Psalm 14 John 21: 15-17

One thing I have learned about this congregation. You like to eat. I have eaten with some of you a couple of times already this week and look forward to the North Dallas Colony dinner on Tuesday.

This church likes to be at the table together. It is not a bad thing. Jesus is often met in the breaking of the bread. Take today’s scripture. The resurrected Lord is walking on the beach calling to his disciples who are out fishing. He calls them in for breakfast together on the beach - the Last Breakfast - you might say, because he is giving them his final instructions. “Do you love me?” he asks Peter. ” Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” “Feed my lambs. Feed my sheep.” Jesus would soon ascend to his Father, leaving the ministry of the church and the spread of the gospel in the hands of the disciples, with the words to Peter still ringing in their ears. Feed my sheep. Feed my lambs.

In the 1970’s, during the time of the Viet Nam War, Oran and I served as missionaries to Thailand. When we returned to Houston in late ‘78, I began to ask God where I was to serve next. During that time and the following years lots of Southeast Asian refugees came to the U.S. sponsored by local churches. Although they had come from the Buddhist tradition, they attended worship in the various churches which sponsored them, needing and deeply appreciating Christian love and care. But they didn’t understand the faith; they didn’t understand worship; they certainly didn’t know Jesus. Few understood even basic English. And the churches which were sponsoring them were lost, didn’t know what to do.

In one of those things only God can orchestrate, the churches decided to band together and look for someone to establish a ministry with them. And at the same time there I was, just back from Southeast Asia, ready with the training and the experience to serve them. I spent two years as the founding pastor of the Lao Community of Christian Faith, a congregation of Laotian refugees in Houston. I taught and preached to them in Thai, which many of them knew, having lived in Thai refugee camps and I learned some Lao, a first cousin to the Thai language. It was my privilege to conduct Bible study and worship weekly, to marry some couples, to baptize thirty-five into the faith, to accompany pregnant mom’s to the hospital for the birth of their babies, to grieve with them over the death of family members far away, to conduct Vacation Bible Schools for Lao children all over Houston, to serve as social worker and counselor, to help displaced people adjust to a new culture and find hope in Jesus Christ. I loved it. And one of the things I loved is that they never said to me, “We’ve never done it that way before.” We had a truly amazing spiritual journey together.

During that time Oran and I also had as a frequent guest in our home, Sugar, a famous Thai movie star, a Christian we had come to know in Thailand. She came to TCU to get a graduate degree in Drama and Communications so she might better witness to her people. On her school breaks she would stay with us. I knew a good thing when I had it; I’d bring her along to help me with the ministry.

This is a long introduction in order to tell you this short story.

One Sunday during our study time, when Sugar was helping me, I invited members of the Lao congregation ask her questions. One asked, “Why do Christians have so many different churches?” Good question. They had seen or been sponsored by UCC (we did some of our Bible schools at St. Peter’s in Houston), Methodist, Disciples, Presbyterian, Baptist and others. They were confused and I wondered how she would answer.

She started off with a simple question. “How many of you like rice?” Many hands were raised. “And how many of you prefer noodles?” A number of hands went up.

Well, she said, “Rice and noodles both have the same purpose. To feed you. To nourish your body. Some of you prefer one and some the other. But you are still nourished.”

“Churches are like that,” she said. “Different, like rice and noodles but they are to feed you, spiritually. To nourish your spirit. To teach you to know Jesus and to love and serve God.”

With one broad stroke she swept away all the differences which we denominations cling to and simply said, “It is a matter of what you like, but the purpose is the same. To feed your spirit. To know Jesus.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Feed my lambs.” He didn’t say what or how. Now apply that to the church when I tell you the stories of Cracker Barrel, Luby’s, Applebees and others. I read of a man named Russell Chandler who got his religious insight at Cracker Barrel. He and his family were traveling and made a point to stop at Cracker Barrel at meal times. He noticed that Cracker Barrels everywhere seemed to have a long line of folks waiting. Waiting, hungry customers who were entertained by the charming nostalgic goods at the country store there in the front or by the rocking chairs on the front porch. When the table is available, customers will find they are elbow to elbow with others, kids, families, older folks. It is a popular place, located conveniently for travelers.

People eat out more and more frequently these days. Try going out on Friday night and in lots of places you’ll have quite a wait. And for some you wait willingly. Nabors party of two, your table is ready. Nabors party of two. The interesting thing is that there are restaurants people pass twenty other restaurants to get to and then will stand in line to be seated and while other restaurants close. Why ?

We went in one place a few years ago. It was nothing fancy; we were in a bit of a hurry. But when we sat our plastic trays down at the Formica table, we saw salt, pepper, a few crumbs and a dead fly. Haven’t been back. Don’t see much business there.

I know of a restaurant in Denton where the owner turned people away, telling them he had no empty tables, when he did but didn’t want certain kinds of clientele. He didn’t want children under 12 to eat there and if someone showed up with kids he’d ask them to leave. He went out of business.

When Oran asks me where I’d like to go out to eat and suggests Luby’s, I wrinkle up my nose in “Probably not.” My perception of Luby’s is that it is mainly geared to an older crowd who eat dinner at 4:30. That the food choices there are rather the same and not very exciting and the décor, a bland restful green, hasn’t been updated in years. Now mind you, I have chosen not to go to Luby’s for a long time so I can’t promise my perception is accurate. Interesting, though, I’ve heard that a lot of Luby’s and Furr’s cafeterias have closed for lack of business. Personally I’d rather go somewhere more interesting, a place with energy, excitement and some cars in the parking lot

Do you hear where I am going with that, friends? How many people do you know who perceive the church in the same way? Church, especially the mainline church, is for the older crowd, it is doing the same old stuff it did in the 50’s and 60’s. Rather bland. Nothing much exciting there for my taste. Nothing ever changes. Kinda boring. Parking lot nearly empty. I hear a lot of churches are closing. I want to go where something is happening .

