Sermon by The Very Rev Chris Yaw, 11/23/2025, Christ the King Sunday
Lessons:
Luke 23: 33-43
As I look around our congregation this morning, I see royalty!
I see princes and princesses, dukes and duchesses, counts and countesses.
Now, lest you think I've gone Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs, which wouldn't be the first time, let me explain...
The royalty I see is not denoted by wealth, military prowess, or political clout.
This is not an earthly, Royal Court - but a divine, heavenly one.
This is the place where title and lineage are bestowed not upon the wealthy, well-bred, and politically connected, but upon the humble, the merciful, the selfless, and the caring... all of you.
I look around this space and I see dedicated volunteers, patient caregivers, loyal employees, steadfast spouses, honest neighbors, and a whole lot of people who are bravely suffering from maladies that most of us know nothing about.
I don't see a bunch of people arguing about who's the greatest, jockeying for career advancing connections, whining, complaining, or flattering those around them just to win popularity contests.
The competition I see most often around here - is among those who want to outdo one another in giving - in helping - in serving.
I see you people who have given a whole lot of Sundays - sometimes very sacrificially - to invest in authentic relationships, create genuine connections, and brainstorm ideas about how they can help their communities and love their neighbors.
I see people who have set as an ideal: Not to hoard, but to share; Not to divide, but unite; Not to retaliate, but to forgive –
I see your sparkling crowns and flowing robes - of this Royal convocation of the holy and sacred - who have set their sights on peace, patience, goodness, and all things heavenly, knowing that these eternal prizes have great value both here and there. All words and deeds worthy of that heavenly kingdom and king to whom we've gathered to adore.
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So, on this Royal occasion - it's Christ the King Sunday, the last Sunday of the Church Year, and a goodbye to 2025, a bit earlier than Ryan Seacrest prefers - But on this Royal occasion - I look back a year!
And I see 4 new faces added to our Vestry - just like later today when we will move into the Parish Hall - for our Vestry elections - to elect our leaders for 2026 - We kid them that Dan, Gregg, and Margaret got 'roped into it' and 'got the short end of the stick' - but let us not overlook their willing consent - and that aspect of their leadership that emulates Christ - by serving.
Do you remember last year when we moved to replace the irreplaceable Judy Walsh as Vestry Clerk - she'd been there so long doing such an amazing job - I thought we'd have to start hyphenating her last name to "Judy Walsh-Clerk" - and I was hoping she'd never leave –
But the Lord sent us Cindy Rush - who volunteered as clerk a year ago - either because her husband would also be serving the Vestry and she didn't want to see him having all the fun - or because she had known that AI had matured enough to take all the notes for her...
Either way - Cindy's service to the Vestry and to you and me - would prove to be better than we could have ever expected - as she brings sunshine and enthusiasm to each meeting - to regularly remind us: What's a Royal Kingdom without a good scribe? - and Cindy has been more than that.
As mentioned, along with Cindy - came her husband Howard Rush onto our Vestry - a position his father had held so many years ago.
Howard is a businessman - So am I surprised to see him doing business-y things on our Vestry? - which he has done in spades, turning St. David's' sleepy membership in the Chamber of Commerce into a robust, leadership position in the Chamber - that has gotten the attention of a whole lot of community leaders - helping us make connections and spread the word on the work and wisdom of this parish.
Howard was joined on the Vestry by Darryl Butler, a past senior-warden - who also made the selfless decision to serve - not just as a Vestry member but as a Diocesan Convention delegate - Darryl regularly stays up late and gets up early to do important things that make this parish work - and no one more nearly emulates that than the last person we added to the Vestry last year, Ellen Boyes.
Ellen, as many of us know, is in steep competition with her father to see how many times she can serve this parish as Senior Warden. Safe to say he will not be catching her - at least in this life...
Ellen's role as our Sr. Warden includes her willingness to set high goals - for herself and us - to lead by serving - as there's no job she asks anyone to do that she has not done - and to exemplify rising to the top by bowing very low.
It's another reason we can be thankful and full of gratitude that our parish includes such dedicated and compassionate servant leaders.
These leaders are supported by perhaps the most time-consuming and unheralded position in the parish - our Treasurer, Simone Charter-Harris - who's been filling this role with selflessness, professionalism, and kindness for many years –
And she is joined in leadership by our other Vestry members for the upcoming year, Maureen Mahar, Hampton Hanable, Carol Wells, Rocco Romano, and Rita Spiller.
They all moved through the past year with the added responsibility of having to mind the store while the Rector was away - far away -on Sabbatical for June, July, and August.
Most of us know that the United States is unique - in that most Americans do not take their entire allotment of vacation in a given year.
