Dear Friends at Epiphany, 

This year’s stewardship campaign just ended. We are blessed and thankful for the congregation’s outstanding financial support. Without pledges, the vestry has no basis to develop a meaningful budget to support Epiphany. By Canon, the vestry is responsible for the financial matters of Epiphany and is a fiduciary to the congregation. Special thanks to Heather and to all those working on the campaign to make it such a success.

I was asked to write a closing Hump Day Message. I was told that this year’s theme was Reimagine the Possible, and this year’s scripture was: 

“There is now one people and they all have one language. This is what they have begun to do, and now all that they plan to do will be possible for them.” Genesis 11:6  

In looking at the context of this scripture, in the very next sentence, the Lord says, “Come let us go down and confuse their language there, so they will not understand one another’s speech.” Genesis 11:7(NRSV) The Lord then scattered them all over the face of the earth. The Lord’s direct intervention prevented them from completing the city and tower of Babel.  

I found these two sentences to be incongruent with the intent of this year’s scripture. Why did the Lord stop the building and scatter the people? Then, I recalled that it was the people’s pride that led them to stop and build the tower ignoring the Lord’s earlier command, after the flood, to scatter. It was an infringement of God’s authority. They were not obeying the Lord’s command.  In my opinion, the juxtaposition of this year’s scripture with the following sentence clouded its current intent as there seemed to be something missing. 

Then, one Sunday, during the Eucharist, the words, “…in unity with the Holy Spirit…”, immediately struck me as what was missing from this year’s scripture. The Holy Spirit guides one to do God’s work. (BCP p.854) I have rewritten this year’s scripture to make its intent explicit.  

There is now one people (in unity with the Holy Spirit) and they all have one language.This is what they have begun to do, and now all that they plan to do will be possible for them (in unity with the Holy Spirit). Clearly, in Genesis, if the one people were doing God’s work (in unity with the Holy Spirit), the Lord would not have intervened.

I also make explicit this year’s theme as: Let Us Reimagine the Possible in Unity with the Holy Spirit. Our ministry is in part, “…in accordance with the gifts given them, to carry on Christ’s work…”.   (BCP p. 855) This work (labor) did not end with the campaign. This labor continues with giving of your time, talent, and treasure. Your labor will be paid as the Lord says that “…the laborer deserves to be paid.” (Luke 10:7) Thank you for your continuing support of Epiphany.

Blessings,

Dick Fichter
Teller since ’90
Vestry ’23