January 26, 2025
Indianola Presbyterian Church, Columbus
“The Interdependent parts of the Body”
by Rev. Trip Porch
January 26, 2025 Based on 1 Corinthians 12:12-27
It is always a special day when we welcome new members into the life of this church. What a gift that on new member Sundays, we are reminded that we are not meant to walk the journey of faith alone, but in community. And how fitting, that the lectionary happened to include this text from the apostle Paul on new member Sunday. A scripture that reminds us that we are part of one body—the body of Christ. Each of us is a vital member, uniquely gifted, deeply valued. That we are inherently connected to one another, and we are also dependent on one another, that the seemingly “weakest” parts of the body are as necessary as the strongest parts for the whole body to function.
It’s a helpful image on new member Sunday . It’s also a helpful contrast to some of the rhetoric we heard this week as our country took on new leadership. How the most undervalued parts of this country should be removed from the body, and how one member of the body thinks itself superior to the rest. While this sort of isolationist, egotistical, and supremacist thinking is exactly what Paul is writing against, I don’t want to dwell too much on it. Instead, I want to lean into Paul’s image of the body of Christ, and dream of what it might it look like, for us.
Let me begin by sharing a story from a rural village in South Africa where children were invited to a game. A basket of fruit was placed under a tree, and they were told that whoever reached the basket first could have all the fruit. But when the game began, the children surprised the organizers. Instead of racing each other, they held hands and ran together. When they reached the basket, they sat down and shared the fruit equally. When asked why they had done this, one child responded, “How can one of us be happy if the others are sad?” It’s a story that illustrates a deeply African concept… Ubuntu.
Ubuntu is a Xhosa word that means, “I am because we are.” It reflects the idea that our humanity is tied to the humanity of others, that our flourishing is bound up in the flourishing of our neighbors. Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who often spoke about Ubuntu, described it like this:
“Africans have a thing called ubuntu. It is about the essence of being human, it is part of the gift that Africa will give the world. It embraces hospitality, caring about others, being willing to go the extra mile for the sake of another. We believe that a person is a person through other persons, that my humanity is caught up, bound up, inextricably, with yours. When I dehumanize you, I inexorably dehumanize myself. The solitary human being is a contradiction in terms. Therefore you seek to work for the common good because your humanity comes into its own in community, in belonging.”
This idea is woven into the fabric of creation itself. God did not design us to live in isolation. From the beginning, we were made for relationship—with God, with one another, and with the world around us. The web of life is intricate, interdependent, and sacred.
Paul’s words to the Corinthians beautifully illustrate this interconnectedness. He uses the metaphor of a body to explain how every person—regardless of their gifts, background, or role—is essential. The hand cannot say to the eye, “I don’t need you.” The head cannot dismiss the feet. Every part matters, and the body thrives only when every part is honored and cared for.
But let’s be honest—it’s not always easy to live this out. We live in a world that often values independence over interdependence. We’re taught to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps, to look out for number one, to keep our struggles hidden and our vulnerabilities tucked away. It’s considered a virtue in our country, and I think what we are seeing now in our country is this virtue taken to its extreme. Yet Paul reminds us that when one part of the body suffers, the whole body suffers. And when one part rejoices, we all rejoice together. This is the way of Christ.
So, what does this mean for us as a church? It means that each of us has something sacred to offer. Some of us are hands, doing the work of service and care. Some are eyes, offering vision and guidance. Some are hearts, creating spaces of compassion and empathy. And today, as we welcome new members, we’re reminded that our community is enriched by their presence. Their gifts, their stories, and their dreams will shape who we are as a body.
It also means that we have a responsibility to one another. To listen, to support, to celebrate, and to hold space for each other’s joys and sorrows. This is not a transactional relationship but a holy one. We reflect God’s love when we live as though Ubuntu is true—when we say, “I am because we are.”
Friends, as we welcome our new members today, let’s remember that we are welcoming not just participants but partners in the gospel. We are saying, “We need you. And you need us.” This is how God intends us to be—not as isolated individuals but as a vibrant, interdependent body.
Let’s close with the simple yet profound ubuntu affirmation, “ I am because we are. “
May it be our counter cultural refrain today and into the future:
May we embody this truth in the days to come, living as Christ’s body in a world yearning for connection and healing.
Amen.
WE GATHER IN AWE AND PRAISE
PRELUDE "Spirit, Open My Heart" arr. P.F. Tillen
INTROIT “With Joy, With Praise, With Love, With Peace” Emma Lou Diemer
WELCOME Rev. Trip Porch
One: This is the day that the Lord has made
All: Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
*CALL TO WORSHIP
One: We praise you, God, for the diversity of your body.
