On Monday morning we had another "Simple Presence" in our Spiritual Direction program, via ZOOM. This one was a 20 minute sit after hearing Psalm 126 from Nan Merrill's Psalms for Praying.
I haven't been in a group for Centering Prayer since I haven't been with the Friday group at Grace Episcopal and it was good to be in a group again. Being in a group online is different than being in person in that with everyone on mute, one doesn't hear the breathing of one another. However, I had neighborhood dogs, my own dog scratching on the door to get in, my own gulping/sips of coffee (yes, I drink coffee during silence) and other noises that I could hear-- even with my headphones on. That's all a part of silence though. Silence is never fully silent, on the exterior or the interior. One learns to let sounds and thoughts go and flow. It's part of the process.
As I listened to the Psalm reading, there were a couple of words and phrases that caught my attention:
laughter
joy
gladness
restore us to wholeness, O healer
shouts of joy
As I sat in the silence, one of the phrases I often use in Centering Prayer came to mind "Peace, be still". Another thing that came to mind was the song that has the lyrics: "trading my sorrows... for the joy of the Lord".
Here's one version of the song:
Here are the lyrics:
I'm trading my sorrow I'm trading my shame I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord
I'm trading my sickness I'm trading my pain I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord
[Chorus:] And we say yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord Amen
I'm pressed but not crushed persecuted not abandoned Struck down but not destroyed I'm blessed beyond the curse for his promise will endure And his joy's gonna be my strength
Though the sorrow may last for the night His joy comes with the morning
Now, for Psalm 126. Here is the Psalm. As you read over the Psalm, I invite you to read it at least twice. Read it slowly. Allow it to read you. What words or phrases stand out to you? Hold those in prayer.
I also invite you to set a timer for 5, 10, 15, or even 20 minutes of silence. Allow some time to listen, to be, to rest in the silence.
If you're not familiar with Centering Prayer, here is a link you can check out for more information from Contemplative Outreach: Centering Prayer.
If something sparks your attention from the Psalm or the song and you'd like to comment, please do. I enjoy conversation.
As I close this post and reflect on some of the many things that bring me laughter, joy, and gladness, I decided to share a few of those with you in picture form:
Family-- my son Charlie, our dog Cliff, and my husband Riley.
Water-- the ocean, waterfalls, and lakes (and really any body of water).
Spending time in the hammock.
Hiking.
Bike riding.
Praying a labyrinth.
Coffee. (No photo.)
These things, among others, restore me to wholeness.
Like many things, our first residency was not a residency, but rather a zoom introduction. We will have other monthly opportunities to build community these next three months with hopes we will be able to meet in person in the Spring.
We began our time together with Simple Presence, a short reading and three minutes of silence. CeCe Balboni, our cohort leader for this session, led us. She read a portion of Psalm 132 from Nan Merrill's Psalm Prayers, one of our required books.
As we listened to the reading, these words and phrases stood out to me:
healing
wholeness
peace
be not afraid
And then the thought came to mind, "And so it begins...". What a great way to begin this journey.
The reading and the silence reminded me of how we always began our FUMSDRL board meetings. There was some form of centering, be it native american flute or a reading, and always some silence.
Silence allows us to center, to clear away any clutter, to become present.
I was grateful for the beginning tonight.
And then we spent time in introductions, getting to know the leaders and each of the participants.
It's not how we expected to begin our time together. In fact, even the leadership has changed some, as Jane Vennard retired earlier. It's all good.
When we are able to be open handed to receive that which comes to us loosely, without holding on tightly, we are more able to go with the flow of things. It's not always easy. Even without tons of expectations, there is still some disappointment. Yet, it's still good. It's still an adventure. It's still a journey.
One can still learn and grow and be transformed in the process.
Though I don't know fully what's ahead of me or where this journey will take me, I do know that I am looking forward to it.
I look forward to the readings, the relationships, the challenges, the growth. Even tonight we had some technological challenges. That has happened during the pandemic with other things. It's all good.
