I cannot tell you how thrilled I was to be asked by Wendy to have a part in this very special day for our parish. What a great day it is to be dedicating these new and remodeled buildings to the glory of God and for the whole community for years to come. You may have heard that early in September I moved from Redding to Southern Orange County to live with Malia and her family. We are in the process of remodeling their home right now and facing some of the frustrations and hardships you have had to put up with. So I identify with your most recent experiences and only hope that when it is finished, our remodeling will be half as nice as what you have here.

I've given a lot of thought to what I wanted to say and how to say it. I've even done some research on dedication addresses in the past. This is the story I like the best:

A little over a hundred years ago Albert Michelson won a Nobel Prize for accurately measuring the speed of light. He set up his equipment atop Mt. Wilson and Mt. Baldy in Southern California and bounced light from one to the other getting very close to what we hold to be the speed of light today. Probably because of his new notoriety he was asked to deliver the address at the dedication of the new physics laboratory at the University of Chicago. He took that opportunity to make a very bold statement. He said, other more important fundamental laws and facts of physical science have all been discovered now. What a presumptuous and closed-minded statement that was. He just didn't get the fact that if God is infinite there will always be more to learn.

I will try not to make the mistake Dr. Mickelson made and pronounce at this dedication all is finished and we can now rest on our laurels. The reason is - life keeps on keeping on. For example, ten years after Mickelson's historic announcement that there was no more to learn in physics, Albert Einstein published the first of his papers that were to revolutionize our understanding of nature and the universe. It was the greatest paradigm shift in the history of science. The irony was - that Einstein's work rested on research performed by Albert Michelson.

So I wondered what needs to be said at a dedication ceremony. Certainly a "Well Done" needs to be given to each one of you. Some I am sure have sacrificed a whole lot of time. Many of you have given generously from your treasure to make this happen and everyone associated with the parish has had to suffer a bit with all the upheaval and mess. Thank God - that is behind you.

But what's before us? Now that things are up and running - what's it for? Why the sacrifice of time and money and upheaval? How will God be glorified? Perhaps we need to listen to our Lord and wonder what he might say if he were to walk in on us right now. Well, I am not sure exactly what he would say - except that it would probably be a surprise and it might even be something we might not get at first, and it might even make us uncomfortable. But what I am sure of is that what he would say would have something to do with out ministry.

Jesus was not against wealth or things - although he seemed to need very little. But he felt a special room was necessary for him to have a farewell dinner with his closest friends. That was one thing he did not want to do outdoors. And we are told he often taught in the local synagogues and when he was a young boy he spend a couple of days in the great temple in Jerusalem - at the consternation of his parents. So even though he did much of his teaching out of doors, he was known to use - even to need - structures and buildings. Why? Because that's where the people traditionally gathered

So whatever Jesus might say, my hunch is that it would be instructive to us - each and every one of us that are here right now.

The gospel reading is the familiar story of James and John, both disciples of Jesus asking to be honored by giving them the chief seats in the next life. Jesus replied that was not his to grant. Then he went on to say that in God's realm, what we know as first would be last, and vice versa. We are not told exactly why they thought they deserved such a special honor but I suspect they thought they did because Jesus chose them to be in his inner circle. Jesus must have been frustrated at times with the disciples - and this time was no different - James and John just didn't get it. Just like Albert Michelson didn't get it. James and John were coming from the traditional mindset of their time. Honor is a reward and means one has arrived! It is to be gained at almost any cost. It was how the world measured success.

Jesus responded that such a favor was not his to grant. He implied there was a totally different hierarchy - one not based on being number one - but one based on service. Anyone who would be first shall be last and anyone who approaches life with humility and compassion will be first. If James and John had really heard that they wouldn't have asked the favor they did. For them, success was to be admired. Success was to be invited to have the chief seats at the banquet table. Success was to climb to the top. Not much different from how we view success today.

A couple of weeks ago, my family took me to a dinner theater to see "Fiddler on the Roof" Remember what it was about - TEVI, The father of a Jewish family just before WWII began, had three daughters. His greatest desire was for them to get married, and the traditional way was to have a matchmaker choose the husbands for them - that was the tradition. As the story unwinds, we realize that this is a moment in history and a place in geography that is in upheaval. The German persecution of the Jews has begun and nothing is the same - the traditions are being torn down and life has become less simple and everything is confusing and very scary.

The three daughters, each in their own way marry who they want - not whom the matchmaker or the father has chosen. We are left with three daughters who are happily in love with heir husbands and a broken-hearted father who wants to cling to the past traditions. Jesus was not afraid to confront traditions if they had lost their true meaning. James and John were living in the past and using the same standards the Pharisees used.

So I think Jesus would tell us not to get locked into tradition and he would encourage us to make these building work in ministry to others.

Henri Nouwen in his book "Compassionate Ministry" claimed that compassion should form the basis of all ministries. In other words, compassion should be the measure of our worth not power. What I get out of this lesson is that gratefulness needs to be our response. And part of stewardship is thanksgiving. In fact it should be the basis of all our giving. I am sure that most of the 1.5 million dollars this new campus cost was contributed out of thankfulness and not out of any idea of securing a favored place in the heavenly realms. This place is a testament to your generosity and I believe to your compassion as well. Because St. Thomas has always been about ministry and outreach and stewardship.

