The Church In Aurora -

Enduring Partnerships

Philippians 1:1-6

William F. Schnell

July 16, 2006

It is wonderful to be a part of something bigger than we are by ourselves. Perhaps you have sung in a choir before, or been part of a big production with lights and settings and music and all sorts of other details that many other people were responsible for, but you got to identify with the whole show because you were a part of the process. For some of us, standing up and singing by ourselves would be a mortifying experience. But being a part of a choir is great fun, especially when we have strong voices next to us singing our part with us.

Or, if music is not our bag, maybe being in a thriving business partnership is what thrills us, or being made a full partner of a successful law firm. Maybe we have a favorite golf or tennis partner. Hopefully we have found a good match in our marriage partner, because such enduring partnerships that stand the test of time are always the best. The title of our message this morning is “Enduring Partnerships,” and we are going to celebrate what that means in the church.

It is helpful to think of the church as an enduring partnership. Paul referred to the church as the body of Christ, and to its individual members as parts of Christ’s body. You are a part, I am a part and together we are a partnership that, in the case of this congregation, has endured for going on197 years. None of us has endured for 197 years. We come and go. Today we are sad to see the Costarell family go as they relocate to Florida. But we trust that they will find a church to partner with where they are going, just as The Church in Aurora was here waiting for them when they first arrived.

Our partnership with the body of Christ transcends time and space. Even when our life on earth is over, we believe that we will be gathered together with a great cloud of witnesses in the kingdom of heaven. In the meantime, we are part of the body of Christ on earth, and partners with one another in something that is much bigger than we are by ourselves. Individually we do not have to subscribe the church budget on our own, or hammer in all the roof shingles on our own, or sing on our own. But with one voice we can make beautiful music together, and with one heart we can do great things together under the headship of Christ.

In our text for this morning Paul is celebrating his partnership with the church in Philippi. To them he writes: I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now (Verses3-5). Even though Paul, like the Costarell’s, had left the church in Philippi for other fields of service, he still considered them partners in the gospel. One of the ways he maintained that partnership was through his prayers and through letters such as those that have been preserved for us as Scripture.

Conor McCarthy was a member of this congregation before he enlisted in the Air Force several years ago now. Yet he remains on our prayer chain so that many from our congregation can pray for him. I recently received an email from Conor just as he was arriving in Baghdad for a tour of duty. I emailed him back, he emailed me back, and in this exchange our partnership in the gospel endures. I will probably email this sermon to him, and to his mother who will immediately respond with news about the whole clan.

Paul’s letter is actually a response to a contact the church made with him while he was in prison for being a Christian. The church in Philippi sent its pastor, Epaphroditus, to visit with Paul face-to-face, and to deliver a financial contribution so that his confinement would be more comfortable. In those days a little money vastly improved one’s circumstances while in prison. Three times before--twice when Paul was at Thessalonica and once when he was at Corinth—the saints at Philippi ministered to his needs with their gifts and visits and prayers. Philippians might be called a thank-you note to the saints at Philippi for their generous gifts.

In this Paul has left us a biblical example of showing gratitude for Christian gifts, and celebrating our enduring partnerships in the Gospel. Inspired by this biblical precedent, we too wish to show gratitude today for Christian gifts given in faithful obedience to God, and for some special enduring partnerships in our midst. As a prelude to doing that, I would like to ask the Horak family to relocate to the seats provided at the front of the sanctuary where they may find mutual comfort as the spotlight shines upon them.

Twenty-five years ago, on Father’s Day 1981, The Church in Aurora interviewed a young man to be its Director of Christian Education. Among all the candidates for the position, this fellow was a standout and, on July 15, 1981 (exactly 25 years ago yesterday) Kevin Horak began his first day on the job. Thus began a partnership in the gospel that has continued to this present day—an uncommonly long and fruitful tenure that has gone through several permutations as he has acquired additional education and experience.

