Live Love-- sermon from 9-6-20

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.

Peace, 

Rev. Deb

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“Live Love” 

Romans 13:8-14 (CEB)

September 6, 2020 (13^th Sunday after Pentecost)

St. Elmo UMC (FB Live/Communion)

 

Romans 13:8-14 (CEB)

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.

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THIS IS THE WORD OF LIFE FOR GOD’S PEOPLE.

THANKS BE TO GOD.

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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. 

Amen.

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LINKS:

YouTube Service

Soundcloud Audio

Bamboo Encounter--November 23rd

Today was the 7th meeting of Bamboo Encounter, a Wild Church Network church, and the 2nd meeting in rainy weather.  We had to use our windshield wipers while driving in, yet surprisingly, the rain began to ease off near the time of the worship.  However, in case of another band of rain, we met in the pavilion above the bamboo.  The screened in windows allowed outdoor access to hear the sounds of falling rain, to feel the breezes, as well as to see the views of the surrounding trees and the nearby bamboo.

When it was time for the reflection time, it has stopped enough to get outside and walk during our silent reflection.  I chose to do that, enjoying the light misting that was still present.

After the service was done, the sun started to break through the clouds.  Oh, well.  One cannot control the weather.  There was beauty in the rain, the wet leaves, etc.  Before we headed out, I did go into the bamboo to see it and to experience it.  I also took a moment to remember my baptism and to remember that I am a beloved child of God, using the pooled water in the hole of the rock.

There were three of us again today for the service.  Here is the order of worship that we followed:

Today's readings:

Opening Prayer (read in unison):

Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;

            the world and those who live in it.

Let the floods clap their hands;

          let the hills sing together for joy.

(Earth Gospel, page 93)

Scripture and additional readings (read by volunteers):

Psalm 36:8-9

“They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them to drink from your river of delights.  For with you is the fountain of life, and in your light we see light.”

Isaiah 58:11

“God will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail.”

Reading:  Herman Melville

 “Say you are in the country; in some land of lakes.  Take almost any path you please, and ten to one it carries you down in a dale, and leaves you there by a pool in a stream.  There is magic in it…. Yes, as everyone knows, meditation and water are wedded forever.”

          

Quote by Philip Britts: “Faith is like water at the roots.”

The sharing time after the reflection time was insightful, as always.  We spent some time talking about the Philip Britts' quote on faith.  We talked about watering the roots and how plants become accustomed to being watered daily, at a top level if the roots aren't allowed to grow deeply.  The roots will grow down as far as the water goes.  How deep does the water go?!?!  Oh, how I enjoy the sharing time and the opportunity for minds to engage in deep conversation as faith unfolds.  Sitting back and watching the Holy Spirit work is a privilege.

After sharing time, we moved into Holy Communion.  Today we used the same passages as we've used prior, but read from The Message translation.  After reading the Scriptures and blessing the elements, we served each other the holy meal of bread and fruit of the vine.

John 6:33,35 (MSG)

³³ The Bread of God came down out of heaven and is giving life to the world.

³⁵  Jesus said, “I am the Bread of Life. The person who aligns with me hungers no more and thirsts no more, ever.

1 Corinthians 10:16-17 (MSG)

When we drink the cup of blessing, aren’t we taking into ourselves the blood, the very life, of Christ? And isn’t it the same with the loaf of bread we break and eat? Don’t we take into ourselves the body, the very life, of Christ? Because there is one loaf, our many-ness becomes one-ness—Christ doesn’t become fragmented in us. Rather, we become unified in him. We don’t reduce Christ to what we are; he raises us to what he is.

Today's song was "Father, I Adore You":

Father, I adore You
Lay my life before You
How I love You.

[Jesus, Spirit]

At closing we shared this prayer in unison:

 (from Earth Gospel: A Guide to Prayer for God’s Creation by Sam Hamilton-Poore, p. 98)

                                                                                            Based on Song of Solomon 8:6-7

May Christ set you as a seal upon his heart,

as a seal upon his arm;

for his love is as strong as death,

his passion as fierce as the grace.

Many waters cannot quench his love,

neither can floods drown it.

Nature was abundant today.  On the drive in, there were wild turkey and deer.  Both sets decided to cross the road in front of us.  On the way out, by the nature center, there was a turtle going against the flow of traffic.  The coloring matched the coloring of the fall leaves and the turtle seemed a little skittish and camera shy.  

I look forward to going into the bamboo each month.  Though today's service was in the pavilion, it was still as serene and peaceful, listening to the sounds of nature/creation and seeing them too.  I enjoy putting together the prayers and Scriptures each month and gathering with whoever is able to make it to worship in the space.

