One of my favorite magazines has a feature called “reader's write.” Readers submit short personal vignettes on topics where they can speak authoritatively from their own experience. Upcoming topics include “help,” good friends,” and “nothing to lose.” A while back the topic was “the Power of Words.” Some folks told about words of encouragement or wisdom spoken to them as a precious gift making a profound difference in their lives. They wrote about the teachers, the friends and even pastors who spoke heartfelt words that lifted their spirits or gave them needed courage. Can you think back in your own life and remember words spoken to you that had a profound impact on you for the better? Words of affirmation when you felt like a failure, that all your effort and hard work was for nothing? Words of encouragement when you were ready to give up? In getting to know many you I've heard about the words of comfort and kindness other members in this congregation spoken to you in tough times of dealing with losses, grief and illness

But mostly readers wrote about the power of words doing what James talks about this morning—words as poison pills, words as bullets spewing forth from tongues making a lie out of the rhyme we all know by heart:

Sticks and stones may break my bones,

But….what's the rest of the rhyme?

The rhyme carries within it, its own contradiction, for if words did not have the power they do, the rhyme would not be permanently stamped in our psyche's. Words do wound us. Words do cripple us. I remember one reader writing about taking care of her invalid mother—taking great pains to have the silverware on her meal tray polished to a high gloss, with fresh flowers in a vase thoughtfully and artistically arranged, and the food just at the right temperature. Still not a meal went by where her mother did not criticize something, and gave thanks for nothing. Or the coaches and parents whose words shamed their players and children, sending message after message that they are just not measuring up to expectations, still not good enough, no matter how hard they tried. Words can and do hurt long after they trip off our tongues or sent with the click of the send button in an email.

We don't know what words Peter said to Jesus in this morning's gospel lesson—clearly Peter didn't like the words Jesus used to predict the future. Whatever Peter said, Jesus recognizes the power of these words and from whence they come. “Get behind me Satan,” Jesus tells Peter. Jesus, like James in today's epistle lesson, knew the power of words to spread deadly poison among the disciples, whether disciples of the first century or the 21 st century. The power of words, James tells us, to spread like a consuming fire, staining the whole body of believers, destroying relationships and ministry.

Given today's scripture texts, I've been wondering about how we here at First Moravian use the power of words. We are also at the six month mark of this intentional interim, about half way-give or take a few months. A helpful practice for intentional interim pastors is to periodically step back and take stock of where the congregation is in the interim process. It's easy to get caught up in the day to day details of just being a pastor—the weekly planning for worship, committee meetings, pastoral care and not give enough attention to the tasks of the interim time, because there is always plenty of work for any pastor to do.

On Palm Sunday I preached about how one of our tasks during this interim time is to work on having a more supportive environment for ministry between you and the next called pastor so that he or she will want to stay here a good long time, and you will want them to stay! For the research shows congregations and pastors often do their best ministry after the pastor has been there at least seven years. And I reminded you that regardless of how skilled, or personable, or perfect, your next called pastor is, there will inevitably be conflicts and rough patches of ministry. When a supportive environment is in place, the pastor and congregation emerge from these bumps in the road with a deeper love for one another, a deeper appreciation and respect for the willingness of each to engage hard questions in healthy and life giving ways. And it is weathering these conflicts and crisis' together that deepen the pastor's and congregation's relationship and lay the groundwork for better and better ministry.

A large part of a supportive environment is understanding and using the power of our words. Words both reflect reality and create reality. That is their power! At a deep level we each know that to be true from our experience. The power of words to be a cursing, and the power of words to be a blessing. The power of words to be fire and the power of words to be water in dry and thirsty places. The power of words to tear a congregation, the Body of Christ, apart, and the power of words to build up the congregation. The power of words to poison, to infect the web of relationships that is the church, and the power of words to be an antidote, counteracting the poison, and working to keep the body healthy.

In every congregation, there are complainers and naysayers. The folks whose tongues can only speak, like the aging invalid mother, only about what is wrong with her meal, not thanks that she even has a meal lovingly prepared and brought to her. The church is a place for broken, hurting people and to one degree or another we are all broken and hurting. And we all make mistakes, especially new pastors.

But complainers and naysayers aren't the primary issue we have here at First Moravian. It's not like we have a whole lot of them, no more than any other congregation I've been a part of, maybe even a few less. The real problem is twofold—what power do we, as a congregation, give their words and what power do we each exercise to build up the Body of Christ through the words that come forth from our tongues?

I have been encouraging board members, and now I am encouraging each of you, that if you hear someone in the congregation has a complaint or a concern about something I, or your next pastor, is doing or not doing, to come and talk with us directly about it. I know that can take courage, and I promise to listen respectfully and pastorally. And to work to see what can be done to address the concern or complaint. If they will not come and talk with me about it, then please ask them not to bring it up again. Because by refusing to take constructive and positive action of working to fix whatever it is they are talking about, they are not choosing to use the power of their words for good, to be helpful in building up the body of Christ, in fixing what they perceive the problem to be. I've also asked board members not to bring anonymous complaints to the Joint Board or to Elders. If a person is unwilling to put their good name with a complaint or concern then we as a board cannot deal effectively with that concern.

For a supportive environment for ministry, we use the power of our words to focus on the problem and possible solutions, not on blaming the people who may or may not have been responsible. Words of charity and grace replace words of judgment. We speak using “we” language or “I” language, and not “you” language. Praise and appreciation are routinely expressed not only for the pastor's work, but for the ministry of volunteers in the church. Crisis's and disasters are handled with humor and bountiful grace, and kept in perspective through our words.

We need everyone, all of us, using the power that is within us to speak words of thanksgiving, words of affirmation and appreciation to one another. This is the language of love. In the Moravian Covenant for Christian living we promise that we will not hate, despise, slander, or otherwise injure anyone. We will ever strive to manifest love towards all people, to treat them in a kind and friendly manner, and in our dealings with them to approve ourselves upright, honest, and conscientious, as becomes children of God. We fulfill this covenant not only through our actions but also through the power of our words.

When we disagree to do so in love and charity, knowing that God is in there working for good in all things for those who love God and seek to do God's will. When we see a problem or concern, to use “we” and “I” language, not “you” language. To be more concerned about how we can be a part of the solution to the problem we see and less on assigning blame or responsibility. I ask each of us to pledge, beginning right now, to be more conscious and more intentional of using the power within us to reach out in love to one another with our words, changing the life of this congregation to a more supportive environment for the ministry we are all called to. For when we are actively looking for the positive, and speaking the truth in love, using our tongues to solve problems rather than trying to fix blame, our tongues will become the rudders leading this congregation in the direction our pilot, Jesus Christ, directs.

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