The first major assignment is an eight hour day of silence and solitude and a two page reflection paper on that experience.
Woo hoo! Packing my hammock and hiking poles as I write. Not literally. Just mentally. Let's see.... I can drive somewhere, hike in to a waterfall, hang out a while, and hike back out. That's one option. It has been a long while since I have done a full 8 hours of silence and solitude, so I might need to start working my way back up to it.
One thing I miss right now is being able to talk to my spiritual director about this. Due to the pandemic, we haven't met in a while, only texted. I will text her this week.
Here is the portion of Psalm 132 that was shared tonight:
Those who follow the way of Love
with calm and faith-filled
intent,
Know that all is working toward
healing and wholeness.
And may the healing power of Love
lift you from the limitations
of fear and ignorance
into the arms of freedom.
May the peace of the Spirit bless
you, and
lead you on life’s journey.
Be not afraid of the Silence, for
Wisdom’s Voice is heard there!
I invite you to click above on the "Psalms for Praying" link to read the entire Psalm. I posted what stood out to me in the above section. There is more in the entire Psalm that resonates with me. It might with you too.
In closing, these two lines seems like a proper benediction in these days:
"May the healing power of Love lift you from the limitations of fear and ignorance into the arms of freedom. May the peace of the Spirit bless you, and lead you on life's journey."
My blogging journey began10 years ago, in 2010. That seems like forever ago. In some ways it is. In other ways, it is only the decade that it represents.
Much has happened in those 10 years.
Seminary graduation. Becoming a pastor. Serving 3 churches in my first appointment. Now serving 1 church in my second appointment (in my 2nd year there).
Learning about Wild Church Network and Bamboo Encounter being born as an alternative to indoor worship.
In these 10 years, I've written about books I've read, hikes I've taken, experiences I've had, shared sermons, etc.
I've written about loss and grief as I have lost loved ones. I've written about name changes, love, acceptance of all. I've written about silence and solitude and other spiritual practices.
It has been a place to reflect for me. It has been a spiritual practice. It continues to be both of things.
For several years into the blogging journey, I kept up with the countries that checked out my blogposts, what the top 10 posts were for the year, and I would print each year to have a hard copy of my writing. That's from the wanna-be writer in me, I suppose, the one who has been inside since about age 5.
For the past couple of years I've let go of keeping up with the countries, the top 10 posts, and printing a hard copy. I'm still curious, but I haven't had the time.
I haven't written as much as I used to, even as a spiritual practice.
Things such as my high school senior finishing his final year and graduating took precedence.
Then there was the first year of college last year.
Spiritual practices can change over time, so it's not a negative thing that I've not written in a while. There is only so much time and energy to go around.
Yet, I recognize that writing is still a spiritual practice for me. It feels good. Writing about things that allow for reflection are even better.
I picked up writing Haiku from one of the books I read this summer. I've begun to write Haiku as a spiritual practice, putting them together with some of my photos.
There are things on my heart, mind, and soul that I have yet to write. I hope time and energy allow for those.
Meanwhile, I recognize that September is when this all began, 10 years ago.
You can read the anniversary posts below.
Whether you've been with me on this adventurous journey the entire time or have just joined in to journey with me, thank you. We do not travel alone. I am grateful for your presence.
Last Sunday (9/20), the Scripture passage that I chose was Exodus. I choose the Scriptures and titles several months in advance so that the music folks can coordinate. It's fun for me to see how the lectionary choices weave into daily life.
Exodus 16:2-15 was no exception. As we continue to live through a pandemic, as we have other things going on in life, as we are gearing up for a national election, the theme of God providing and how folks respond to that provision was time appropriate.
Whether what is shared meets anyone else where they are on their journey or not, I do not always know. From time to time I get a glimpse from someone, somewhere, that I have listened and obeyed in sharing the message, as it has been received.
