175thAnniversaryCelebration - Deep River Congregational Church

SERMON FOR CELEBRATING 175th ANNIVERSARY
First Congregational Church of Deep River
Deep River, Connecticut
April 26, 2009

REV. ALLEN M. HUMES
Winchester, New Hampshire

DIGGING OLD WELLS
Scripture Readings: Genesis 26: 17-22; Ephesians 2: 19-22; John 15: 5-17

            Words cannot begin to describe the honor I feel for being asked to occupy this pulpit on this auspicious occasion!     It is indeed a joy to be here and to celebrate with you.
              We all know that the rest of the world-----separates time into two parts---B. C.---(-“Before Christ”)….and A.D.   (A domini---After Christ.) But here in Deep River you do it differently. Here---you also measure time in two parts… but they are B H   and A H….i.e. = BEFORE HAUT—and AFTER HAUT. . . . . . . . and you hope and pray that there NEVER will be an A H…..and you are not quite sure there ever was a B H !
                But I can just picture your Anniversary Committee (if there ever was one)------thinking—“we go back 175 years----there MUST have been a pastor here BEFORE TIM…..let’s see if he is still alive!!   Another said-- .. and if he is alive-----he must be pretty old by now.. still another chimed in … but maybe he has no mind left! Well, you found that Humes is still alive----and I’ll leave it to your good judgment –when I conclude---to ascertain whether or not I have any semblance of ‘mind’ left!
                  It is good that today----you reach back ---and claim your rich history. And you look back a long 175 years ; way back to the year 1834. A little research has told me that it was not a particularly significant year on this planet EARTH.   Not much happened.
                 It was the year that Abraham Lincoln---at age 25—entered the political arena.   It was the year President Jackson was censured by the Senate for removing deposits from the Bank of the U.S. (some things never change, do they?)
                In 1834 the great theologian—Frederic Schliermacher died----and the great preacher—Charles Spurgeon was born ….and Whistler (the painter) was born..   It was the year Cyrus McCormick patented his reaping machine…and the two-wheeled ,one-horse cab was introduced in London.
                 But perhaps more significant than all of that----48 men and women gathered in the very same place where we gather today--- to ‘own the covenant’---and become the First Congregational Church of Deep River.
                  They did so----according to the records----because they found it difficult to walk or ride.. to and from Centerbook----or Chester for worship. But I reckon there was much more to it than that. If we could have been a part of that gathering----I trust that there was a genuine feeling that said---“IF DEEP RIVER IS GOING TO BE A HEALTY AND VIBRANT TOWN, IT NEEDS A CHURCH AT ITS VERY CENTER.   WE WANT A FAITH COMMUNITY -- RIGHT HERE---WHICH WILL QUENCH OUR THIRST FOR GOD.    And that is as true TODAY—as it was 175 years ago.
                      Many generations ago------Isaac was chosen to lead God’s pilgrim people.   We hear little about Isaac. He was the only child of Abraham and Sarah; the father of Jacob and Esau.    They were wanderers in Israel---and Isaac’s called to bring God’s pilgrim people to a place called----GERAR-----meaning—“lodging place” It is located in the south-central part of Israel.    The land is dry and arid---like most of Israel----and Isaac knew that in order for the people to survive they must have WATER.
                Fortunately------Isaac knew his history-----and he knew where to find that life-giving, life-sustaining, water.   He knew that years ago---God’s people has been there---and his father---Abraham----had dug a well--which produced good water. So Isaac---(-as scripture tells us)----re-dug the old well---which had been stopped up by the conquering Philistines. And, as scripture informs us---- ‘they found a well of spring water.” And with good water they could live.
                Today, as we re-claim the covenant, we dig old wells, discovering anew where our spiritual ancestors found living water; water that enabled them to live full and complete lives.
                   Something there is within the human soul-----that longs for, thirst for—that life-giving water.   It was true for those 48 men and women---175 years ago----and it is true for us today.   An ancient Psalmist voiced it this way:

“As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.”

Years later Augustine said it this way:
“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless, until it rests in you.”

              The world today has that restlessness. I don’t need to tell you that. It has souls that long for living water. ……..the water you and I find right here----in the midst of this precious community of faith we call----the Deep River Congregational Church.
             One of the precious memories I took from this congregation---was the celebration of the 100th birthday of Ethelyn Arnold. (not many remember her)   She lived … with her daughter Norma, over on Bridge Street. (I remember a pastoral visit I made to her home—when she told me---in some detail---her experiences of living through the blizzard of ‘88—that’s 1888!). We celebrated her birthday in the parish hall,   and had a special cake made for her, and along with birthday wishes, we inscribed on top of the cake: John 10:10.   Now, you all know what that is, don’t you?    It is Jesus words---“I have come that you may have life—and have it abundantly.”    Here, in this town and church, she celebrated not only length of life----but also its depth and breath also. HERE---is a well where we find water that satisfies our spiritual thirst and takes life to a new level..
                Several years ago a Church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper—and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. He wrote: “I’ve gone to church for 30 years now, and in that time I have heard something like 203,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can’t remember a single one of them. So, I think I’m wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all.”
               This started a real controversy in the “Letters of the Editor” column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks,..until someone wrote this clincher:
        “I’ve been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single on of those meals. But I do know this..They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed . . to do my work. If my wife had not given me those meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today.”
               .We dig old wells----and find living water-------we discover that great peace to those who were far off---and peace to those who are near--- for we have access.. in one Spirit.. to God.   Here we are no longer strangers and aliens , but we are citizens with the saints---and members of the household of God….built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ himself the chief cornerstone.   In Him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into the dwelling place for God.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY---DEEP RIVER !
AMEN