All: By God’s Spirit, we are one.
One: From diverse backgrounds and diverse places,
All: by God’s Spirit, we are one.
One: From diverse cultures and diverse generations,
All: by God’s Spirit, we are one.
One: From diverse questions and diverse dreams,
All: by God’s Spirit, we are one.
One: We celebrate our diversity. We celebrate our unity.
All: By God’s Spirit, we are one. Hallelujah!
*HYMN 692 “Spirit, Open My Heart” WILD MOUNTAIN THYME
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION Bob Concitis
Holy God, we confess that we have wandered from your light. We follow self- focused paths of indulgence and ego, instead of focusing on our need of you. We passively accept the suffering of the world expecting others to stand up and work for the change we would like to see. Lord, in your strength, renew us and compel us by your invitation that we may work to pursue your justice and mercy for all people, sharing your light in ways great and small.
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON
*RESPONSE OF PRAISE 583 “Gloria, Gloria” GLORIA (Taize)
*PASSING OF THE PEACE
One: The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all,
All: And also with you.
WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD
ANTHEM “For the Beauty of the Earth” John Rutter
CHILDREN’S RECESSIONAL 175 “Seek Ye First” vs. 1
Children: May God be with you here
Congregation: May God be with you there
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION
SCRIPTURE 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a The Voice
Just as a body is one whole made up of many different parts, and all the different parts comprise the one body, so it is with the Anointed One. We were all ceremonially washed through baptism together into one body by one Spirit. No matter our heritage—Jew or Greek, insider or outsider—no matter our status—oppressed or free—we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Here’s what I mean: the body is not made of one large part but of many different parts. Would it seem right for the foot to cry, “I am not a hand, so I couldn’t be part of this body”? Even if it did, it wouldn’t be any less joined to the body. And what about an ear? If an ear started to whine, “I am not an eye; I shouldn’t be attached to this body,” in all its pouting, it is still part of the body. Imagine the entire body as an eye. How would a giant eye be able to hear? And if the entire body were an ear, how would an ear be able to smell? This is where God comes in. God has meticulously put this body together; He placed each part in the exact place to perform the exact function He wanted. If all members were a single part, where would the body be? So now, many members function within the one body. The eye cannot wail at the hand, “I have no need for you,” nor could the head bellow at the feet, “I won’t go one more step with you.” It’s actually the opposite. We need one another. And God designed the body in such a way that greater significance is given to the seemingly insignificant part. That way there should be no division in the body; instead, all the parts mutually depend on and care for one another.
If one part is suffering, then all the members suffer alongside it. If one member is honored, then all the members celebrate alongside it. You are the body of the Anointed, the Liberating King; each and every one of you is a vital member. God has appointed gifts in the assembly: first emissaries, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, healers, helpers, administrators, and then those who speak with various unknown languages. Are all members gifted as emissaries? Are all gifted with prophetic utterance? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Or are all gifted in healing arts? Do all speak or interpret unknown languages? Of course not. Pursue the greater gifts and let me tell you of a more excellent way—love.
Holy Wisdom, Holy Word
Thanks be to God
SERMON Rev. Trip Porch
WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD
*HYMN 300 “We Are One In the Spirit” THEY ‘LL KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS
NEW MEMBER WELCOM Mary Delamatre, Sommer Fischer, Miriam Mullins
With joy and thanksgiving we welcome you into this family of faith. We promise to love, encourage and support you, to share in the good news of the Gospel with you, and to walk alongside you as your journey in faith here. Welcome sisters in Christ!
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Saying: O God of grace, bless us with peace.
TIME OF OFFERING online giving is available at www. indianolapres.org/give
OFFERRTORY "Softly in My Prayers" James Michael Stevens
*OFFERTORY RESPONSE 710 “We Lift Our Voices” OFFERING
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Thank you, God, for the gift of being part of the body of Christ. You have woven us together in love, calling each of us to share our unique gifts for the good of all. Let the gifts we bring today—our time, talents, and treasures —bear witness to the interconnectedness of your people and the abundance of your grace. May these offerings support your work of justice, compassion, and reconciliation, reflecting the truth that “I am because we are.” In your steadfast love, we dedicate ourselves and these gifts to your service. Amen.
*HYMN INSERT “Christ Has Broken Down the Wall” BROKEN WALLS
TIME OF COMMUNITY SHARING
CHARGE & BENEDICTION
CHORAL RESPONSE “We Take the Love of God” Emma Lou Diemer
POSTLUDE "Unity of Love" Randall Hartsell
Acknowledgments: Unless otherwise indicated, all texts and music are printed and broadcast under OneLicense.net license #A-702452