I continue to do what I do for an Audience of One, recognizing that the One is who matters most. It's not always easy to have that perspective, but that is my goal. The word that comes through me is not lost on me. It works in me too. That's what I enjoy about the living word of Christ-- it continues to work its way in us and through us.
Below you will find the transcript, the entire service from YouTube and the SoundCloud audio link. There was a glitch on FB premiere last week. Things froze during the sermon and then went back to the beginning. It wasn't on our end technologically because the YouTube video was doing just fine. Well, until visual froze and audio kept going. The social media platforms have had some glitches during the pandemic and we haven't really figured those things out.
That's okay too. We do what we are able to do. We have a SUPER tech "team" of primarily one person that puts the service together. Several of us do our parts and send it in and then the magic happens.
I'm grateful for each and every person who continues to give of their time, talents, and efforts to keep us connected as a faith community.
It's not easy.
Yet, we continue to experience provision. How do we respond?
2 The whole Israelite
community complained against Moses and Aaron in the desert.3 The
Israelites said to them, “Oh, how we wish that the Lord had just put us to death while we were still in the land of
Egypt. There we could sit by the pots cooking meat and eat our fill of bread.
Instead, you’ve brought us out into this desert to starve this whole assembly
to death.”
4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I’m going to make bread rain down from the
sky for you. The people will go out each day and gather just enough for that
day. In this way, I’ll test them to see whether or not they follow my Instruction.5 On
the sixth day, when they measure out what they have collected, it will be twice
as much as they collected on other days.”6 So
Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “This evening you will know that it
was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt.7 And in the morning you will see the Lord’s glorious presence, because your complaints against the Lord have been heard. Who are we? Why blame us?”8 Moses continued, “The Lord will give you meat to eat in the evening and your fill of bread
in the morning because the Lord heard
the complaints you made against him. Who are we? Your complaints aren’t against
us but against the Lord.”
9 Then Moses said to Aaron,
“Say to the whole Israelite community, ‘Come near to the Lord, because he’s heard your complaints.’”10 As
Aaron spoke to the whole Israelite community, they turned to look toward the
desert, and just then the glorious presence of the Lord appeared in the cloud.
11 The Lord spoke to Moses,12 “I’ve heard the
complaints of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat. And in
the morning you will have your fill of bread. Then you will know that I am
the Lord your God.’”
13 In the evening a flock of
quail flew down and covered the camp. And in the morning there was a layer of
dew all around the camp.14 When the layer of dew lifted, there on the
desert surface were thin flakes, as thin as frost on the ground.15 When the Israelites saw it, they said to
each other, “Whatis it?” They didn’t know what it was.
Moses said to them, “This is the bread
that the Lord has given you to eat.
As we begin to look at today’s passage, think for a
moment: what stood out to you in the reading and hearing of it? If we were to allow this passage to read us
via lectio divina, sacred reading, we
would read over it a few more times, listening intentionally for those words or
phrases.
Having had the advantage of spending significant
time on the passage, one thing that stood out to me was the theme of
complaining. The word in one of its forms
is found 6x in the Common English
here. The opposite of complaining is
gratitude, so that came to mind. Then,
looking at the entire passage, God’s provision for the people is evident, as is
their response.
Let’s dive into today’s passage.
The wilderness journey is NOT easy.
Traversing a desert in the best of circumstances
would not be easy. But, here we have a
people who had to leave their homeland, flee their homeland to save their very
lives. As they found themselves in the
wilderness, they began to second guess their situation. They began to complain. They even began to want to go back. (verse 3)
What made them want to go back? The thought of “pots cooking meat” and the opportunity to
“eat [their] fill of bread”. What were
they forgetting about going back? The
reason they left and moved forward. The
reason they sought out change and transformation. They left for freedom. Freedom, change, and transformation come at a
price.
The people here had forgotten the God’s provision of
freedom in the moment and were caught up in the moment of their immediate needs
and frustrations. They could no longer
see clearly.
We understand that, don’t we?!?!
Have we ever been in the middle of a wilderness
journey and lost sight of the promise?
