“Praising God from a Different Perspective”
Take a moment to greet the people around you and share a positive statement of affirmation. If you are reading this and are on your own, think of people you can connect with later today to share a positive affirmation with.
“In God’s Presence”
Main message: When we spend time with God and come to know better God’s love we can find the strength to live out of love, allow others to grow spiritually even if it is different from where we are at, and counter destructive cultural norms.
“Beyond Bystanding”
Recently we had our youth mission trip to the Twin Cities area. During this week we spent time in a variety of settings serving others, having fun and sharing during devotional times. We cleaned buses for a Head Start program, made lunch for teens at a homeless drop-in center, sorted books going to Africa, packed meals for seniors and children around the world, and spent time with individuals at a memory care unit.
“Collective Hope”
A couple of months ago when my husband Steve and I were in Honduras with a team of people from Seattle, we helped build a house in Pedra Atala, a children’s home for about 40 children. When we arrived in Tegucigalpa we did not know what we would be doing, we only knew we were going to help build a new house so more children could be nurtured by the wonderful staff there. We had some possible tasks in mind like putting up sheet rock or painting walls. So when we were directed to a very large pile of bricks and told to move them to the second level by throwing them, my brain went blank.
“Moved By Grace”
We all have stories. Stories of who we are, where we have come from, what we have experienced, what we desire or dream of. Right now I would like you to take a couple of minutes to jot down a few things about your story: where you grew up, your family, what you enjoy doing, your hopes…
“Prodigal Son or Forgiving Father?”
This story Jesus tells about a son taking his inheritance before his father has died, squandering it and returns home out of desperation to a father who runs out to bring him back home is a powerful example of what grace looks like. The theme song for this story surely could be: Amazing grace how sweet the sound…. You know the song. Amazing grace is a beloved and powerful hymn that touches hearts on many levels. When I sing or hear Amazing Grace I am reminded of many things, including a sermon I gave many years ago.
“Now”
Now it is Christmas Eve. Now we are celebrating the gift of God’s love in the birth of Jesus. Now it is time for singing Christmas Carols, for being with family, for eating good food. Bring on the holiday traditions, smiles and meals. Yes, Christmas is a time to celebrate, but it is also so much more. Yet how often expectations based on what we see Christmas as the perfect time for the perfect gifts and meal with the perfect family can make it hard to see and experience the more of Christmas. What we want to see shapes how we see and it is only when we let go of expectations that we can really see the beauty of what Christmas means for us now.
“Anti-Racism: A Prophet in the Land”
I am an educated person. I grew up during the Civil Rights era, and my Canadian parents always taught me to respect everyone regardless of the color of their skin. I listen to NPR and watch PBS. I voluntarily participated in a workshop on white privilege, led by two non-white women who were very patient and encouraging. I joined in vigils for gang black-on-black violence in the Chicago suburb where I ministered back in the day. I am enlightened. And I was severely challenged in June by the Minnesota Conference United Church of Christ Annual Meeting presentations, discussions, and worship focused on anti-racism.
“Extravagant, Exuberant, without Exception”
For weeks, I have been urging members of Pilgrim to offer their friends, their neighbors, their colleagues and co-workers to try out Pilgrim this fall. If you are among those invited, let me offer you this word of Welcome. If you were among those offering invitations, let me say, “Thank you.” And if you offered invitations that were not accepted, I hope you listened carefully to the Gospel reading. The host of the banquet sent his servants out several times to invite people in until his banquet hall was filled. Keep offering invitations.
This morning I want to tell you a little about why we need to keep inviting folks in. There is really only one reason. It’s not because we have the best classical musicians in town—though I might think that. It’s not because we have a Jaeckel organ and beautiful sanctuary—though I love being in this space. It’s not because we are committed to social justice causes, though we are. And it’s not because we have an intergenerational community where we offer support and encouragement for each stage of life’s journey—though I think we do that amazingly well.
“A Shepherd’s Gnarled Hands”
In the nursery room in the first church I served, there hung an almost life size painting of Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Jesus has flowing brown, shoulder-length hair. He is dressed in a white robe and purple tunic. The sheep are gathered around him. It was a portrait of a neat, clean Jesus out for a stroll among the sheep.
What a contrast to Delmar, a shepherd whose family belonged to the second congregation I served. Delmar’s face was well weathered by the eastern Montana sun and wind. There were deep creases around his twinkling blue eyes. He came to church only for weddings, funerals and baptisms. His wife was the church organist, so I frequently stopped by the house with Sunday’s bulletin in hand.