I’m not saying my perceptions are always true of Luby’s nor of mainline churches, but I have talked to lots of people whose perception of mainline church is that it isn’t worth their time; they wouldn’t get anything out of it; it doesn’t suit their taste. But they don’t want to go see if their perception is correct. How do we change that perception?

Russell Chandler, in his book, Feeding the Flock, says that churches should pay attention to restaurants. A specialist in church leadership, he began applying restaurant models to churches. “What makes a good restaurant?” he asks. He took a look at Cracker Barrel, which he likes, and several other places and made a composite list of attributes of effectiveness. He saw effective churches applying similar standards. Here are some of the things on his list.

Family-oriented
Well-marked, visible, good location
Menu good, interesting and varied
Adequate close parking
Ambiance, attractiveness of facility
Cleanliness
Good sound system and music
Adequate staff
Quality you can count on
Warmth, friendliness - being greeted at the door, called by name
Plenty of food
Efficient and friendly service
Trained staff and leaders
Visitor friendly
Easy access, handicapped provisions
Obvious investment of time and resources
Valuing tradition while introducing new things

What is it going to take to make this a church one that people will stand in line for?

We could learn a few things from eateries.

Take for example the ubiquitous Starbucks. Have you ever seen anything boom quite like that? There’s a Starbucks on nearly every corner and I’ve seldom gone in one that it wasn’t filled, mostly with people much younger than I am. It is not just a cup of coffee, it’s a happening place; people are engaged with each other. What makes them so successful?

A friend of ours works there and he reports that one of the mottos for their staff is “Work to assure the success of the next shift.” An interesting concept. Work to assure the success of the next shift. One shift is to do its job well but also to prepare so well for the next shift, being sure floor and tables are clean, supplies in place, etc. that the next shift is ready to be successful.

I have been wondering what that means for the church. How would it work? Work to insure the success of the next shift. Do all you can not just to take care of yourself and your needs but also for the ones coming after you. How would this church look different if it were truly looking ahead to the next generation and began preparing intentionally for the things they need in order to feed and nourish their souls?

Our nursery is fixed up and well- staffed. But now what about a special classroom for our children? Can we loosen up our resources of time and money to support our youth? What efforts and resources have we put into the nurture and support of young families? How well do we respond to leadership of our 30’s and 40’s folks when they want to do something new? What are we providing for the spiritual needs of the younger generations? The next shift? Take Applebee’s. The place is humming with excitement. There are lots of cars around so you know something’s happening. When you enter, someone greets you. There is a big display of crayons at the door that send a message right away that it is child friendly. In the middle of the restaurant young people are gathered socializing, laughing and watching sports on TV. But there are tables on the periphery for us old geezer types who like it a bit quieter. All kinds of interesting décor but they make it a point in every location to display things supporting the local school or schools.

The menu is changed and updated from time to time. Food is good, attractive, nourishing. Responding to the health and fitness focus, they have even added a section for Weight Watchers. And people will wait in line to get in. People are spiritually hungry out there. It is important that this congregation does all it can to draw people here so that they may be fed.

And then it is important to be sure they stay, they’ll be regulars. And even more important to be sure they’re not getting spiritual fast food with little nutritional value but that we are truly offering something nourishing to feed their souls till their cup simply runneth over. Jesus said, “Do you love me? “Feed my lambs.

Do you love me? Tend my sheep.

Do you love me? Feed my sheep.

Amen

Sermon preached by Dr. Charlotte D. Nabors
Central Congregational Church, Dallas, Texas
September 16, 2007

Pastoral Prayer
September 16, 2007

God, you who nourishes our souls, we thank you for that appetite you created in us that makes us hunger for your presence. We come to give you praise and worship and thanks. We bring to you our concerns, our problems, our doubts, our struggles, our disappointment. In full trust we ask that you give us our daily bread. Lord you challenge us again to feed on that which will nourish us for life’s journey. How often do we come here for worship and leave only half-full because we have not truly opened ourselves to you? How often do we feed ourselves without being conscious of the hungers of others?

There are so many kinds of hungers. There are those who hunger for peace of mind, for comfort of body, for restored relationships, for healing, for hope, for meaning, for truth, for redemption. Those who hunger for righteousness and hunger for justice. You know the prayer requests of our hearts. You who gave us the bread of life in Jesus Christ, fill us with his spirit in this hour of worship. Fill us until we are overflowing with enough joy and love and hope and wholeness to share with the hungry world around us.

Holy Weaver, we thank you that you have woven these people together as church; it is fulfilling to be church together, to be family. There is an excitement about the present and a new direction for the future. And yet what is ahead is unfamiliar; the future requires change which brings uneasiness and uncertainty. Open our eyes that it is in those very gaps of uncertainty that you can weave new things among us; that in change you can interlace us with your patterns for a new day. Grant discernment to those who are called to lead this congregation that they may be receptive to the intertwining of your intentions for this church with our own and to the Search Committee give wisdom, patience, discernment and guidance.

Hear us now as we pray following the pattern of our Savior Jesus Christ who taught us to pray saying,