Or we have become so discouraged in the moment by
circumstances and a myriad of voices that we can no longer hear or see God’s
provision?
It happens.
God understood.
When the two leaders Moses and Aaron came before the
Lord with the complaints of the people, the Lord heard and responded. The Lord had the people look to the desert in
verse 10 and the presence of the Lord appeared in the cloud and the Lord spoke
to Moses in verse 11, telling him what to say to the people.
The people had to stop their complaining, take a
moment to look and listen, to “be still and know”. In that moment, they heard from Moses that
meat and bread were coming their way and it would once again be a reminder that
they would know God.
We need reminders, don’t we?!?!
Even when we have been released from things that
have us bound, even when we are traveling through the wilderness to a promised
place, even when we know we are loved and beloved children of God, we still
need reminders.
God understands.
And, as we see in this passage, God is willing to provide us with
reminders. These reminders might even
come in the form of miraculous provision, as we see in verses 13-15.
As we reflect on this passage, how have you needed
God to provide for you? What have you
needed/wanted? Take a moment and think
about that. Write it down. Either somewhere just for you or in the
comments on FB, if you are willing.
Another question: how has God provided for you? Take
a moment to write down at least one thing that you recognize as God’s provision
for you. Again, you can write it down
privately or in our FB comments.
Recognizing God’s provision for us is helpful, even
crucial, when we find ourselves in moments of forgetfulness or
complaining. If we begin to list in
gratitude those things that God has provided, might we begin to realize that
whatever the situation is, God will provide?
I’m not saying that God will provide exactly in the
way or time we want/need/ask. However, I
do believe and trust my Creator to take care of me, to take care of us.
Thinking about these people traveling through the
wilderness—they were being changed and transformed. They left behind the known and were headed to
the unknown. They were in the midst of
the unknown.
Not unlike us today.
We are still in the midst of a pandemic.
There is much unknown. I have
spoken about liminal space in past sermons, about not knowing. I understand the stress of these times. I also see the benefits. I have shared about how this is a time for us
to allow ourselves to “be”, to listen, to grow, to change, to
transform—individually and collectively.
It truly IS a time for us to allow God guide us through the wilderness.
During this time, the nursery is being painted a
brighter color. We are working on
getting things fixed and taken care of in the building that need attention,
such as the front doors and the roof.
We are continuing to meet the needs of the community
through the food pantry during the week and the 2nd Saturday. I believe the number was 70 boxes given out
that day. The homeless food ministry
continues to feed people weekly.
September 25th will be the next big meal and 15 people are
needed to help with that. Contact Mike
Rice and/or check our FB page for information on that.
We have MUCH to give gratitude for as a faith
community!
Here are some of things for which I am grateful:
I am grateful for each of you, some of you I haven’t
met. Many of you I haven’t seen in
FOR-E-EVER, though through delivering palm branches and signs gave me some
sightings. I am grateful for coffee
visits, for hikes, for biking. The offer
remains to hike, bike, have coffee and/or lunch. Contact me.
I am grateful for answered prayer.
I am grateful for the provision of the PPP.
I am grateful for the provision of food that allows
us to give to others.
I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as your
spiritual leader.
I encourage you to make a personal gratitude
list. I also encourage you to make a
gratitude list around our faith community.
What about SEUMC causes you to be grateful? Think on that. If you are willing to share your list, you
might encourage someone else as they are struggling in the wilderness. You might be someone’s provision, their
“manna”.
Manna in today’s passage is the daily provision that
offered sustenance to a people in need.
Sustenance is needed to survive, to thrive. Manna can come in many forms.
Today’s challenge on the calendar for the 30 days of
anti-racism by the General Commission of
Religion and Race is to send your tithe or offering to a Black
church. My tithe was given to
SEUMC. I chose to send my offering to
Washington Hills UMC. You might remember
Rev. Terryl James that came to speak here in February when we did a pulpit
swap. She and I continue a conversation
between us and our two congregations.
