What kind of stones?

Readings: Acts 7: 55-60

            2 Peter 2:5-10

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (2 Peter 2: 5;9)

Harold Camping, an American radio broadcaster predicted that the world would end last Saturday.

That happened to be the day that the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland began its annual meeting- but I’m sure there was no connection.

As the time rolled around for The Rapture, as it was known, and all the commissioners remained in place, it was, for a time, not clear whether Harold Camping had got his prediction wrong or whether the Church of Scotland was not included in The Rapture.

I don’t know about you, but I grew up fearing The Rapture.

The Rapture – Jesus’ return to earth -  meant being separated from family and friends who didn’t believe.

And it was bound to happen at the least convenient time.

I fact, I was taught that, when Jesus came back, he wouldn’t come looking for anyone in the cinema, or in a dance hall, or any of those other dens of iniquities that I wanted to hang out in.

Even now, when I find myself somewhere really crowded and noisy, I experience flashbacks to that teaching and think: Jesus won’t be able to find me here!

As news of Harold Camping’s prediction gathered momentum, I was reminded of this Cliff Richard song: I wish we’d all been ready.

Well, the Church of Scotland General Assembly survived The Rapture.

And, in fact, we went on, the next day, to celebrate with a giant party in Princes Street Gardens.

It was wonderful to see people from all parts of the church getting together to celebrate faith.

What I found really strange about that gathering and, indeed throughout the week, were the number of folk who stopped me and said - It’s good to meet you – I read your blog!

Something that started out as a way of processing and thinking through things has become a real outreach tool, being read, not just in Scotland but also in many other countries every day!

On Monday morning, we got down to continue the business of the week.

Although, from media reports, you could be forgiven for thinking that all that was on the agenda last week was same sex relationships, that took up only one day out of 7.

Also on the agenda, was Presbytery Reform, new forms of ministry and lots of good news stories of the Church of Scotland’s work overseas as well as evidence of the Church making a difference to lives affected by injustice and poverty, here and abroad.

As ever the massive social care that the church provides in so many forms was shared and commended.

Military chaplains and missionary partners overseas were welcomed and invited to share their stories.

As well as all the official business there was, too, the opportunity to share with colleagues informally throughout the week and get a better sense of how much was going on all across the land.

And, in spite of all the challenges facing the church as we try to live up to being the Living Stones we are called to be, there was evidence of the church rising to that challenge in so many new and innovative ways.

like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (2 Peter 2: 5;9)

One of the acts of worship at the gathering in Princes Street Gardens last Sunday was the building of a cairn composed of stones that folk had brought from their part of the world.

There were big stones and small stones, pebbles and boulders, different shapes, different sizes, different colours.

Of course, a pile of stones can mean so many different things –

a pile of rubble, a sign of destruction

a pile of new bricks, a sign of something starting

a pile of boulders, a sign of no entry, a barrier.

Stones can be used to harm as well as to build up – as we read in our other New Testament reading today – the stoning of Stephen.

Called to be living stones, how will we allow ourselves to be used and become?

Will we lie around gathering dust, like a pile of rubble, perhaps pointing to something that was once useful but has long since fallen into disrepair?

Will we act as a barrier, preventing folk from getting to the heart of God, the heart of God’s love?

Will we have the novelty of new bricks that point to promise and potential?

Or will we be the kind of stones that cause harm?

The piled up stones in Princes Street Gardens last Sunday were a sign of life, a symbol of all the stories of the faithful witness of the church in different corners of the world.

A sign of people living up to their calling to be living stones, called out and chosen to share the love of God, right where they are.

We have been chosen – for a vey special task.

Called to tell the story of a God who is love.

In baptism, as we witnessed again today, the sign and seal of God’s Spirit is placed upon us, marking us out from others, compelling us to allow ourselves to become living stones, sharing with everyone the love of God poured out on us before we can begin to understand.

This week, I felt part of that chosen race that royal priesthood, one of those living stones, part of the church that’s making a difference in the world, locally and globally.

Let’s choose to live up to our calling in this place today – living stones, a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, telling of the wonderful love of God in all that we do and in all that we say, making a difference by sharing God’s love here in this place and wherever life takes us in our everyday.

Let’s offer ourselves as living stones, building God’s kingdom in this part of God’s world.

For the glory of God.

Amen