 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. Fear is a perfectly normal (and often helpful) survival tool. Fear alerts us to real dangers; Take for example abuse, which can happen right inside our homes, the very place we’re supposed to feel safe. Listening to fear and responding a certain way IS a valid coping mechanism. Plenty of other real dangers exist, and I don’t believe this scripture is meant to minimize any fear that keeps us safe. The problem is, we feel FEAR in our guts for a lot of reasons, and not ALL of them should we avoid. In fact, FEAR of a stranger is one of the most universal experiences. While it served us well in our hunting and gathering days…and OCCASIONALLY even today, often it doesn’t. Fearing what we don’t yet know keeps us from the kind of relationships that will enhance our wellbeing if we’re open to meeting new people. Okay, a little theology here…you and I weren’t made to stretch ourselves in this way- we were created to be a part of family units; tribes; people we belong to. Being a part of a tribe is a good thing, but tribal love isn’t. Tribal love says, “I will love my people, those in my orbit, the folks who think like me and believe like I do. My tribe, I’ll love them.” Tribal love is limited at its best, and at its worst, it can lead to hate, simply because its limits define who deserves love and who doesn’t. That’s why Jesus came, to abolish tribal love in favor of true love. God saw the kind of violence that becomes possible when we humans are left to ourselves. Jesus offers us another way of orienting ourselves in this world. He frees us from our human propensity to destroy ourselves by destroying each other. The author of 1 John says we need to be saved from the thing that keeps us from love. In a word, fear. Vs. 16 “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.” That’s the only way we can learn to love strangers; by first accepting the love God has for us. We know this love is true, because one by one, each person Jesus encountered in his life of ministry was changed. The Jesus revolution remains as necessary today as when this scripture was written. We, empowered by Christ’s love for us, CAN redeem one relationship at a time by our ability to overcome fear with love. On World Communion Sunday, I suggest we begin to practice this kind love with those who share our faith in Christ. One of the things I love about this day is the vision: SO many colors and creeds and languages representing the body of Christ. Lord knows we have a LONG way to go learning how to overcome fear with love in the Christian community. And if we can’t figure out how to love other Christians, how in the heck are we ever gonna love God’s beloveds who practice other religions or no religion at all? When 1 John says, “In this world we are [to be] like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear,” it’s an invitation to claim the control we DO have over our feelings. Yes, fear is a natural human response to strangers AND we don’t have to engage in it, especially when it’s not helpful. We CAN choose love. That’s the good news. So how does it happen? What’s the secret for overcoming our fear of strangers? Getting to know them. When AJ & I lived in NJ, we were a part of a church that welcomed in a motley crew of Christians. This South Dakota farm girl was intrigued, but also intimidated. Most Sundays during coffee hour, I tried to find a table with familiar faces; I recall one Sunday, however, when I mustered up the courage to sit across the table from a family who recently moved from Indonesia. I was really nervous. I didn’t know a thing about Indonesia. Our skin didn’t look the same, our voices could hardly be recognized by one another; we ate WAY different flavors in food, and I really wasn’t sure what to say. I didn’t know if they spoke any English. After sitting a few minutes in nervous tension, I began to notice the smiles on their faces. And so I smiled too…and I don’t remember what I said or didn’t say that day, but I do know smiling together at coffee hour was enough to make us friends. AJ & I went on to meet people from SEVERAL different countries and walks of life while in NJ. Here’s the coolest part. Not only did those relationships make it easier to keep choosing love over fear, but they also helped me gain confidence in my ability to see what I hold in common with someone else, more than what makes us different. You wanna know a secret? Pierre, SD has SO many people from diverse backgrounds if only we have eyes to see and ears to perceive. Here’s what I find myself asking right here: Whose story have I yet to hear that will change me? How can I expand my vision of Christ’s love by engaging my fear with faith? Who might benefit from hearing my story? Jesus’ ministry unfolded one relationship after the other, ours will too. That’s how it works. We allow faith to lead us toward love more than fear, and gradually- the knowing smiles of a shared experience will shape us into the eclectic, beautiful, gracious community God intends us to be. “Friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.” Pick one person you’re a little afraid of- and exchange some form of loving action. It could even be anonymous, so long as it’s rooted in the love of Christ, it will be enough to change hearts…yours and theirs alike.
