So as we begin this morning, I want to extend a special welcome to John's partner, Andy, John's parents and the rest of his family and friends as well as all our guests and visitors. I have had the pleasure and gift of John Johnson in my life for three years...many of you have shared life with him for much longer, both in this community and the Episcopal Church.

Our lessons from Scripture today are not the seasonally designated ones, but rather in honor of John, they are those appointed to honor teachers.  Of all that John is and does- all the gifts he brings into our midst & to The Episcopal Church- the role of teacher is what we honor today, for it is teacher that John has been salt and light among our children at St. Thomas', and it is as teacher that he has left the indelible mark of Christ on their lives.  John's life is itself a testimony to the words of Proverbs: "Listen, children, to a father's instructions, and be attentive, that you may gain insight."

In the New Testament Jesus is referred to as "teacher" more than by any other name.  And the most frequent charge Jesus gave to his disciples was to "go and teach."

Wisdom herself laid the foundation for your parents long ago to bring you up in this remarkable community --The Episcopal Church.  In the words of Proverbs, "When I was a son with my father, tender, and my mother's favorite, he taught me, and said to me, 'Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live."  To use Paul's image from his letter to the Christians in Corinth, they laid a firm foundation, and on it with your help God has built a great ministry for you as a teacher of children.

John tells of his journey towards teaching by recalling the murder of Matthew Shepard: "I remember going to the vigil in front of the Capitol and being both very moved and very angry.  How do we teach hate?  Why do we teach hate?"  In this troublesome earth a seed was planted. John continues his story; "It must have been a year or so later when a seminarian at the time offered a sermon.  Her name was Augusta Rowe and I remember that her sermon message was aimed at getting us to respond to a call of ministry within the church and she listed several areas of needs, and in particular she raised up the need to begin a Sunday school class.  During that sermon, I felt like I was the only one in the room and that Augusta was preaching to me.  I truly felt the Holy Spirit moving me through her words to respond.  Several of us did respond, and on the floor in the church office we began teaching Sunday school.  We had no kid chairs and table, no curriculum, few supplies-- but we started it.  As we continued to develop the program, the role of St. Thomas' in having a Sunday school program became crystal clear to me.  Our children may learn hate out in the world but they won't learn it in this place."

Thank you Augusta Rowe, for preaching those words of wisdom and motivation and risk ... thank you for being salt and shedding light ... and thank you John not just for getting down on the floor, with no furniture, no budget, and few supplies, yet for recognizing the reason it mattered: that our children may learn hate out in the world but they won't learn it in this place. Thank you for your salt and light in the face of family after family leaving for a bigger church school; keeping their children home to sleep in on a Sunday morning or trading in Sunday school for soccer and band camp!  And thanks to all of you in this community of St. Thomas' who have worked to make children welcome over the years, and who made it possible for John to keep on keeping on...for all of you that have tithed, and given, until it hurt a little or a lot.  Thanks to all who couldn't see John's vision, yet gave anyway-gave towards a dream, and in that way got to be part of a dream bigger than them all.  Thank you for those who cleaned and cooked, planted gardens for families to walk by and sit close to; thank you for those who spoke out at meetings on behalf of children, that scrimped and saved so that we could, this day, celebrate our children through the dedication of our new Godly Play room downstairs.