REST FOR YOUR SOULS
July 6, 2008
Dr. Joe Kutter

I suppose that you have received my letter. For those who haven’t heard, I am announcing my retirement from congregational ministry. My last day to serve you as pastor of First Baptist Church of Topeka will be Sunday, Aug. 31.

To paraphrase Ecclesiastes, everything has its season. There is a time for everything under heaven. As Peggy and I have talked and prayed, there is something at the center of our souls that says simply, it is time.

The day has its hours. The year has its seasons. A book has its chapters. So too do churches have their seasons and chapters in the plan of God and it seems to me that it is time for this congregation to turn the page to a new chapter.
 
There is never a good time for this kind of transition. When a leader is called to move on, the congregation is always left with a sense of anxiety and uncertainty. The equilibrium is shaken. Established patterns are disrupted. And the future seems cloudy because it suddenly no longer looks like the past.
 
For what it is worth, all of that is going on inside of me too, anxiety, uncertainty, a shaken equilibrium disrupted habits, we are all going through this thing together and it looks like it is all my fault. Even though I have made the decision, my personal preference is to blame God and I’ll return to that in a moment.
 
The point is there are bad times, worst times and terrible times to make a transition like this. And I believe that in the life of First Baptist, this time is less bad than others. The lay leadership here is strong and faithful. The remaining staff is extremely capable. The church is stable. And, a plan for ministry is in place and is being effectively implemented. While in the past couple of years, the church has experienced some difficult moments. I believe this church is ready for the future and God has a great future in store. I believe the next 10 years here are going to be marked by both faithfulness and fruitfulness. The next decade, I believe, is going to be very good for the ministries of FBC Topeka.

I also believe the time is right for new pastoral leadership. This congregation has begun to reach out to young families and young adults in new and effective ways, while faithfully ministering to those among us who are no longer in the young family category. However, I had a look in the mirror the other day and I don’t look like a young adult any more. I think I have a few really good years in me and I am really pleased with the relationship I have with our young families and our youth. But, I also believe that it may be time for another leader to step into the lead pastor’s role.
 
I said a few moments ago that I really want to blame God for this decision. I believe God has brought us to this moment. God has prepared us for the transitions that are before us and God has opened the door for it to happen. While you will call an interim pastor, I believe that God has given this church the best staff in the Midwest to lead through the transition and into the future.  I believe the team of lay leaders we have is remarkable gifted for the days to come. I believe we have made the right programmatic decisions. I believe that God has prepared us for this time.
 
The truth is when I arrived in Topeka 11 years ago, I planned to stay until my 66^th birthday. Then, when I learned that Medicare is available at age 65 I planned to stay until then.
 
Then the personnel committee of The Ministers Council of the American Baptist Churches, USA, asked if I would serve as their Acting Director for the next two to three years. I have been involved with the Ministers Council since the early 1980s and I know their ministry well and I have become fully committed to what they do. They serve as the professional association for clergy who serve congregations and in chaplaincy positions.
 
So I asked, “Will I have to move to Valley Forge?” One member of the committee answered, “Joe, I don’t care if you sit under an umbrella on the beach in Florida with your computer and Blackberry. This job can be done from anywhere.” We both understand hyperbole or exaggeration when we hear it and I probably will not try to open an office under a beach umbrella, but the flexibility does sound appealing.
 
So we talked and prayed and thought and considered and came to the conclusion (I am going to blame God again) that this could be the right transition for us into retirement.
 
I have been in congregational ministry for 39 years. I entered it reluctantly and I have come to love it, at least most of it, and more, I have come to regard some of my colleagues in ministry as heroic. Some of our pastors are really remarkable people who serve the cause of Christ in some pretty difficult places and I have been invited to provide resources and encouragement to them. What an honor that is! In some places, it will be my role to speak for them and in other places I will be invited to speak to them and in all times I will be privileged to walk with them in the cause of Christ. For a guy like me, I can think of no better way to conclude fulltime ministry.

And personally, I’ll have the flexibility to attend soccer games and birthday parties with our grandchildren. I can work nearly anywhere. And it appears we’ll have larger blocks of personal time. I’ve heard of a monster called the three day weekend. I know it is out there because it keeps people out of church. Well, Peggy and I hope to find one or two of those things and see if they are really real.

In summary, we’ll work a very different schedule doing something that seems just right at this time in our life. I think that it is a God thing.

So what about the days ahead?  The lectionary gave us our text for today. To paraphrase, come unto me, says Jesus, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Corey reminded us this week that in Jesus’ day, a rabbi’s teaching was referred to as his yoke. It was the discipline or the instruction that he placed on the shoulders of his disciples or students.

Jesus said, “I will give you rest. My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” How so? It is light because He helps us to carry it. He walks with us. He stays with us. He helps us. Sometimes, He even carries a part of the load.

Let me summarize His instruction.

He said that God loves us as a loving Father loves his children.

He told us to love one another and to love God in the same way that God loves us.

He told us that when we fail to love, when we sin, God forgives us and gives us the opportunity to try again.

He told us that He will never ever forsake us.

He told us to believe in Him and we will be saved.

That is the essence of His yoke. And, that is the yoke we will bear as we move together through the days to come.

Now, hear this invitation to the Lord’s Table.