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 Much of the Apostle Paul’s writing in the New Testament is instructions for newer Christians who are trying to figure out what the Gospel looks like in everyday life. Timothy, the person receiving Paul’s words here, is someone Paul is mentoring into leadership within the church. I’d like to begin with the end in mind today. Take hold of the life that really is life. Rather than hear Paul’s writing as a list of rules, listen to where this passage is calling YOU to take hold of all that is life-giving and release the rest, the senseless things that trap our spirits and lead to destructive ways of being in this world.
1 Timothy 6: 6-19 “Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it, 8 but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. 9 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. 11 But as for you, Timothy, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will bring about at the right time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords. 16 It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. 17 As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches but rather on God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, 19 thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.” God created you and I to experience life in abundance- Paul gives great examples of “life that really is life” like making right choices, placing God at the center, practicing faith, love, endurance, & gentleness. All these, “treasures of a good foundation for our future.” He gives an example of the difference it makes in our hearts how we handle something as essential as money. What meaning are you attaching to it? Paul asks. Are you using it for the wellbeing of all- or just yourself? A spending spree feels good for a moment, yes it does, but generosity leads to life that really is life. Pursue that life, Paul says, the one in which people matter more than things. We all yearn for deep connection. It's a truth that transcends time and space. Whether it’s today, in Paul’s day, in the time before written language itself…people needed other people. We know that life itself does not happen apart from a carefully orchestrated ecosystem. Look around you today- here’s the proof! And we know in an ecosystem what affects one, affects all. Even though we are wired for it, Paul reminds us we must TAKE HOLD of those relationships- pursuing them for abundant life’s sake. This is our last week with Brene Brown’s guideposts for whole-hearted living. Along with courage and compassion, CONNECTION is essential to our well being. Life that really is life is a life truly connected. In a 2017 interview with Forbes magazine, Brene Brown addresses the spiritual crisis of dehumanizing behavior we see in a society fractured along political and religious ideologies. She speaks of the courage and compassion needed, both of which cannot happen apart from real connection. “True belonging is not passive. It’s not the belonging that comes with just joining a group. It’s not fitting in or pretending or selling out because it’s safer. It’s a practice that requires us to be vulnerable, get uncomfortable, and learn how to be present with people without sacrificing who we are. If we are going to change what is happening in a meaningful way we’re going to need to intentionally be with people who are different from us. We’re going to have to sign up and join, and take a seat at the table. We’re going to have to learn how to listen, have hard conversations, look for joy, share pain, and be more curious than defensive, all while seeking moments of togetherness. Friends, I cannot think of a better place to practice this type of connection that right here in church. It takes courage for new members to join, and we rejoice in your courageous act today, Kyle & Casey. We hope to be an authentic and compassionate community that helps you raise Evelyn into life abundant. We also hope you take seriously the call to shape us into a new future together. Relationships don’t just happen, and next week we’ll ponder together what new ways we as a church can prioritize being really connected. Even in the fabric of ministry leadership, I have learned so much in five years about the true value each of you bring to the table. But we’re in the park this morning, we have beautiful food and good conversation awaiting us, so I won’t launch into sermon number 2 today. Let me wrap it up with this: I want this church to be a place where you discover the life that really is life. Where you