The Baptist Church of the Covenant that I served for eight years in Birmingham celebrated their 40th Anniversary last Sunday. That church grew out of the racial struggle of the late sixties in Birmingham. Because the First Baptist Church, after long and heated debate refused to allow a black mother and her daughter to join over 200 members walked out and said they would never be part of a segregated church again. No church would let them meet in their facilities--but the Jewish synagogue opened its doors and they worshipped there for two years. Then they moved to an old insurance building which they renovated. Like all churches they have had their ups and downs and challenges that culture and the times bring. Yet--forty years later they are still an open fellowship--not only for African-Americans but for people of all persuasions. We thank you all our God with hearts and hands and voices—Who wondrous things hath done, In whom His world rejoices…We could not offer a thanks today without remembering with gladness those who really did give their hearts and hands and voices to make Covenant what it is today.
We are truly surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. Herbert Gilmore, Betty Boch, John Sims—but all those courageous others who struck out on a new path. Winifred and Twyla Bryant…Bill and Marie Rogers and Angie and Judge Grooms…and John Whatley…and Dan Ivins…I give you thanks for my time here…And we thank you for Sarah Shelton and the gifts she now brings. Each and every one of these have given us hearts and hands…but we would be poorer indeed without the voices that helped us praise. John Sims, Paul Hall, Peggy Hall , Peg Edwards, Ken Watson, and Dan Lahon.
We cannot name all those staff persons that helped but we remember Edna Langley and John Duke and Faye Wilson and dear Sarah Wilson who kept us all straight. My, my but they really did bring here their hearts, their hands, their voices.
But we would be remiss if we did not stop and pause and think of that great number who have, in their own special way sometimes hands, sometimes hearts—and sometimes voices which made this church what it is. Let us now think of some of these who have gone on…and if you wish to call out a name…lift that name up to God right now.
(Pause)
Lord, like those other pilgrims on that other 40-year journey you have led us, your reluctant people through the ups and downs of our history. And yet—like those others long ago who, as best they could, really did use hearts, hands and voices and so have we. But we remember that we have found as we moved along our own pillar of cloud by day and the wonder of the pillar of fire by night.
Sometimes our hearts break in church. Sometimes our hands tremble and grow weary. And sometimes the Doxologies we claim to sing—just sticks in our throats. Lord, how long those 40 years seem…and yet we wonder how really fast they have flown. So we thank you that even in days of our unfaithfulness your grace ran and runs through this tiny, holy place and touched us all.
Lord, do not use let our rich past or the present tense which never seems quite as special as yesterday or tomorrow be a weight that drags us down. But help us to know this really is the day the Lord God has made.
Give those who are here now and those yet to come hearts that burn and hands that work and voices that sing a live and proper Doxology.
O Pillar of Cloud by Day…O Pillar of Fire by night…we thank you for this day and all it means. And so—with hearts and hands and voices with our brothers and s sisters here we break this break and we drink this cup and we remember. Amen.
Although I have never been to that church, I feel connected to it, having known Herbert Gilmore, Dan Ivins, and, of course, you. I presume that Dr. Gilmore (my pastor in Louisville while I was in college) is the "Herbert" of your prayer, and suspect that John Sims ((what a glorious voice!) was one of the "Johns" mentioned. We need churches like this that dare to be different and are not focused on becoming megachurches!
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