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Who knew my brother could preach?
Some of you have met my brother. He’s a bit over 2 years older than I. He’s taller, darker, and thinner. No one would ever think we are related, much less that we are brothers-from-the-same-mother. In some ways, we are nothing alike. For instance, my brother eschews the limelight and has always professed his intense dislike of speaking before the public.
So you’ll not be surprised at my surprise when I learned from our mom about a year ago that he had preached one Sunday morning at the First Presbyterian Church of Socorro. My brother? Preaching? Surely, this was a sign that mom was losing it. But she wasn’t. Indeed, Ted had stepped up to the pulpit (the one our dad built) and delivered the word. What happened?
The lay pastor of my home church had to be away that Sunday, and there was no one else to preach. My brother has been an elder for about 40 years now, and he takes seriously the Book of Order’s description of elders which includes the proviso that they should be capable and ready to preach or teach the Word of God. He is capable and was ready, albeit reluctantly so. And he did a great job. Turns out he’s way better speaking in front of folks than he thinks.
Sunday morning, in person or online, we’ll ponder the idea that following Jesus is—in part—something we do together. So read and pray over these scriptures between now and then: Numbers 11:10-17 & 24-25 and Luke 10:1-2. Pray as I preach and as you listen, then, to “Sacred Seventy: Faith is a Team Sport.”
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