

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you, and you knowing even less about me.\ In my first sermon I quoted a

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Robert Frost poem that expressed what I fel t at the time and what I feel as
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I leave:
Two reads diverged in a yellow wood.
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one travelor, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

TIME FLIES -5-
To where it bent £4 in the undergroth:

Then taok the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear:
Fhough as for that, the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh t kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way Teads on to way,

I doubted if I should every come back.

IT shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads divered in a wood, and I
[I took the one jess traveled by,

And that has made all the difference

At the time,we fail to see the significance of what’ we are doing \ Our
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choices seem to be made in a vacuum, a product of_blind chance.\ And yet, in

Praise Ye the Lord, who oer all things so wonderously reigneth,
Shelters thee under his wings yea, so gently sustaineth!

Hast thou not wen How thy desires have been

G ted in what He daineth? \ a"
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So I believe and confess that God has touched our life together with

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his grace and tove.\ And I beliee and confess that this church - that you

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and 1 - can continue to expect his presence:\healing, toving, prodding,

Judging - opening a door here - closing a door there:| always quietiy, always

without the crystal clarity we want and desire) Because he is a God who
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came #@ among us in that way - in a birth no one noticed. \He is a God who
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TIME FLIES -6
showed his love on a cross that few saw and fewer still understood.
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That God - oup God - has promised to be with us.

For you - for the years together - and for the years ahead - I give
thanks. AMEN

WHEN A MINISTER IS LEAVING ® RETERING

You have bound us together in the church, great God, and built up the Spirit
of Tove among us. Though we must go separate ways in working for your
kingdom, help us to know that we are joined forever in your loving care. We
thank you for years together, for mutural support and mutuel forgiveness.
Nev er let friendship fade, but keep us remembering one another, and

grateful for the life we have shared in Jesus Christ our Ku Lord. AMEN |

Johathan - May God bestore his richest blessings on you and your famtly. Ont}
He knows how much you will be missed here. = know you will give
Broad Street more than 100% as you have done here time and time
again. I hope they are just as proud of you as we are and will
love you and your family as much as we have. God knows you will
be in our thoughts and prayers for ever. (Guess tt is easier
for me to say in writing than face to face. Would this be
considered a cop-out _) My Friend, I wouldn't have missed this
opportunity for the world. You have been an absolute delight

to work for.

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