8.6.2010 ........................................................................................... Juha Rintamaki Farewell Sermon 2010 ........................................................................................... The start of a farewell sermon challenges. How to start? Perhaps from the time when the renovation project was coming to an end and I, in my pyjamas and in my own kitchen at seven in the morning, met a workman descending from the roof to get his new tools. I couldn’t say which of us was more startled. Or, when although five minutes late I was looking forward to attending Sunday Service in Crathie Church near Balmoral Castle, in Scotland, I was stopped by the Secret Service. Her Royal Majesty Queen Elisabeth was attending, and the doors were closed. In my accented English I tried to assure the guards of my piety and told them I was a Rector of the Finnish Church, even mentioning the Porvoo agreement which would include me as an Anglican priest. The situation was aptly described by the guard’s query if I “intended to read a sermon in this church?” Later, both myself and my car were photographed. Or should I discuss the black stains on my jeans, which remain despite repeated washing, reminding me of a secret night errand to improve the façade of the derelict pub opposite our church. As our church was newly renovated, I and a few like-minded members thus wanted to help our neighbour with his maintenance. Or the funeral of a Finnish man, who had come to experience London in the seventies, and, almost three decades later was given a Finnish funeral by his English family. According to his wife and daughter this was what he would have wanted, it was the proper thing to do. At remembrance service we talked at lenght about being a Finn in Britain. The daughter told me that she was baptised at the Finnish Church in the eighties, because both parents wanted it. It was absolutely the proper thing to do. When I was leaving the remembrance service, the English daughter said, while the English mother was nodding beside her, “We’ll see you at the church, as always.” It was the proper thing to do, even though they did not speak Finnish. Or should I start with the time when I woke up in the middle of the night at the Rectory, feeling someone standing beside my bed. My wife was in Helsinki, it couldn’t have been her. My first question was “How can I help you?” and got a Finnish-sounding mumble in reply, so I asked “Where are you from?”- ”I’m a member of the Tampere Church Choir and trying to find my bed …?”. The church locking system was coded wrong and his key allowed him to the rectory instead of his accommodation room. Or should I start where I’ve often wanted to, but never before had an opportunity; our altar wall. In the middle we have a cross, which represents today’s text: Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. Since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. (John 4.) This altar wall has always impressed me. Over the last seven years I have declared its stone to be Finnish stone, which was shipped in the fifties to London, and my story has even reached many a Finnish newspaper. Until my predecessor Ismo Saarikoski kindly pointed out that it’s Yorkshire stone. The altar wall therefore is from this country, a country which many a Finn has fallen in love with, and elected to stay in, longer than originally planned. The origin of the stone binds the symbol of Finnishness, the altar of the Finnish Church, solidly to the British Isles. During the renovation project the wall was cleaned, and the variety of the surface was revealed further. The dark and deep areas within the wall appear to me, symbolic of those moments in human life when we bend under our heavy burdens. Those are the times when hope has dimmed, we have lost a beloved member of our family, or when we ourselves have despaired. Among this despair arise countless prayers, pleas and thanks, or just sighs. It’s impossible to know how many have found the help, the strength and the hope in their everyday life. But just for that purpose we have faith in Christ, that the people would gain fortitude in the trials of life, to have the courage to look forward, and to have hope. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. John 4. Christian life and faith cannot be properly understood, if one doesn’t know the difference between love and faith. Love is intended for kin, for other people. ”Love your neighbor as yourself.” Children should be cared for, other people’s health should be cared for and this world should be cared for. If you love, you care. Think of parents, who care for their children and worry how the world will treat them. Or think of anyone who cares and worries for his own, or family members’ health. There is correct care for wellbeing, but there is also unnecessary anxiety for illness. We were told that artist Kari Suomalainen constantly scrutinised his own body and its condition. When he had a bout of flu, Kari kept carefully measuring his temperature every hour. At times his temperature was 37,5, later 37,2 and then again 37,5. Kari panicked to his wife Lippe, revealing that he had read from the medical encyclopedia that “Fluctuating temperature may result in death.” Of course many people have real reasons to worry about their health. It’s not a joking matter when the blood clots in your veins or cancer cells run wild. At those times your friends and family worry with you. Christian life contains both love and faith. Love is aimed to our nearest and dearest and requires care and even worry. In God love is not enough, it requires faith and only faith. ”God is love. If we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” John 4. We do not perform acts of love for God. In his presence, acts and hustle are worthless. Only he can care for us. In his greatness he knows what we really need. Even needs that we do not realise, he is aware. This God’s care means that we do not have to worry or panic in his presence. Traditions and customs are very important for us. We do certain things because they are customary, and we know that generations before us have done the same. Church rituals indicate the most important occasions of our life. The baptisms, weddings and funerals of Finnish-born turn them towards the Finnish Church. Customs support us, but without care they won’t last. We therefore need real faith and love. The faithful receive God’s gifts and love spreads them on to their neighbours. This is a part of church life, containing on one hand prayer, and on the other hand action, gathering and spreading the good word over the world. Humans are created to this life and heaven afterwards. Already here we create heaven and make life hell. And already here abandoning our neighbour we also abandon God. Paavo Ruotsalainen, Quakers’ pillar of strength in Finland, suggested that we meet another person as if it was the last time. At the Seamen’s Mission we’ve got it right. The theology of encounter is innermost at the London Church. How we can truly meet each other in the church and the church’ work. These real encounters, intended to lighten burdens and ease way, these good moments in our life are represented in the altar wall in many places. It’s those light, raised areas. And in the middle of all is the cross engraved in Yorkshire stone, simple and without adornments. Many people turn to God in their darkest hour. These islands and this world is full of people shouting desperate and ardent pleas. They do not ask for fulfillment of their dreams but for basic needs; health, work, peace of mind, harmony, security for them and their children, forgiveness, to receive grace. When those around us and our own ability have failed, we turn to The Almighty and ask: give me my daily life and deliver me from evil. It’s what He promised. Surely, dear friends who have come here today, you noted that today’s text did not only start from human need and hope but contains a condition: “Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.” God gives us what we need and challenges us to acts of loving kindness towards each other. Because “If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar.” God gives us his blessing and his grace. Blessing and grace are not sought by those who manage, or think they manage, on their own. But those, who have suffered greatly wish that at the end of all this misfortune would be even a little grace. Today’s promise of love doesn’t contain all we want but gives us more, blessing and grace, in this life and the hereafter. And finally, dear Londoners, members of the Finnish Church, living in UK and Ireland, and our family’s friends in these unbelievably wonderful islands. I hope that the last thought in today’s text will live in this our beloved church: “And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.” John 4:21 ........................................................................................... Muita kirjoituksia: Piispa Gustav Björkstrandin saarna kirkkorakennuksen 50-vuotisjuhlamessussa 7.9.2008 Piispa Eero Huovinen Lontoon merimieskirkon 125- vuotisjuhlamessussa 23.9.2007 Kappalainen Kari Kanalan läsijäissaarna 1.7.2007 Sosiaalikuraattori Leena Miettisen läksijäissaarna 6.5.2007 Piispa Erik Vikström Pyhän Henrikin muistomessussa Guards Chapel, London 20.1. 2007 Kirkon johtaja, pastori Juha Rintamäki kirkkorakennuksen vihkijäisten aattoiltana 30.9.2006