can take hold of it alongside me. We need EVERY VOICE at the table to make it happen, and that begins with an invitation. A real human-to-human encounter that says “You matter.” Here’s my ask: Make one new connection within this church family this week. Send one card, write one email, use our member directory to reach out to one person. Grab coffee, go for a walk. Say a prayer together. You don’t even have to be strangers, maybe you’ve worshiped alongside each other for 5 years, but still don’t know if that person has any siblings. Ask. Practice that courage, compassion, and connection we know to be essential to OUR OWN wellbeing AND the wellbeing of this community centered in Christ’s love. That’s the best kind of generosity there is: the gift of attention. Thanks for being church for one another- we wouldn’t be as strong without you. Amen.  I am convinced that the only way we can have compassion for others is when we show compassion to our own selves. I am equally convinced that the only way we show compassion to ourselves is if we believe God shows compassion to us. You’ll hear in our text today that true peace comes from accepting the compassion Christ offers each of us. Think you’re not worthy? Think again…because the way of salvation is allowing Christ to re-activate our sense of worthiness. Another way you often hear me say it… we claim God’s blessing on our lives, when we cultivate the kind of self-worth that leads to compassion- for ourselves and for every single other human on this planet. 1 Timothy 2: 1-7 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is right and acceptable before God our Savior, 4 who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human, 6 who gave himself a ransom for all—this was attested at the right time. 7 For this I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I am telling the truth; I am not lying), a teacher of the gentiles in faith and truth. God desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. The truth is, everyone deserves compassion, even you. We’ve been following Brene Brown’s work on whole-hearted living, including courage, compassion, and connection. Here’s what Brene Brown says about compassion in her book Rising Strong: “In cultivating compassion we draw from the wholeness of our experience—our suffering, our empathy, as well as our cruelty and terror. It has to be this way. Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded. It’s a relationship between equals. Only when we know our own darkness well can we be present with the darkness of others. Compassion becomes real when we recognize our shared humanity.” This is what Jesus is talking about. He KNOWS the human experience- he’s living it as he speaks. His compassion for us is not “there there now, it’ll be okay.” It’s “Oh I get it, life can really suck. Suck your energy, your sense of purpose, your ability to thrive. I’m human, I know how hard it can be. The saving grace of Christ’s compassion is not pity for us, it’s solidarity. You know that friend you turn to in hard times, because you know they’re gonna walk beside you. They won’t judge your big feelings. They understand- and the compassion they show is not pity. It’s solidarity. For me, that’s my sister Alison. We’re different in a lot of ways, but in the way it matters most, we get each other without fail. When I have a freak-out moment, I call her because I know she won’t pity me- she’ll show me compassion. This is the way Christ yearns to walk alongside each of us. I also turn to prayer when I’m having big feelings, but often that comes after I have a human encounter of solidarity. One of the most intriguing parts of Brown’s work on compassion involves a finding that surprised even her. It turns out the most compassionate people she interviewed had ONE major commonality. I bet you wouldn’t guess what it is. Let me start with what it’s NOT. It’s NOT overextending- making yourself available 24/7. It’s not losing sleep worrying about others. It’s not being the most helpful all the time. It’s not exhausting yourself in the name of justice. No, the most compassionate people she encountered had the strongest boundaries. She offers a very simple definition for holding boundaries. Knowing and communicating “what’s ok and what’s not ok.” When we don’t set boundaries, we let people do things that aren’t ok and that leads to resentment. People who have boundaries are clear on what is and what is not their responsibility. In other words, compassionate people are NOT people-pleasers. They don’t lose sleep over someone else’s worry. They don’t assume authority over situations that someone else needs to own. What’s the connection between compassion and boundaries? Well-boundaried people are the most self-compassionate. They don’t let people push them to a place of resentment because they believe they are worthy of being treated with respect. They believe in their own self-worth and are willing to pursue