But enough about him. Because with him came a faithful servant in the Lord who we have not had to pay, and yet who has served just as faithfully, effectively and consistently as has he for the past 25 years. I am speaking here of Kathleen Horak, and Kevin was speaking of her as he read our Old Testament lesson for this morning. Our celebration is of this partnership, Kevin and Kathleen, and their partnership with us. Seated with them are their two lovely daughters, the “Ahhh Sisters,” HannAH and SarAH, who have been privy to this celebration and, indeed, have provided indispensable help in preparing for it.

Kevin and Kathleen met when they were Junior Highs. They did not attend the same school, but they did attend the same youth group at Goodyear Heights Presbyterian Church. Like the “Ahhh Sisters,” Kathleen was one half of the well-regarded “Benfield Sisters,” who did practically everything together—much to Kevin’s chagrin. But once he was able to drive, he managed to pry Kathleen away on a date alone.

Kathleen made Kevin feel special. The first time he opened the car door for her, she slid across the seat, unlocked his door for him (no remote locks in those olden days) and then (take my breath away) she remained in the middle of the seat next to him. Kevin immediately proposed to her but, beginning a process that continues to this day, Kathleen reined him in and said, “Let’s just take this one step at a time.”

One step for both was making a personal profession of Christ at a New Wilmington Missionary Conference. Another step was completing their educations, with both completing programs at the University of Akron. Another was becoming gainfully employed, with Kathleen working at a doctor’s office and Kevin working in the toy department of a JC Penny store. On Christmas Eve 1976 Kevin gave Kathleen a doll from the toy store. A doll wearing a bridal dress. A doll carrying a little handbag. A handbag that contained an engagement ring. Even Kathleen could not resist that!

The two were married in their home church and honeymooned in Florida. Upon their return, Kevin put his education degree to good use teaching second grade in Barberton for two years. But then he took a leap of faith, left his teaching profession and enrolled at Gordon-Conwell Seminary in Boston for a Masters in Christian Education—and we might wonder why. Sometime before Kevin lost his birth mother when he was ten years old, he told her that some day he was going to become a minister. His mother, Betty, rather liked that idea, and Kevin never forgot it.

Hannah Horak is known in the family as “Our souvenir from Massachusetts.” Sarah was born after the Horaks arrived here (with the church throwing a baby shower just prior to her arrival). The girls have gone through church school here, and confirmation and youth group. They annually decorated the Christmas tree in the Great Hall (never entirely to their father’s satisfaction). They have gone on to graduate from college, become productive citizens and, indeed, become a credit to their parents in every way.

In the meantime, Kathleen has labored among us in many capacities, most recently leading Bible studies, working with the 3-H Evening Circle, serving on the Christian Education Committee and heading up our ministry to 2 & 3 year olds. She is a trained Stephen Minister and has completed our Education for Ministry program. She works in myriad ways behind the scenes, suffers her husband to take the bows in front of the spotlight and is ever the calm, collected and steady presence that so befits a person in her unique role.

Kevin has labored among us as a Youth Leader, Christian Education Director and, now, as one of your Pastors (in keeping with the dream shared with his mother). We have been blessed by his organizational skills, teaching talent and, mostly, his kind, compassionate and caring ways. If I am officially the “Head of Staff,” Kevin is most certainly the “Heart of Staff.” In this latter regard I am reminded of a poem that has often reminded me of Kevin, and which I would like to share with you now.

Kevin, Kathleen, for your enduring partnership with one another and with Christ and with us, we are grateful to God. We have a couple expressions of gratitude to make now, the first being by our Moderator, Peter French.

The second is only a token of appreciation being made by Elder Ann Womer Benjamin.

The Chancel Choir has ascended to the loft to offer an anthem that they feel is especially appropriate in light of this occasion. I might also mention that the hymns for today were selected as known favorites of the Horaks.

Following our service of worship we will ask the Horak family to greet worshipers in the South Chapel, and then we hope all will stay for a special Silver Tea reception in Fellowship Hall, together with much food and photographs on display and a very special presentation.

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