Still Fishing!
Isaiah 6:1–8, (9–13) Luke 5:1–11 Psalm 138 1 Corinthians 15:1–11
Preached by the Reverend Kathy Peters
February 7, 2010

As we heard the scouts tell it this morning, a young man ventured out and helped another and because of that self less act over 100 years ago an organization was born in the United States that teaches young boys about faith in God, the importance of family, care of the environment and care of others. Eventually young girls would be offered the same opportunities in Girl Scouting, opportunities for youth to venture out of their comfort zones to learn new things and develop skills for living and caring. 
Both Isaiah and Peter are offered the same challenge, the same opportunity in our scriptures today…they are invited to move out of their comfort zones, to take a chance and do God’s work. Both declare their unworthiness, they are unprepared, what if I fail, what if I can’t. Both are reassured that God will be with them every step of the way. Notice however and this is important, that there is no promise that they will not fail………quite the opposite with Isaiah…..did you catch that when Diane read it.  Go and preach to the people God tells Isaiah but know that they will not see, they will not hear, they will not comprehend for a very long time. Many preachers are familiar with the experience!!  And if we remember any of Peter’s story, we know that he will go through the pain of Jesus’ arrest and eventual crucifixion and what seems the failure of Christ’s ministry.
Any scout will tell you that venturing out does not come without the potential for difficulty or even failure. Any willingness to explore new territory comes with risks.  God asks whom shall I send and Isaiah is bold enough to respond even through his fear and uncertainty: Send me!  Jesus asks the Peter and the other fishermen to trust and venture into deeper waters and they make the leap and their lives are changed forever.
Author Ann Dillard has written “ It is madness to wear ladies’ straw hats and velvet hats to church; we should all be wearing crash helmets. Ushers should issue life preservers and signal flares; they should lash us to our pews”  just in case God shows up!  (Annie Dillard, “Expedition to the Pole,” in Teaching a Stone to Talk New York: HarperCollins, 1982, p. 40. As quoted in Homiletics February 2010 p. 49)  It is risking business being open to God’s call in our lives. We just might be changed.
When I preached this text in February 2007 I ended by saying: “Today I challenge us to get out of our comfort zone, to listen for God’s call and then to take action!  It is time for us to go fishing!”
So what has happened here in these three years:
We have ventured into deep waters and gone fishing by sponsoring mission trips to the Dominican Republic, our young people travelled to Kansas to repair hurricane damage and even last week dared to sleep out in the frigid cold in solidarity with the homeless. Where else might we go?
We have taken the bold step of widening our table and declaring ourselves to be an Open and Affirming congregation in which all are truly welcome.
We have continued to be an active presence in our community as we feed the hungry, provide gifts and clothing for those who would otherwise be without and care for those in need. Who else might we need to welcome and care for?
We worked hard to decrease the carbon footprint of our buildings and to educate ourselves (thank you Rick Holloway) about our own energy habits.  How can we do more?
Some of us have ventured out and invited neighbors and friends to be a part of this family. Our God Squad group is a shining example as kids are open to asking their friends to be a part of the activities of this ministry. Who else might we invite?
We’ve done a bit of fishing!  Yet there is always more to do….more fish to be caught…more ministry to be accomplished.  What deeper water are we being called to explore?
God is still calling, still expecting great things from us as individuals and as a church. A small act of kindness 100 years ago opened the way to an organization that has impacted the lives of millions of young people. A fishing expedition over 2000 years ago launched a ministry that changed the world.  Imagine what might be possible if we open ourselves again and again to hearing God’s call, God’s inspiration in our lives and see where we might dare to still go fishing!  Amen