There are several reasons why, but the biggest is because they're worried about what will happen when they're gone! Will their job still be there? How will everyone do in their absence? Will the plane crash if a pilot leaves?
For three months, three glorious months - you all signed up, stepped up, and bellied up to the bar of responsibility - so much so that none of these worries even came close to my sight-seeing, sun-seeking eyes!
So many of you came together to volunteer, to lead, to drive, to cook, to clean, to set up chairs, to put away tables - so that our family's sabbatical - was a truly amazing, unforgettable time - thank you!
So, if you were one of those people - who volunteered in any capacity during the summer sabbatical - would you please stand up? If you were involved even for one Sunday, in helping organize or carry out any volunteer work during June, July, or August, please - stand - and let us appreciate you. (****CLAP****) You are royalty and deserve our honor and praise...
Ever since I was a child my family has been vacationing at a summer cottage about 4 hours away in Ontario. It's not a difficult drive - just up 94 to the 401 then to 21 –
But as a kid - you don't pay attention to those things. So, when I turned 16 and got a license and access to a car - I found myself, on the occasion of having to drive myself to the cottage!
So I asked my parents, 'How do I get there?' 'What do you mean, 'How do I get there?' you've been going there your whole life!'
'Well of course I have, as a passenger, but I've never had to DRIVE there!'
I felt the same way, O, those many years ago when I found myself in an Episcopal parish in Southern California - and first felt my call to be ordained in this church.
I was simply captivated by the liturgy and theology - the appeal to Scripture, tradition and reason- through the Episcopal Church I had found fulfilment and purpose - I have found, God anew.
Now, I had gone to church my whole life - spent countless Sundays singing hymns, listening to sermons, and praying prayers. But I was a passenger - and now - lo and behold - I would be driving!
And one of the first things I discovered - is that the priest may have a name on the door - but its the people who run the show.
What good is a Sunday Eucharist if no one's in the pews? How do budgets get balanced and bills get paid? Who sets the altar and cleans the chalices? Who clears out the gutters and trims the hedges? Who makes the coffee and bakes the cookies? And I could go on...
Every one of these jobs is done by a volunteer - someone who has chosen to serve rather than to be served.
Many of you know that when people come to St. David's to visit they remark, 'O, what a beautiful church you have!' to which I reply, 'Yes, and the building's not bad either!'
It is the people who make the church - it is YOU - the citizenry of that Royal Reign of Christ the King - who gather here to do the work of emulating our example of the Suffering Servant. And I am so proud to be with you on this journey.
If, over the past year, you have volunteered here at St. David's - through Plarning, the Food Pantry, Firearm Disposal, Haiti, Altar Guild, Choir - I'm not going to go on because you get the picture - please stand up. Please stand up for us to see you - if you've made a pledge, if you've given a contribution - because you are part of what keeps this all going.
Without your service to the community - we would not be able to serve the community. Go ahead and downplay the praise, belittle your contribution - but because of your generosity - your commitment - your dedication to this family of people who seek to make God's light as bright as we possibly can - it takes us all.
And I am so proud and humbled to be among you - because you teach me - you guide me - you encourage me - you correct me - and that is why being the Rector of St. David's is the best job in the world. So please - put your hands together for these teachers, guides, encouragers, and leaders who love us by serving us!
(*****CLAP*****)
The Gospel assigned for today - Christ the King Sunday - is designed to take us to the heart of Christ's kingship.
It's a curious choice, isn't it?
To hear the story of Jesus hanging on the cross - not the dramatic events of rising from the dead or ascending into heaven - but we're asked to join him in his suffering, in painful service to all of humankind –
But this has it's wisdom, doesn't it? - as it's intended to be the starting point for our theology:
The great throne of Christ is not a plush, red velvet and gold-leafed resting place for our king to lounge - No, that place at the right hand of the Father is a place of service and selflessness - of prayer and intercession - of care and concern - of joy and love.
The Cross is God's reminder - which is Love - which is the well-being of others.
And while the scriptures teach it, and the Church upholds it, it is you, good people of St. David's, who embody it.
In every dollar you give away,
In every mile you travel to help someone,
In every hour you donate for the welfare of another,
In every decision you make to forgive: You are building, you are bringing the kingdom of God to this world.
This is Christ's reign - this is Christ's kingdom - So do not be discouraged and apathetic - hopeless or scared - anxious or upset - for you have done much -
You have given, so much - to me - to this community -
You've given me hope and inspiration - encouragement and joy.
So hold your heads high - Ponder your true identities as princes and princesses, dukes and duchesses, counts and countesses - For we are called to greatness because we're called to serve - and my oh my, how well you do that!
I see you, I love you, and I can't wait to spend the new year with you.
Amen.