As the quote by Stephen Chase goes, "Nature is spiritual practice."

Peace, 

Debra Dickerson

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Additional photos from today: 

 

Reflections provoked by a church sign...

"Can you figure God out?  Um no.  But keep trying."

That's what the church sign stated.  I passed it the first time heading to TaeKwonDo (TKD) class today and it started me thinking the rest of the way to my workout.

Then I passed it again later while running errands and it continued to speak to me.  On the way back from my errands, I stopped to take a picture because I was still "chewing" (thinking) on what it said.

The first part of that message grabbed my attention.  Obviously.

"Can you figure God out?"

My response and thought as I saw that?  "No."  In fact, the sign told me, "Um no."  But I already knew that.  God is mystery.  God is bigger than I can fathom, imagine, try to think.

It was the next part of the message that sent me on a "roll" (so to speak).  The sign states: "But keep trying."

I got confused here.  What did they mean by that?  Why would I keep trying to understand an entity that is mystery?  God, Creator, cannot be fully understood.  Why would I spend time and energy trying to understand something that I will never be able to understand?  This part of the quote/message did not make sense to me.

I don't see how it is necessary for me to "understand" God better and even how me trying to do so is profitable.

Now, before you think I'm more alien than the blog title states ("The Journey is an Adventure; I am an Alien) or than you already knew, let me continue.

Let me begin by repeating one thing I already stated-- God is mystery.

It's not that I don't want to know God or be in relationship with God, but I think that is different than trying to understand God.  I am more than willing to keep spending time in relationship with God in silence, in solitude, in prayer, in Scripture, in community, in worship, in Holy Communion, in creation, etc. in order to know God better in that relationship.

I do believe that we can grow into some understanding of God through our relationship, but to think that I/we will ever figure God out?!?!  No, I don't believe that.  Honestly, I don't want to figure God out.   I want to be in relationship with God, but I don't want to figure God out.  There is something there that doesn't sit right theologically with me.  Maybe because I like God being mystery and God knowing more than me.  God being Creator God is the One in charge, not me.  ☺  That doesn't take away my responsibility to take care of myself, those in my life, or creation.  But it does free me up from having to take on things that aren't mine to take on.

And one of those things that isn't mine to take on (in my humble opinion) is trying to figure God out.  I'm not going to try.  Sorry, message sign.

What I will do is continue to invest my time and energy into growing into a deeper relationship with God through the practices and disciplines I mentioned already.  I will also seek to love God in that relationship and love others as I love myself.  I will also try to seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with my God.  These are the things that I believe are more worthy of my time and energy.

Blessings on your journey,

Debra

Academy #32, Session #8-- Celebration! ¡Celebración!

 

It is here.  Session #8 of the Academy.  Academy #32 has been a tremendous experience for me.  It has been a bilingual Academy and that has been a huge blessing.  There is more to say about the Academy, but that will come later. 

For now, some brief thoughts about the beginning of our week together for our final week.

The word for yesterday as we gathered was "celebration" / «celebración».  And that is what this week is ultimately.  We have the opportunity to reflect and celebrate all that God has done for us, in us, and through us over these past two years. 

I am looking forward to the learning this week and the reflecting. 

Last night's Word and Table celebration was a blessing.  Our theologian on the team, Cathy Thacker, gave the homily and spoke about the celebration of the father when his son returned (Luke) and the heavenly banquet in Revelation.  She also spoke about how communion time can be a celebration time as we celebrate our relationship with the Lord (paraphrased). 

That struck me because too often we tend to be quite somber in our "celebration" of the Last Supper/Eucharist/Holy Meal/Holy Communion.  And, yet, if we consider that we are doing this in remembrance of Christ and that we are doing it based on our relationship with Christ, wouldn't there be more joy and freedom!?!?!  If that is the case, then why the sad and/or somber faces during communion??  Sometimes I may be reflecting on something deep or heavy during a communion time that causes me to be reflective and more contemplative.... Yet, I wonder why I don't see it more as a celebration 'in remembrance'?!?!  Maybe it's simply not presented that way.  Something to think about.  There is joy and freedom as I think about my relationship with Christ and there is something to celebrate. 

This week we will celebrate Holy Communion daily, we will spend time together in community learning, in fellowship, in worship, and in silence.  We will also spend time alone in silence and solitude.

There is much to celebrate when I think about life, my life in Christ, my Creator who has created me and who patiently works in me, etc.

Though I will try to not be a stumbling block to those who desire to remain somber during their communion experiences, if you see me smiling or even laughing quietly while I am partaking of the elements, please know that I am basking in my relationship with the One whom I am remembering.

Let's celebrate!

Debra