The Church Season of Trinity
Trinity 6, (Pentecost 8)
St. Peter and St. Paul Apostles
25th Anniversary of Rev. Stephen P. Starke’s Ordination
St. John’s Lutheran Church, Amelith, MI June 29, 2008
“WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?”
Readings: Psalm 100
Acts 15:1-12
Gal. 2:1-10
Matthew 16:13-20
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The text for today is as recorded in the Gospel Lesson from the 16th chapter of St. Matthew, especially the following verses,
Matthew 16:13-20 (NIV)
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But what about you?” (Jesus) he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Members of St. John Lutheran Church, fellow Pastors, honored guests, friends, and family. Pat, and the entire Starke family, and my dear, dear brother in Christ, the Reverend Stephen Starke...
Grace, Mercy, and Peace be to you from the Father,
and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen
A few years ago Pastor Starke and I found ourselves in the city of Wittenberg, Germany in the place of Martin Luther’s home which is now a museum. As we viewed the historical writings, the documents, and artwork relating to the life of the great theologian Martin Luther and as we contemplated Luther’s impact which led to the Protestant Reformation, we came upon a larger than life-size statue of Moses. There chiseled in marble was Moses with staff in one hand, the tablets of the Law in the other. This was an awesome statue of Moses the patriarch who parted the Red Sea, who led the Israelites out of slavery, who received the ten commandments etched by the very finger of God. And as we stood there gazing at that statue I quickly noted to Pastor Starke a possibly un-noticed detail in the very room. How unusual, I commented to Pastor Starke, that in this very room, right behind the statue of Moses, there was hanging on the wall, a rather large fire extinguisher. There was the man Moses, who was chosen to be God’s spokesman, and to whom God spoke from a burning bush. Yet next to his side was a fire extinguisher placed there by a man who wanted to be ready to snuff out any burning flames. Upon hearing my comment and without thinking for even a moment, Steve’s only remark to me was, “Larry, you and I think differently.”
How true it is, we do think differently. But it is not only I, but many who are not capable of the lofty thoughts and words which Pastor Starke carefully crafts into hymnodic poetry. He writes hymns that will stand the test of time, for he knits and weaves together in blessed verse the magnitude of Christ’s life and the heavenly gifts which Christ bestows upon us. And these verses which are sung by God’s Saints here on earth give answer to Jesus Christ’s question in our Gospel lesson today,
“WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?”
Over the last 25 years, Pastor Starke has continually written words which not only answer Christ’s question, but they also speak, they sing to the very souls of men. And in every occasion the words of his carefully crafted hymns, points sin stricken souls to the splendid glory of Christ enthroned at God’s right hand. Over thirty hymns in our new hymnal, over 200 hymns and counting throughout his entire pastorate. Each and everyone of these hymns without exception, have been written to the Glory of God, enjoining all who would sing these verses that, “We Praise You, and Acknowledge You, O God to be the LORD,” proclaiming not us, but that it is Christ who is the great, “I am.”
Those who know Pastor Starke, know that accolades do not sit well him, and he is probably rustling in his chair at this very moment. But know that his collected hymns are bound in a volume with a cover inscribed with the title, “O Sing of Christ” which also displays Christ’s Name and Christ’s cross. Steve has chosen this cover in a time and in an age when it would have been all too common to take the more familiar ground of printing a portrait of himself. But rather than binding his works with self promoting artwork, even here Pastor Starke points to Christ who cannot be bound by earthly works.