How are you growing on the wilderness journey?
Do you find yourself complaining or offering
gratitude? Don’t be too harsh on
yourself if the answer is complaining.
However, start on that gratitude list.
Be intentional to stop and look around.
You might begin to recognize the presence of the Lord in the cloud and
as you look and listen, the provision of the Lord for you will become evident.
Hear these words from Charles Campbell: “Out in the
wilderness with Israel, God is creating a new people who will embody an
alternative to the way of Egypt, the ways of domination and submission, rich
and poor, powerful and powerless.
Central to the formation of that people is the gift of manna.” (Feasting on the Word, Year A, page 93)
We are being formed, transformed as God’s children,
into the image of Christ. This is what
it means to be a follower of Christ. We don’t stay where we were. We move forward. We seek to live, love, and lead like
Jesus. We seek to live out our baptismal
vows: “resisting evil, injustice & oppression in whatever forms they
present themselves.”
Today’s passage reminds us that the journey is not
easy, especially the journey through the wilderness, the unknown.
Steve Garnaas-Holmes sent out this on manna earlier
this week:
The resilience
that will get you through
the worst troubles
is not inner strength
but simple trust
that in every moment,
no matter how dire
there is grace enough
to get you through
the worst troubles.
___________________ Weather Report
Manna:
blessing precipitating
even from dark clouds,
falling into the lowest places,
and though it may taste like ashes,
giving life.
May we recognize God’s provision for us along the
way and may we respond with gratitude.
Here is the sermon from 9-13-20: "Welcomed as God's Children".
For the first time due to our travel arrangements, I recorded two sermons in one week. That was a challenge.
Preaching is life-giving to me, though preaching in pandemic, in an empty sanctuary is a bit different. The Holy Spirit continues to show up, though, so that is what keeps me going.
Romans 14:1-12 (NRSV-New
Revised Standard Version)
Welcome those who are weak in faith,but
not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions. 2 Some
believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables. 3 Those
who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass
judgment on those who eat; for God has welcomed them. 4 Who
are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own lord
that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to
make them stand.
5 Some judge one day to be
better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully
convinced in their own minds. 6 Those who observe
the day, observe it in honor of the Lord. Also those who eat, eat in honor of
the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in
honor of the Lord and give thanks to God.
7 We do not live to
ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. 8 If we
live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether
we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For
to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the
dead and the living.
10 Why do you pass judgment
on your brother or sister?Or you, why do you despise your brother
or sister?For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.11 For it is written,
“As
I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and
every tongue shall give praise to God.”
12 So then, each of us will
be accountable to God.
For the past several weeks the focus on the messages
have been “Unity”, “Life Instructions” (based on love), “Live Love”.Prior to that, messages of “No
Condemnation”….
When you look back, do you get the feeling that God
has been trying to get a point across?
Maybe it just seems like a random pattern of dots to
you.Sometimes it does to me too.
However, I’m seeing a pattern and at the core of it
is God’s love for you, for me.
Today’s title comes from verse 3 primarily where it
says that God has welcomed them.God has
welcomed whom?God has welcomed those
who eat and those who abstain from eating.For all are God’s children.
The first word in today’s passage is “welcome”.We are to welcome others.We are not to judge others by what they do or
don’t do.We all recognize that this is
easier said than done, especially when we are in a family unit or a faith
community.Sometimes the closer we
become, the more difficult it becomes to judge less.Our welcome mats get worn out and we become
more fussy or picky.
Maybe, just maybe it would be good for us to
stockpile some welcome mats so that when ours becomes slightly torn or
tattered, we can replace it immediately with a fresh one.It’s a thought.It’s also an analogy.
What today’s passage allows us to think about is
that we have differences.We have
differences of opinions, different ways of doing things, different backgrounds,
different upbringings, etc.
When we come together with all these differences,
with all this diversity, might there at times be some conflict?Definitely.Now, I’m not saying there is currently any conflict.Heck, we’re not even meeting in person.
