God with us
A Sermon of The Rev. Dr. David A. Killian, Rector
All Saints Parish
Brookline, Massachusetts
First Sunday after the Epiphany
January 9, 2005
Text: Matthew 3:13-17
I
A dove led us in procession as we approached the altar at the beginning of our service. The dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit who descended upon Jesus at his baptism. The Holy Spirit is descending upon us today at All Saints Parish as we celebrate two milestones: Julia Dunbar's first Holy Eucharist as an ordained priest and the fiftieth wedding anniversary of Ingeborg and Friedrich vonHuene.
Friedrich and Ingeborg and Julia have told me of the joy that they feel today. Their joy is even greater because the road they have walked has not always been easy. They have had their share of struggles, uncertainties, and difficulties -- which they have overcome -- and that makes today's celebration even more special.
We are in this beautiful church which has many warm and treasured memories for Julia and the vonHuenes. It was in this church that Julia was received into the Episcopal Church and where she served as a Minister of Healing. It was in this church 40 years ago, that the Rev. Luis Pitt, Rector of All Saints, baptized Ingeborg and Friedrich's son, Thomas. Thomas and all of the vonHuene children and grandchildren -- and Louis Pitt -- are here today, as are so many of their family, friends, musical colleagues and the musicians who are providing the magnificent music that we are enjoying in this service.
Their fathers were killed in the war when Ingeborg and Friedrich were teenagers, and as the eldest of six and four children, they had responsibility for caring for their families. One of Friedrich and Ingeborg's big regrets is that their children never had grandfathers. Their families lost most of their possessions in the aftermath of Germany's defeat in World War II. Friedrich's family fled from their farm near Berlin from the advancing Soviet army in April 1945. Ingeborg lived near Frankfurt and experienced the bombing of German cities.
When they met in school near Frankfurt, they played recorders together and enjoyed theater, art exhibitions and hikes in the mountains. Later Friedrich's family relocated to Maine. He was drafted to serve in the Korean war and he served in the Air Force band. After he was discharged he traveled to Germany to visit his relatives and, of course, Ingeborg. The next year Ingeborg traveled to the U.S. and they were married on December 30, 1954 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Brunswick, Maine. The suit that Friedrich is wearing today is the suit that he wore also at his confirmation and his wedding.
Ingeborg and Friedrich raised five beautiful children. In 1960 they founded the vonHuene workshop that produces early music instruments that are considered the finest in the world. Friedrich received an honorary doctorate from Bowdoin College, his alma mater; a Guggenheim Fellowship; and the Orion Award of the Cambridge Society of Early Music. "We never considered ourselves a 'business,'" Ingeborg said, "but simply looked at our work as our 'lifestyle' until the IRS told us otherwise." When describing this period, she said, "Our life became one of exploration, of decision making, of 'figuring things out,' of learning, and of surviving mistakes."
II
Julia's path was similarly full of struggles and similarly heroic. As a single mother at age 23 she raised two children living on welfare in Appalachia. She was what we call "street wise." She went back to school, got a job as an activist, worked for social change. She lived on the margins of society as an advocate and reformer. Her life moved along a path with many detours as a laborer, peace activist, AIDS buddy, actress, teacher, private foundation executive, patient, and chaplain. Ten years ago she decided to take some courses at Episcopal Divinity School, even though she was unchurched at the time. A friend told her to check out All Saints, which she did in 1996. I remember meeting with her eight years ago to talk about the relevance of Christianity. She attended the Explorations in Faith course, then Journeys, and was received into the Episcopal Church. She became a Minister of Healing and found that in being an instrument of healing for others she was being healed herself.
She felt God might be calling her to ordained ministry. She met with a Discernment Committee in the parish, was accepted into the ordination process, and was ordained a deacon last year. Yesterday she was ordained a priest. Her partner Lisa is here today, as well as her children and grandchildren, her brother and family and friends. When her grandchildren grow up they can tell everyone that they were at their grandmother's ordination and first Holy Eucharist.
III
Ingeborg and Friedrich and Julia were able to overcome the obstacles in their lives and follow their dreams because no matter how great their struggles, uncertainties, and difficulties, they were not alone. They were in partnership with God. The Holy Spirit, like a dove, was hovering over their lives.
Matthew tells us that Jesus, at his baptism, saw "the Spirit of God descending like a dove alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, 'This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.'"
Ingeborg, Friedrich and Julia, you responded to the presence of God in your lives. In your struggles, uncertainties, and difficulties, you were not alone. God, like a dove, descended on you and was a partner with you as you built your lives, raised your families, worked, laughed, created, and enriched the communities around you.
God is calling all of us to serve, each in our own way. There will be struggles, uncertainties, and difficulties but we do not face these challenges alone. Like a gentle dove, God descends upon us with blessing and grace. God is our partner. God is with us. For the presence of God in the lives of Ingeborg, Friedrich, Julia and all us, we give thanks.
Amen.