An "ace." It's used to describe a number of things. Way back when it described the worst roll of a die, because it represented the side with only one mark on it. In Middle English then, it an ace was bad luck. After a while it became associated with playing cards and became the card with the highest value … hence changing its meaning to something of high quality or excellence. The word itself comes from the Latin "as" and meant a unit, being derived from the name of a small Roman coin. (Wikipedia) Today tennis players serve an ace when their opponent can't return the serve. We ace a test by getting a perfect mark. An ace is an expert or number one in something. And by their name, ACE hardware is proclaiming their excellence.

Why do you care about all this today? It is because this morning I want you to apply this word to your Christian living. I want it to become your acronym in following in the example of Jesus Christ. You are called to be ACE Christians – those who act and celebrate with excellence. I find this call to excellence in the closing chapter of Paul's letter to the Philippians that we read today. Listen again to a portion of the text:

"Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."

Paul writes to the Philippian church while in prison, facing possible death. The church at Philippi was founded during his second missionary travels and remained one of his favorites. Paul writes to them in intimate terms. Clearly he loves them deeply … gone is Paul's usual austere-ness; replaced by words that called the community to love and gentleness. As he closes his epistle to them he calls for two leaders of the church community to make up. I like the way the version known as The Message paraphrases Paul's words: "I urge Euodia and Syntyche to iron out their differences and make up. God doesn't want his children holding grudges." That these leaders are both women dispels some of the notions of Paul's feelings towards women in the church. Again, for the most part, Paul's boasting and superiority are gone and one can sense the genuine level of maturity he has reached in this letter … and can be touched by the true joy he writes with, even as he faces possible death for his proclaiming the way of Christ.

It is in these hope-filled, joy-filled words that I find our call to excellence … to be ACE Christians, those who act and celebrate with excellence. The call to excellence is woven throughout the closing chapter of Philippians. We see it in Paul's call to action … urging to Euodia and Syntyche to work it out. Whatever their differences, whether they be theological or practical, it's not worth the loss of community that results. Make up he tells them … the covenant community of faith is more important than any earthly argument you two might have. The blessed community is where we find hope and strength for the work God has called us to. It is there we find life when there seems to be none left in us. The blessed community lifts us up and surrounds us when we feel we can't survive in the midst of our circumstances. It is in the church we find models for living in and shaping the world. I experienced such a model in the reception and hospitality that was extended to me last week by members of the West Virginia Annual Conference, where I was welcomed as if I had been a part of their conference. I am particularly grateful for the hospitality extended by Central UMC in Fairmont, West Virginia. The pastor of that church and its members went out of their way to make sure that we had every thing we needed in preparing for my friend's funeral. They stayed late and came in early for us and let us take over the building. Their actions of hospitality were an example of excellence.

Paul also calls us to action in living a life of prayer. He didn't think anything of bringing everything before God, no matter how trivial it seemed. Elsewhere in his writings he calls us to pray without ceasing. It is a life of prayer that sustains us and keeps perspective in our lives. It is for that reason we lift up the discipline of prayer as our first collective experience in deepening our spiritual living. It is not too late to sign up to join in the five weeks of prayer that begins next Sunday. The books are available from me following worship this morning. Again, for five weeks we will be praying and reflecting together on what it means to be an effective congregation. In the book you will find a short reading and prayers for each day. Each Sunday during this time we'll be focusing on some of the themes of those prayers and readings. What does it mean to live a prayer lifestyle? Every once in a while I get a glimpse of what it means to live prayerfully – to live in such a way that prayer is woven throughout every step you take. Again, Paul didn't hesitate to take what might seem most trivial to prayer. I took that too heart last weekend while on a night hike in the hills of North Carolina. One of the parent's weekend activities at my daughter's college was a night hike on some of the trails the college has. It was a gorgeous evening, the night sounds were peaceful … not much traffic, and there you can actually see the stars at night. About a fifteen or so of us set off behind the student elected to lead us through the night. I found myself behind a hiking wimp on a single file trail. So, I got to listen to all of her worries. She worried about slipping on the trail, tripping over a root, getting too far behind and being lost, she worried about animals … she made up things to worry about. And she voiced all those worries. It was irritating and got me to the place where the hike was being ruined. Then I got irritated with myself that I'd let something like that ruin the hike. So, yes, I started praying. It was a clumsy prayer, and I admit to feeling a bit silly about the triviality of this when the world's circumstances were what they were. But soon I found myself breathing in a rhythm of prayer … and praying for this woman, that she would find ways to be less timid about life, and have less worries. It changed the focus of the hike. So, perhaps the seemingly trivial, is not so trivial after all. Like anything we do, the more we "practice," the more naturally and easily a thing becomes. And our excellence in bringing everything to God in prayer is what brings that peace which is above everything that Paul speaks of.

It is in the living of community, and prayer and discipline that we can sort out what really matters. And in doing so, find that life is a celebration … that we are to revel in it, because the bottom line is that God is with us. Paul truly celebrated and found cause for joy even from his prison cell. We proclaim that nothing in life or in death can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Once we know that, no matter what, there is cause for joy and celebration … always! As Paul writes: "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice!"

ACE … Action and Celebration with Excellence! Paul calls us to such a life in the way and example of Jesus Christ our Lord! Go forth to be ACE Christians!!