I did, however, say last year, day 1 in the pulpit,
that I knew I wasn’t perfect, that I was going to make mistakes, and that this
is an ongoing learning adventure.I know
truthfully, that as a leader, I am darned if I do and darned if I don’t.Therefore, my goal and my heart is to do
whatever I do for an audience of One.Colossians 3:17 (NIV)—“And whatever you do, whether in word or in deed,
do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father
through him.”
Even so, there will be disagreement at times.With me. With each other.With folks in community.With politics.With family members.Etc.
When those times of conflict arise, how do we
respond?How do we deal with folks?
That’s what we can take away from this passage
today.
One thing to know is that responding with a calm
non-anxious presence is key.
That’s not from the passage, but it is something
applicable.
Welcoming others as God’s children stems from
love.It happens because we love our
neighbor.
We are to see others as God’s child, as God’s
beloved child.From my reading this past
week, a quote from William Greenway, a professor at a Seminary in Texas: “Once
we stop seeing another person as a child of God and view him or her instead as
the personification of a sin, it becomes easy to enjoy the energy of disdain
and self-righteous opposition.” (Feasting
on the Word, 64)
Listen again…. With some edits.. ‘once we stop
seeing another person as a child of God and view him or her instead AS ANYTHING
OTHER THAN THE CHILD OF GOD THAT HE OR SHE IS, it becomes easy to enjoy the
energy of disdain and self-righteous opposition.’
That’s either an OUCH or an AMEN.Which is it for you today?!?!
In order to welcome others as God’s children, we
must truly see them as God’s children.We must love them.We must look
at ourselves and ask ourselves if there is any disdain or self-righteousness
between us.If there is, we have work to
do.Are we willing to do the work to
become more like Christ?To become
transformed into living, loving, and leading like Christ?
God welcomes ALL.
Here at St. Elmo United Methodist Church, we know
that.“Y’all means all”, right?!?!It’s not just a t-shirt slogan.It’s not simply because we are a Reconciling Ministry
Network congregation in which we truly include ALL, NO EXCEPTIONS.
We live it.We do.
And we can all find ways to live it better.There are onion layers to peel off.Maybe not in your life you say.Fair enough.In my life, I can do a better job of welcoming all as God’s children.I can continue to learn how to handle and
resolve conflict.I can allow God to
heal and transform me so that I love myself so that I can love God and my
neighbor.
You may have it all figured out.I know that for me, to live, love, and lead
like Jesus is an ongoing journey.
To welcome all as God’s children IS my heart’s
desire.
I AM growing.
I HAVE learned.
When you realize that how God created someone is NOT
a sin, that’s a huge learning and turning point.When you begin to treat God’s creations as
valid and worthy lives, regardless, that is huge.
I’m still getting there.I’m still growing.I still make mistakes.I still fall and fail.As I continue to say, that’s where grace
comes in.
Last week I shared the 30 days of anti-racism challenge
by the General Commission on Religion and Race.If you decided to embark on that journey, how is it going?What has been most challenging for you as you
are growing and learning?Today’s
challenge on the calendar is this: listen to a preacher from a different
cultural background than your own.With
so many services on line, you can easily find that.If you need assistance, let me know.We have culturally diverse preachers right
here in our community.There are other
Reconciling Ministry Network churches with preachers from differing cultural
backgrounds. With the pandemic, I know some folks are watching more services
than they have in the past, so this challenge is a fun one.
Some of you know by now, but others may not yet know
that God has used some very personal things in my life to teach me how beloved
and welcomed children of God are.Even
something as simple as a name became a lesson for me in welcoming a child of
God, being welcomed as a child of God, and receiving grace.
When I think of being welcomed as a child of God, I
think of a story very personal to me. Because the entire story isn’t mine to
share, I will just say this: I am forever grateful that God, who IS love, continues to teach me about
love.God IS patient, kind, compassionate.God, who created each of us uniquely, loves
us and welcomes us.