health and life abundant. That’s what boundaries offer, that’s also what Christ teaches us. When we hold boundaries, we have the mental and emotional and physical reserves to be truly compassionate toward others. So let’s take the airline attendant’s reminder seriously- Put on your own oxygen mask before helping others. I get that it’s hard to do this. Setting firm boundaries isn’t popular with those in our lives who are not healthy. And we’ve acquired so many voices that disrupt even the best of our intentions. “I should.” Have you said this lately? You’re exhausted, but that one extra responsibility keeps nagging at you..even though you have nothing left to give. The word “should” creeps into our everyday language all the time. I want you to pay attention this week to how many times you say it. At its core, a “should” statement suggests remorse for a past failure. You might try substituting “ought” as a way to discern if you do need to make space for that responsibility in the future. “Ought” is lived forward in time, and you might just find that not as much needs your attention as those voices in your head told you. Maybe you can let some things go. Maybe there’s other negative self-talk that get in the way of self-compassion or firm boundaries. What’s your self-talk sound like? “Gah, I’m so dumb.” “Stupid me, I should have remembered that!” “I’m always messing up.” “I don’t deserve love.” “I’m not good enough.” Do any of those sound like things Jesus would say? You and I will NEVER be at peace until we start practicing self-compassion in the name of the one who created us good! It’s hardly selfish. In fact, it’s the only way to also practice compassion for others. We cannot see the good in others without first dealing with the voices that say we’re not worthy of compassion ourselves. Are you willing to do something with me that might feel a little funny? Let’s practice self-compassion, like right now. It’s the ONLY way any of us are able to actually live out REAL compassion when we leave this place of worship. Okay, repeat after me: I am worthy of compassion. / I can make mistakes/ and still be lovable. / My worth is not tied to how pretty I am/ or how many people I can help/ or how much money’s in my bank account/ or what kind of clothes I wear/ or how often my family visits me. I am worthy of compassion/ because I am a child of God.  Jesus is a brilliant storyteller. We hear this in the parables today. His words speak directly to the heart of a matter, because he knows the hearts of those who are listening. In this story it’s the legalistic morality police & the sinners in the crowd. Jesus isn’t interested in labels we’ve been given by others, he wants to know how real we’re willing to get. Because that’s the kind of heart he can work with. 5 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 So he told them this parable: 4 “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. The Parable of the Lost Coin 8 “Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Repentance. That’s not a word that often comes up at a gathering of friends. Hey Sue, how’s it going? What have you repented of lately? That’s what your dinner conversation sounds like, right? I love a good dinner chat- and I’ve NEVER heard that topic come up. Still, Jesus says that repentance leads to joy. How can this be? Think back on the last time you remember saying you were sorry. Who had you wronged? How did it feel to apologize? How long did it take to actually say it? Admitting our faults can be really hard. Being defensive is way easier- that’s what we’re taught, right? In fact, there’s this strange category in the study of theology called “apologetics.” You know what it means? The opposite of apologizing. It means “defending the faith.” As if God needs us to defend God. That’s a weird theological stance, especially if we take seriously this value Jesus teaches over and over: Don’t be self-righteous, repent! Turn away from believing you are right all the time. You’re human, you’re gonna get it wrong. The question is, how will you respond when you make a mistake? “I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons.” Maybe it’s because I’ve had SO much practice being wrong and needing to clear my conscience over the years….but I’ve come to understand repentance as an act of courage. One Wednesday afternoon last year, our wonderful crew of confirmands tested my patience. They were squirrely, but nothing about their behavior was particularly terrible. I, however, was having a stressful day and had had ENOUGH! Some of you might recall this evening. Parents got phone calls saying, “confirmation is done early today- come and pick up your child.” I’d never done this- and I know I surprised a few people- myself included. In fact, I said something I would NEVER imagine coming out of my mouth. Before the confirmands left that afternoon, I looked them in the eyes and said, “SHAME ON YOU for behaving this