by Bonnie Seely

On Sunday, September 10, 2000, Shiremanstown United Methodist Church welcomed back pastoral son the Reverend Dr. Richard E. Denison, Jr., ninth in a series of bicentennial speakers. His father, Richard Denison, Sr., served as liturgist for this occasion. Dr. Denison was introduced by Pastor John Kurtz, who has known Rick for many years, both having pastored in York District. Mention was also made of Dr. Denison’s service in the Air National Guard, for which he received a commendation for service to his squadron during Desert Storm.

He began his sermon with reminiscence, saying a word of appreciation for all who were his Sunday School teachers. He characterized himself as "not an easy student," who asked a lot of questions. Among those he mentioned were Frank Eshleman, whose record of 60 or 70 years of perfect attendance in Sunday School made an impression; Helen Henderson; Albert Wrightstone, who was Sunday School Superintendent for many years; and former Pastor Rayborn Higgins, whose visits to the speaker’s college dorm room are fondly remembered.

The sermon of the morning, entitled "Whom Will You Serve?" addressed the conflict between politics and spirituality. "Any time we complete a task, it is important to take stock, to evaluate. A mistake is not a failure, as long as you learn from it," said Dr. Denison. Identifying a lesson which can be learned from what has gone before, reference was made to the reign of the biblical king Josiah, whose reign followed that of a number of evil kings. Josiah, in the process of cleaning the temple, found the book of Deuteronomy, read it, and resolved to do better. Deuteronomy is a series of sermons by Moses, preached before the Israelites would inherit the promise. Josiah had the book of Deuteronomy read before all the people, a people who had in the past and would in the future forsake the worship of the one true God. Dr. Denison then referred to what he called the Bible’s thesis sentence, God’s call to Abram to be a blessing to the whole world. God blesses so that we will become a blessing. His blessing is not a REWARD for faithfulness, but an OBLIGATION to be a blessing. His blessing comes when we do not trust in our own resources, but place our trust wholly in God; when we do not seek earthly popularity, but seek to do God’s will. Christianity today, said Dr. Denison, is in danger of choosing the idols of the world; popularity and self-righteousness. He went on to say, "I have some difficult questions for the church: Are we selling our souls to the god of Politics? Are we selling our souls to the god of Materialism?" He referred to the cost of tickets for Christian concerts. "Are we selling our souls to the god of Popularity?" Here he referred to Christian personalities seen on the media as acts of "Christian super-stardom," reminding us that the message, not the performer, should be the center of attention. Finally the question, "Are we settling for self-righteousness above true righteousness?" Dr. Denison urged the congregation to "Take a hard look at where you stand before God," reminding us that to judge and to condemn is hypocrisy, which leads to death. To choose life is to humbly bow before God, in true repentance which comes from looking inward and confessing our own sins. In closing, Dr. Denison urged his listeners to, with God’s help, choose life.

Dr. Denison is the son of Richard and Peggy Denison. He currently pastors at Hope United Methodist Church, Mechanicsburg. His sermon and his presence at this time of celebration were greatly appreciated by the congregation.

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