I will also say this to you as a faith community:
Thank you!As a parent and as your
pastor, thank you.From the moment we
came here, you welcomed me and my family as God’s children.That meant much to me. From the first Sunday
when Keith told me that he and the congregation had my back, I felt welcomed.
More than me being welcomed, the love and acceptance offered to my son was
tremendous.He helped out at VBS last
year.He came to Christmas Eve
service.Some of you have gotten to know
him through other gatherings.The fact that
you have embraced him and welcomed him has made this mom able to breathe
again.
This is
what “welcomed as God’s children” is all about, isn’t it?!
We are to offer others a place, a space, for all to
breathe.A place, a space of grace, for
rest, for healing, for love, of acceptance.
I have a sign in my yard, next to my St. Elmo sign
that reminds me I am loved, that says “love and acceptance practiced here”.I saw the sign in Greensboro, NC and knocked
on the door of the home and inquired about it.The homeowner treated me as a welcomed child of God and showed me love
and acceptance by giving me her sign.I
got home and ordered quite a few.I sold
some at Wild Goose last year.The sign
is a way for me to show my neighbors that I welcome them.
God desires that we find a way to welcome one
another, to love one another, to share spaces of grace with one another.
If you are looking for a space to get to know some
folks better and to grow, on Sunday mornings there is a Zoom Sunday School
class at 10 am.If you haven’t heard
about it until now, no worries.There
are 10 weeks left.You can still join
in.The series is “Knowing Better”.There is an event on the FB page with the
zoom link.
We grow as we study and share conversations
together.
We grow as we welcome all God’s children,
recognizing that “God is God of all people, even those we struggle to accept.”
(Jeannette A. Good, Feasting on the Word, Year A, 67)
On September 6th, we hit the road for NYC to take Charlie to his second year of college. We watched and participated in Sunday School on the road. I watched some of the service online, but because I was driving, I forgot to upload the weekly video greeting. That's okay. Life happens.
Below you will find the full service (complete with Holy Communion) from YouTube, the transcript, the SoundCloud audio.
If time allows in the near future, I may post our whirlwind trip to NY and back too.
8 Don’t be in debt to
anyone, except for the obligation to love each other. Whoever loves another
person has fulfilled the Law.9 The
commandments, Don’t commit adultery, don’t murder, don’t steal, don’t
desire what others have, and any other commandments, are all summed up in
one word: You must love your neighbor as yourself.10 Love doesn’t do anything wrong to a neighbor;
therefore, love is what fulfills the Law.11 As you do
all this, you know what time it is. The hour has already come for you to wake
up from your sleep. Now our salvation is nearer than when we first had faith.12 The night is almost over, and the day is
near. So let’s get rid of the actions that belong to the darkness and put on
the weapons of light.13 Let’s
behave appropriately as people who live in the day, not in partying and getting
drunk, not in sleeping around and obscene behavior, not in fighting and
obsession.14 Instead,
dress yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ, and don’t plan to indulge your
selfish desires.
Last week in Romans 12:9-21, one approach for all of
those life instructions was to see them, to live them through the lens of love,
from verse 9.In today’s passage, we
find the word “love” four (4) times and we challenge ourselves to “live love”.
The title comes from verse 9—“You must love your
neighbor as yourself.”
Since we haven’t gathered in person in a while, you
may not have seen the sign out front in a while.Except for changing it for graduation, it has
had this message for a while: “Love your neighbor.No exceptions.”
It’s a reminder for us to love one another.
When you see a heart in nature, in a cloud, a leaf,
a tree, a heart rock, etc., it’s a reminder that we are loved and we are to
“live love”.I’m grateful to Dee Miles
for sharing her photography with us last week and this week, and likely in the
weeks to come.This week the hearts in
nature spoke to me. May they remind us to love others and remind us that we are
loved.
On our website and on our FB pages, we have the
#livinglovehere.It’s also on the sign
out front.We have talked about the new
campaign of living love and some people
have already shared how they are seeing love lived out.If you have stories to share, send them in.
