Preface: Today's sermon begins with a Poem written as a tribute to Dot Doxey by our friend and former Pastor of MRC, the Rev. Dr. David Dethmers. The poem and the sermon that follows it are about Dot's example in providing a "Ministry of Presence". This Sermon is also a great set up for the May 3rd Sermon that is inspired by a film about a true story entitled: "The Soloist".
She arrived in July of ‘29
When things were looking fairly fine.
Her birth was greeted with joy and glee:
Cutest baby in history!
The stock market got the word of her birth
And soon it seemed that nothing was worth
A heck of a lot compared to Dot.
She really put us all in a spot!
The markets spiraled out of control;
Everyone wondered how low it would go!
To get a clue, just look at her head;
No question about it—we’re way in the Red!
Her years in Brooklyn were packed with fun—
She’ll never admit the pranks she’s done—
With Jimmy and Carol, Ed and Dot.
Tons of mischief from that lot!
New Brooklyn Reformed helped shape her faith,
And gave her a sense that life is great,
Kept her on the narrow and straight;
The wild oats would have to wait!
After the war she moved to Long Island,
Broadening her search for a quality man.
No marriage.com to help do the work;
She’d have to sort out the cream from the jerks!
She found him at last right under her nose,
A colleague at work, so the story goes.
A tall, handsome man who just fit the Bill,
Swept off her feet, she loves him still.
They settled in Merrick and in their spare days
They searched out antiques in alleys and ways,
They swam in the ocean and laid on Jones Beach—
What a great life, well within reach.
When Bill passed on to eternal life
It stung like a wound, cut like a knife.
But Dot was surrounded by family and friends,
And lived in the comfort that life doesn’t end.
Dot came to the corner of Merrick and Ocean
When in ’64 she got the notion
That, though she wasn’t by nature contrary,
Things were a mess in her Presbytery!
But Pastor Don Baird could preach up a storm,
With him packed houses were often the norm.
Massapequa was thriving, growing like weeds,
Nourished by witness, as well as good deeds.
Dot jumped in and gave it her all,
For such a short lady, her passion stood tall.
She soon was acknowledged a rock-solid leader
And almost as quickly, they had VP’d her!
Her service to classis and synod unending,
Her biggest problem—overextending!
She just can’t say “No” if there is a way
That she can assist and help save the day.
Now, Dot isn’t perfect, I really must say.
In fact I remember so well the day
That I offered a large glass of wine
and she said the bottle would be just fine!
And don’t leave a chocolate out on your table,
‘Cause, much as she tries to, she isn’t able
To eat just one piece and then walk away.
More likely she’ll just stay the day!
For eighty years you’ve been giving your all,
Your feet on the ground but living tall.
And when it comes to doing your best,
You’re head and shoulders above the rest!
So cherish your time with family and friends
And know what’s important never will end.
The work you’ve done for God and his reign
will return blessings to you again and again.
Pastor David Dethmers — April 2009
Having heard Dave's poem to honor Dot "Red" Doxey on the occasion of her award as a friend of Warwick, we know two things. First, our friend and former Pastor the Rev. Dr. David Dethmers will never be confused with William Shakespeare. But second, and far more important to all of us, is that his "Ode to Red" truly has captured the beauty of a person who provides a wonderful Christian witness and a faithful "Ministry of Presence." A ministry focused in being there for others always and especially at times of crisis.
Moments or even seasons of crisis. None of us can avoid those times in our life and faith journey and today's scripture lessons focus on such times in the lives of Ruth, Naomi, Orpah and Mary.
Times when the challenges they faced were overwhelming and they could easily have fallen into a sense of depression and despair. We have all had those types of experiences ourselves and at those times of crisis, the question is: Have we been blessed to experience a Ministry of Presence?
As we reflect upon that question and today's scriptures, let us consider our calling to provide a Ministry of Presence for our loved ones and all who are impacted by our faithful Christian witness. Let us begin our reflection by acknowledging the pain of the crisis that our Biblical characters were experiencing.
First, there is the story of Naomi, Ruth and Orpah. Each of these women were truly at a moment of crisis. Naomi had lost her beloved sons. In her culture, we could translate that to mean she had lost everything. As her story begins we see her faith and her love for her daughters-in-law expressed in the fact that she is telling them to leave her, even more alone and desperate, so that they could possibly find a new beginning. And both daughters-in-law are equally in crisis for they have lost their husbands and the hopeful and joyful plans for their future were devastated!
Mary, the mother of Jesus. What can we say about her pain? I remember one of the last things my father said to me before his death. I had come to minister to him but the truth is that he was ministering to me. And so he held my hand, looked into my eyes that were full of tears and he said, "Steve, this is the way it is supposed to be. I am just so glad that your mother and I have been spared the pain of the death of our child." Mary wasn't spared that pain and so she stood at the foot of the cross and felt a pain that no parent or person should have to endure. Moments and seasons of crisis; we can't avoid them for they are part of our journey but today's scriptures also remind us of the blessing we have through a Ministry of Presence.
For you see, at those moments of crisis Naomi, Ruth, Orpah and Mary may have felt that they were alone but they were not. Indeed, they were blessed to experience the love and support that is central to a Ministry of Presence. A ministry that is made possible when we are blessed to have people in our lives who understand that and we are called to live as instruments of God's grace. And so, Ruth not thinking of the possible horrible consequences to her, holds her mother-in-law Naomi's hand and speaks the inspirational words, "Wherever you go, I will go with you."
And Jesus, seeing and understanding the pain of that moment looks down upon Mary and John and tells them in essence; comfort one another at this moment of tragedy and beyond. And the Scriptures tell us from that moment forward, wherever Mary went, John was there as her source of support.
And now to our beloved friend Dot. You know I have arrived here at MRC a little late to get that "red" thing. Apparently, at one point in her journey Dot's hair was fiery red. Well, the color of her hair may have changed but the content of her Ministry of Presence surely hasn't! And so today with joy we honor and salute a wonderful saint and servant of the Lord who surely is a friend to Warwick but also to all of us and many others. A friend who is always there. As I thought of all of the great examples of Dot's Ministry of Presence among us that I could conclude this sermon with the example I chose was really a "no-brainer" for me. For you see every Sunday, when we arrive at Church that side door opens and there stands Dot with a warm and encouraging smile to assist Carla to get from the car to the sanctuary. I disappear to start writing my sermon or something and I do so with a sense of peace, confidence and gratitude knowing that once again God has blessed our family's journey with a person who is committed to provide a "Ministry of Presence."
Jesus calls us in the storms that life contains to be there for one another through our shared commitment to a "Ministry of Presence!"
Pastor Stephen Giordano — April 26, 2009