way.” It took me awhile to process it all. But by the next Wednesday, I knew deep down that I owed them an apology. It just so happened that our topic that Wednesday was on forgiveness. Okay, thanks for that, God. :) I was nervous to see them all again, but with a sincere heart, I looked them in the eyes and apologized; most of all, I told them that I’d regretted using the word shame- “I am never ashamed of you, I said. I don’t always like what you do, but I always give thanks for who you are. Every single one of you, a blessing.” A few of the confirmands also apologized, and one said this: “I’ve never had an adult apologize to me before.” Never? I asked. Never. Friends, we need to practice saying we’re sorry because that’s what draws us closer to Christ. That’s what mends relationships. Repentance is not about shame- it’s about reclaiming our own belovedness, flaws and all. I know how much courage it takes to say those three simple words: I am sorry. I also know how freeing and wonderful it can be to gain someone’s trust in the act of repentance. By the end of the year, those confirmands were still squirrely on occasion, but something shifted in our relationship- they were more willing to listen, and I sensed it was because they trusted a pastor who’s willing to admit when I’m wrong. The only way any of us can find the courage to repent is by trusting that God loves our whole selves, flaws and all. That admitting we’re wrong won’t make us less worthy in the eyes of God- but more. “I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” Courage is the first of Brene Brown’s three essential qualities for every person desiring a “whole-hearted life.” She says, “Courage is a heart word. The root of the word courage is cor - the Latin word for heart. In one of its earliest forms, the word courage meant "To speak one's mind by telling all one's heart." Over time, this definition has changed, and today, we typically associate courage with heroic and brave deeds. But in my opinion, this definition fails to recognize the inner strength and level of commitment required for us to actually speak honestly and openly about who we are and about our experiences -- good and bad. Speaking from our hearts is what I think of as ‘ordinary courage.’” Jesus says it doesn’t matter how often you mess up. It matters how willing you are to be real. It matters how much ordinary courage you muster up when you’ve made a mistake. Who needs to hear you say you’re sorry this week? The courage to be real, to be honest, and to make amends- it’s good because it’s hard-win. Admitting we’re wrong doesn’t make us less of a person, it makes us more whole. That’s the blessing that lies below the surface, our essential self waiting to emerge from the facade of being “put together” all the time. It’s a pathway to freedom, because repentance is the mending of relationship…even within our own selves. Let’s find the courage to accept our whole selves this week- to admit when we’re wrong as a symbol of our trust that God’s still gonna love us anyway, flaws and all. Repentance is the pathway to freedom that Christ offers.. Let’s accept it.  Jesus spends the first part of this chapter in Matthew describing to the crowds what matters to God- and it’s basically the opposite of self-righteous “good deeds,” doing things for show rather than with humble spirits. If you’ve been following the stories of Jesus for a while now, this might not surprise you…but it’s totally foreign in a world intent on making us feel as if we need to earn God’s favor. Sometimes this mentality occurs within our church communities. Listen to what Jesus says next:
25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. 27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” This is radical talk. Jesus chooses to reveal himself to those who choose rest, like babies and kids. More directly, Jesus says, my spirit will come to those who admit they cannot do it all on their own. But oh how we cling so tightly to the idea that we’ve got it all under control- if only we work hard enough. In preparation for my sabbatical, I heard something odd from quite a few of my pastoral colleagues (both before and during sabbatical-even the final weekend of). It came in the form of a rhetorical question. Something like, “SURELY you will complete some extensive continuing education or write a book, maybe both! What will you produce during sabbatical!!” Knowing the sheer mental and emotional fatigue most (if not all) of my pastor friends experience, I found this type of question surprising- especially from them. It was like sabbath wasn’t the important part of sabbatical, because it couldn’t be measured. But this refrain isn’t really foreign to you, to any of us. Make your time really COUNT. Produce something of value, or YOU are not of any worth to this world. In truth, I struggled with this feeling some too, a preoccupation with “producing” something of value this summer, even