Several weeks ago we started delivering signs from
the church, to let people know that they are loved.It’s a hug, of sorts.It says this: “Sending love to you!” “You are
the salt of the earth…” Matthew 5:13 and in the middle is a heart, our logo,
and the name of the church.If we have
missed you for one reason or another or you are new to our faith community and
want one, please reach out to us so that we can get you one.
One of the required readings for my spiritual
direction program is a book on the psalms by Nan Merrill.One of the first psalms I went to was Psalm
46 to look up one of my favorite verses Psalm 46:10—“Be still and know that I
am God.”What I found was this: “Be
still and know that I am Love.”Wow.How beautiful.How true.God IS love!I have shared the
hourglass prayer before.Starting with
the first line, take away a little bit until you get to “be” and then pray it
back to the beginning.Breathing in and
out with your breath allows it to be a breath prayer too:
Be still and know that I am Love.
Be still and know that I am.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.
Be.
Be still.
Be still and know.
Be still and know that I am.
Be still and know that I am Love.
A word from François Fénélon on how to live love:
“When we love God, we do not ask what we shall say to Him.We have no difficulty in conversing with a
friend. Our hearts are ever open to Him.We do not think what we shall say to Him, but we say it without
reflection. We cannot be reserved.Even
when we have nothing to say to Him, we are satisfied with being with Him.Oh, how much better are we sustained by love
than by fear!Fear enslaves, constrains,
and troubles us; but love persuades, consoles, animates us; possesses our whole
soul, and makes us desire goodness for its own sake.”(from Selections
from the Writings of François Fénélon)
Did you catch that?The difference that love makes?Love persuades, consoles, animates us, possesses our whole soul, and
makes us desire goodness for its own sake.Wow!
I saw one of those “Love Thy Neighbor” t-shirts
online this past week.I’ve seen
variations of it prior and seen yard signs too. It was posted on Contemplative
Monk. In light of today’s message of “live love”, here is the message on the
t-shirt I saw:
Love thy neighbor
Thy homeless neighbor
Thy Jewish neighbor
Thy black neighbor
Thy gay neighbor
Thy undocumented neighbor
Thy white neighbor
Thy transgender neighbor
Thy Christian neighbor
Thy HIV+ neighbor
Thy racist neighbor
Thy addicted neighbor
Thy atheist neighbor
Thy imprisoned neighbor
Thy disabled neighbor
Thy Muslim neighbor
Whew! That’s a lot on one shirt!We could keep going though, couldn’t we?!?!
What would you add?Who else can we
love?
The bottom line in that we are to LIVE LOVE by
loving all. Period.
In order for us to live love well, it is important
for us to remember that we are loved and beloved children of God.As we remember that we are loved, as we love
ourselves as we are created, then we are able to love God and others.We are able to live love.
It isn’t easy.We will all fail, fall, make mistakes.We get up, We keep walking the path.That’s what grace is all about.Grace comes in when we mess up.Not “if”.
The important thing is that we take action in the
right direction to learn and to live love.If you’d like a ready made action plan, then I encourage you to check
out the 30 days of antiracism sponsored by the General Commission on Religion
and Race or GCORR, if you’re familiar with their acronym.They have a calendar for September with an
activity for each day.Today’s action
step is to celebration national read a book day by purchasing an anti racism
resource and reading it. https://www.gcorr.org/30-days-of-anti-racism/?fbclid=IwAR1hEg8RGVaxW2oQZYqeHAvD534yRKw4IzwzaHH-a2krcUdihwpxUOb_jzg
The calendar can be found on our FB page.There are articles on their website about
racism, overt and covert, as well as other information and resources.
This is just one way we can take action to live
love.
As we receive holy communion today, may we remember
how much we are loved and may that love that flows into us, flow freely to
others as we live love in our families, our faith community, our workplaces,
our communities, our friendships, etc.
