1001 South Fourth Street, Philadelphia PA 19147
(215) 336-1444, welcome@emanuel-lutheran.org
Cornelius D. Eaddy, Pastor

We have gathered together this morning in the season of the Gospel known as Epiphany with a threefold purpose. One -- to celebrate the Baptism of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ, Two -- to Celebrate the Life of the Rev. DR Martin Luther King Jr. And three -- to celebrate the dropping of the towers and the safety of our church building.... One may ask: well, what does one have to do with the other? I too asked that question..With your prayers and patience walk with me as I, through the power of the Holy Spirit, visit all three separate but unifying issues in our worship today. Concentrate with me on this thought: Be an Example.

Today we meet John the Baptist, pastor of the first church of the wilderness. A crazy man with a sane message. Prepare the way. Today John is focused on the Baptism of Jesus. Baptism -- Luther calls it the water in the word. Baptism -- the washing away of the old and the nourishing of the new.......

Did Jesus need to be baptized?.Theologically speaking, no...for his was the Word that became flesh. So why did he do it? Well, he did it to be an example, an example to be followed by you, by me and by all who believe.

His example received the official seal of approval -- for, you see, at this moment the Father showed up along with the Holy Ghost to certify that this was an example to be followed by all: "This is my beloved Son in which whom I am well pleased."

There was a man by the name of Martin Luther King Jr...you may know the man. Even though the Church officially celebrates his death and his martyrdom we celebrate him today to because he too was an example. So much an example that he died doing goodwill for other. What greater love than to lay down his life for a friend? His message was a baptism of non violence, a baptism of love, a washing away of the old way of dealing with things, a washing away of the old eye for and eye and a tooth for a tooth. Martin offered a message of love, a message of walking hand in hand as God's people. As he journeyed across this land of the not so free and the home of the not so brave (anyone who hides behind a sheet couldn’t be too brave) he kept his focus on the Promised Land. A land where people would not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. The old guard stood up tall but on he marched......and the more he marched the more foundations began to crumble and new life began to spring up..He said I know we’ve got some difficult days ahead but it really doesn’t mater to me now because I’ve seen the promised land. He was example..so much an example that his quest in life took him to his grave.......

On Sunday, the buildings across the street will fall, and this community will be baptized with new life. On Sunday the 23rd these buildings will lay down their lives so that new life may begin. What greater love that to lay down one’s life for a friend? Yes, as the buildings fall and the dust flies, too, Emanuel has got some difficult days ahead. Who knows what the impact will do to our building? Ohm yes, we have met with the contractors and they have assured us with their scientific reasoning,,,yes, as the buildings come down, in the midst of all the turbulence, in the midst of the dropping of the old guard we alone will stand. We will stand as an Example. Even as things crumble around, God is with us. That is what "Emanuel" means, "God is with us." I see the Promised Land...a community where God will be first...a community where all people are created equal. A community where we can be an example of the power that is Jesus Christ. Oh, yes, I’m not worried about the impact on our building...you see, I know there are contractors over in the trailer across the street...but I also know the Master Contractor .......and I had a little consultation with him.. I asked Him to bind us together with cord that cannot be broken...

...as the buildings fall, may we be free from the image of a dead neighborhood

...as the buildings fall, may we be free from the misconceived notions that we are a people who don’t care

...as the buildings fall, may we be free to begin a new beginning

...as the buildings fall may we be free at last, free at last, thank God almighty, we are free at last.