Today we will dedicate this new education building, and rededicating the remodeled offices and parish hall. It will be here that children will be given perhaps their first impression of God and God's plan for them. Here will take place the programs of outreach and ministry. Here will take place Pastoral Care and Administration. Even the courtyard will be used for prayer and instruction. And all for the purpose of glorifying God and learning to do God's will who is a God of love and forgiveness. Both inside and outside everyone will have the opportunity to change and to grow and explore yet unknown pathways of ministry and not be frozen in our faith! Thanks be to God.

Now I'd like to say something about the land on which the new educational building sits.

A long time ago a member of the congregation came to me with a dream. She was Lillian Maylard - the wife of a retired Army colonel. Her dream was to have a plot of land where she could plant all the plants mentioned in the Bible. We decided on this ugly weed patch directly behind the church. After we roto-tilled it, Lillian arranged to install the brick pathways. Members of the congregation began to contribute plants of all shapes and sizes. And John Russell brought in a twig off his fig tree at home. As it grew it gave comforting shade to those who would sit under it to pray or rest. It was a lovely spot where photographers posed wedding couples including both our daughters. The plot of land was transformed from unused and unkempt to something of beauty and usefulness. Lillian wanted the garden to be a place where we could learn about the Bible as we became familiar with the plants that Bible people were also familiar with - including our Lord. We know Jesus was no stranger to the outdoors - a lot of his teaching went on there. And he was no stranger to plants either - consider the lilies of the field - and the fig tree, the mustard bush and the wheat fields where his disciples broke tradition and gleaned even on the Sabbath. Now this piece of land has been transformed yet again into something of beauty and usefulness in a new and different way.

You all have made an enormous investment here. A million and a half is nothing to sneeze at. So how are we going to bless it? When people used to ask me to bless a new cross for them to wear or a new prayer book or bible I would agree to say a prayer of blessing but I stressed that the real blessing is how they would use it from now on. To bless is to set aside for a particular purpose - to make Holy. It doesn't make sense to me to bless a Bible or Prayer Book say then have you put it on the shelf and forget about it. The real blessing is in how you will use the thing.

So as we say prayers of dedication for these buildings and prayers of thanksgiving for those who have made sacrifices of money and time to make all this possible - how will they be used to forward our faith and ministry? How are they to be used to touch others? For what purpose will we now set them aside?. Perhaps one way is each time you enter this place you say a short prayer of thanksgiving. Perhaps another way is to look for new and exciting ways to use them in ministry. These are not just issues for Wendy - nor are they questions just for the vestry. Jesus said to James and John and I think to all of us - you want to be great? Then find someone to do something for - be of service.

When I became associated with All Saint's in Redding, I discovered their major outreach program was funded through the volunteers who ran the Thrift Shop. At least eight different community programs were funded through the shop. I thought it would be fun to help out and so every Thursday morning I ran the cash register. It was just a very small thing for a parish to do - but an important slice of ministry to that community.

When the people of St. Thomas decided to build this structure nearly 40 years ago, they decided to break with traditions and make a new architectural and religious statement. Perhaps you felt the same way I did when I first walked through the front doors. This space took my breath away - I was captivated by its beauty and daring design. It evoked a powerful feeling inside of me. I will never forget that feeling. It was as if I had finally come home. And as I spent more and more time in this space, I kept wondering - How can we be good stewards of this building given to us by those who had come before? How can we as a congregation be creative in its use? Maybe some of you might remember the God Unlimited concerts with the kids from Arizona State and the dramatic readings of the gospels of John and Mark or the Good Friday service in which we used the music from Jesus Christ Superstar - and packed the church.

Do you suppose Jesus might say to us do not be trapped in tradition. Hold on to that which is good, but also dare to try that which is new - be relevant to the world while you are being reverent to the Eternal. Use this gift of beautiful space and form for all kinds of ministry.

Now I'll leave you with a bit of humor that shows what happens when we get locked into a traditional mind set - Whether it be James and John or Albert Michelson or us.

An atheist was taking a walk in the woods one day. He said to himself, "What a beautiful place - the trees and the animals are exquisite, what lovely sounds and smells - it is good to be here". Then he heard a rustlings sound behind him. When he turned he saw a large Grizzly bear looking right at him just a few yards away. So he turned and began to run as fast as he could. The bear chased him and when he tripped and fell the bear lunged at him. At that moment, the atheist yelled out "MY..." And then time froze no sound - not a leaf fluttered - a bright light shone down from the sky and a voice said, "Are you about to call out my name?" You who have denied me all your life and credited creation to mere chance? The atheist replied, "it would be hypocritical of me to say I believed in you now. It is too late for me to change my views and become a believer. But perhaps you could make the bear a believer. "Very well" said the voice. The light went out and time resumed and then the bear put his paws together and said, "Dear Lord, I thank you for this meal I am about to receive."

Amen and may God's blessings continue to be poured out upon all of you and upon this special place.