wfn.org | Meza offers "Cross or Crossfire"

[PCUSA.NEWS@ecunet.org]

03-July-1996 
 
GA96048 
 
Meza offers "Cross or Crossfire" 
 
ALBUQUERQUE--In a sermon he said would surprise those who know him, the 
Rev. Herb Meza offered "Cross or Crossfire" in morning worship on Tuesday, 
July 2, calling the Assembly away from its problem fixation to a return to 
"devotion to Christ; the rest will take care of itself." 
 
    The sermon began with as assessment that the three year period of 
dialogue and study has not worked: "we are wrong when we believe we can fix 
things."  He then turned to the story of extravagance from Mark 14, the 
pouring out of a tribute to Jesus worth a year's wages, and Jesus' 
surprising approval of that gift. Despite the fact that it might have been 
used to care for "the poor," Jesus received it gladly. Meza tied current 
concern with issues, problems, needs, to the story:  "Besieged as we are, 
we must find our way back to our worship.  The central issue for our 
churches is whether we can confess Jesus Christ as Lord." 
 
    The preacher consoled the congregation by promising them a continued 
enmeshment in issues and concerns by quoting Hugh Walpole from a recent 
novel:  "You are worth it; you are too valuable to be left in peace." 
 
    Meza, retired minister from Jacksonville, Florida, who has been a 
candidate for moderator of the General Assembly, was formerly pastor of 
Church of the Pilgrims in Washington, D.C. 
 
    Worship began with a lively warmup that could have been called "Scott 
Joplin meets John Calvin," as pianist Matalie Wham kept the grand piano 
keys jumping, and the congregants as well, with ragtime hymns.  Mark 
Wallace, song leader, taught a vibrant Gospel song, "Lord, I thank you, 
thank you, thank you!" that had staid worshipers clapping and moving, and 
led in a canon-style contemporary Christian hymn, "I Will Call Upon the 
Lord." 
 
    Liturgist was the Rev. Kay Huggins, pastor of Rio Rancho Presbyterian 
Church in Albuquerque.  The choir closed with an anthem echoing the 
preacher's words, turning thoughts away from human priorities to those of 
God:  "Teach me, O Lord, teach me your way." 
 
Houston Hodges 

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