In today’s second reading St. Paul’s comments about earthly works. In his letter to the church in Galatia, St. Paul speaks of a great battle regarding earthly works which occurred, “because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves.” And St. Paul further states, “ 5 We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you.”(Gal. 2:4-5) Here St. Paul stands firm in the truth of the gospel and in so doing proclaims and reflects the obligation, the responsibility, and the honorable task that a man undertakes when he is called to be an under shepherd of Jesus Christ. And while this is a blessed calling, a noble task, it is not an easy one. For the world we live in desires the clatter of busyness and change. But as Martin Luther stated about those who would add to or revise the Gospel, “They do not base their theology on the objective divine truth, but on subjective human opinions. They all have something to sell. Their aim is not to reveal Christ and His mystery, but their own mystery.” (St. L. XIV:397)
Repent. For in Jesus Christ you have been given a gentle Shepherd, and He has given you a pastor, an under-shepherd, who cares for God’s people and is not a slave to public whims or tributes or any other earthly works. Rather in all that he says and does, Steve proclaims the heavenly works of Jesus Christ, faithfully answering Christ’s question, “Who do you say that I am?”
He answers through his commitment to the Holy Scriptures, to the historic Lutheran Confessions and to our rich Lutheran liturgy which not only speaks to past generations, but to this generation, and to the generations to come. Pastor Starke faithfully responds to Christ, by feeding his flock when he reads the Gospel of Jesus Christ in rooms filled not with hundreds or thousands, rather he points to Christ in rooms inhabited by the sick, by the lonely, by the despondent, and the dying. Whether it be in the light of day or the middle of the night, these are not crowded rooms, but to most people these are forgotten places. But the devoted shepherd faithfully goes to those rooms where only two or three may be gathered because where the Gospel is proclaimed there Christ is and Martin Luther would add, “where Christ is there He always goes against the flow.”
Your pastor responds to Christ, by feeding his flock with the true body and blood of Jesus Christ who upon the cross gave His life for you so that all your sins may be forgiven, so that your faith may be renewed and refreshed. Your Pastor responds to Christ by baptizing God’s people with the water combined with God’s Word just as he does today. And while the name of this Pastor or the name of Pastor who baptized you fades as the years pass by, the Name of Christ which was placed both upon your forehead and upon your heart will never fade. For in your baptism you are marked as one redeemed by Christ the crucified, and so you are forever enjoined with all Christ’s saints who sing not of themselves but who, “Sing of Christ!”
Pastor Starke, mein Christlicher Bruder, my beloved brother in Christ, my beloved brother in the Holy Ministry, my family and I are extremely blessed to know you. You have a loving caring and supportive wife Pat who has stood by your side all these years, and you have been blessed with wonderful children. May God continue to grant you a long and blessed ministry in the service of His people.
Dear members of St. John Lutheran Church, in the Reverend Stephen Starke, his wife Pat, and his family you have received a wonderful blessing from God who has given you a loving and faithful shepherd. God has blessed you with a Pastor who points not to what he has done, nor does he point to that which the people of this world think they need. Rather he points you to Christ through his brilliant poetry which shines the light of the Gospel to those in this age and ages to come. And while your Pastor has faithfully fed his flock with the Word and Sacraments, also know that he has fed and is feeding many others even as we speak. For in the radiance of his compassionate hymnody, Pastor Starke reflects the shining light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to countless congregations throughout this country and beyond. These and all the voices who sing Starke hymns are joined together in proclaiming the depth, the richness, and the glory of Jesus Christ who died on the cross so that we may live.
It is somewhat obscure family story but a very important one, that Pastor Starke’s Father Eugene and his beloved mother Dorothy always arrived very early for church on Sunday morning. And while they sat there silently in devotion before church would begin, a young Steve Starke thumbed through the hymnal reading and learning hymn after hymn, stowing away in his mind words and tunes, meter and verse. Now Steve pens his own hymns making painstakingly certain that the focal point is always upon Christ’s work alone. And so in his hymns and in his faithful pastoral ministry of over 25 years, he answers Jesus Christ who asks, “Who do you say that I AM?” In Pastor Starke’s, words,
“You, Jesus, You alone deserve all glory!
Our lives unfold, embraced within Your story,
past, present, future-You, the same forever-
You fail us never!”(LSB 667)
To which we the saints on earth can only join in saying. AMEN!
The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
1 comment:
Pr. Starke is a wonderful gift to the church. Blessings to him and to you as you serve Him who has redeemed us.
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