though deep in my soul, I recognized an even deeper need to practice true sabbath- to find Jesus in rest. It’s within us all, a pull between what we know is necessary for our health and what we hear the world say makes us worthy. And that voice is loud- and it never calls us to rest. You, church, are wonderful. You offered your pastor the exceptional gift of sabbatical. Time to refresh relationships with my family, renew my connection with God, and invest more fully in my creative spirit. I am pleased to inform you that Pastor Emily has rested. Now you, wise as you are, didn’t ask me to produce anything of substance during my sabbatical…and I cannot affirm enough how much that matters. I also read more books than I’ve had time for since seminary. Nourishing reads, like Brene Brown’s “The Gifts of Imperfection.” In the next three sermons, I will highlight spiritual truths inspired by her work that aligns with Gospel good news for us all. She says, “Whole-hearted living is about engaging in our lives from a place of worthiness. It’s about cultivating the gifts of imperfection: courage, compassion, and connection. It’s about waking up in the morning and thinking- no matter what gets done, and how much is left undone, I’m enough. It’s going to bed at night and thinking yes- I’m imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid, but that doesn’t change the truth that I’m also brave and worthy of love and belonging.” Seriously, the perfect final book to read on sabbatical. Embracing the gifts of our imperfections SO THAT we no longer tie our sense of worthiness to our net worth or how clean our house is or how many beloved church members we make contact with immediately following sabbatical! I long to be connected with each of you, and I thank you for your patience as I settle into a healthy rhythm- one I’ve learned this summer. I really rested. I played with my kids. I read books and journaled prayers, I traveled to see friends and family. I met strangers and saw new lands. I refinished the dresser my dad used as a child. I swam in the ocean and walked the pastures of our ranch. I lived a whole-hearted life, and STILL I have to actively fight the voices in my own head (and those of well-intentioned colleagues) that tell me I should have produced more. Here's the voice that counts most. Jesus: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. A connection emerged for me this week that I’d never made before. Jesus says this about rest RIGHT after saying to his Father, “you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.” Wanna know who’s BEST at not believing their worth is tied to productivity? Kids. One of Brene Brown’s essential guideposts for whole-hearted living is this: “Cultivating play and rest: letting go of exhaustion as a status symbol and productivity as self-worth.” Why? Because rest and play ARE the moments of true connection. A spirit of rest is essential if we desire meaningful relationships with God, within our own spirits, and with those who deserve our whole hearts. Sabbatical was not magical, I still struggle to release my need for productivity. But I am inspired to keep trying, because my kids deserve a more focused and present mom. That I did learn deeply this sabbatical. Who in your life deserves a well-rested you? Maybe you do. Last week I had several furniture projects I wanted to finish before sabbatical was over (the allure of productivity was strong). Briggs and Daddy were at soccer, so Blaire and I began the evening playing in the backyard. Blaire had to use the bathroom, so what did I do with that minute? I snuck into the garage to work on furniture. I’m not proud of myself. Three months into sabbatical and I STILL couldn’t let go of that need to get just one more thing done. Blaire found me in the garage, paintbrush in hand, and said in a matter-of-fact way, “Mom, I’ve set up a restaurant here, and you’ll be my customer.” “Blaire, I’m just going to finish this last drawer.” But she knows how fixated I get on my projects, so she boldly announced, “The store will be closing to all customers in three seconds! Three! Two! If you want dessert, you better get in here! One!” What I did next does not come easily to me. I threw down my paintbrush, ran into the kitchen and said, “Okay ma’am, I’d LOVE some dessert.” And she served me the most delightful fig newtons, root beer, and flat watermelon flavored water. Recognizing how easily I could have NOT made that memory with my daughter (choosing my paintbrush instead)- I looked her in the eyes and told her exactly how much I loved spending my sabbatical summer playing with her. And her sweet hug, an affirmation of our spirits connected, revealed why rest & play are essential- more so than our productivity. Maybe you will hold me accountable to this truth in my life. I don’t know who’s voice told you that you were only worthy of love if you proved it with your helpfulness or net worth or productivity, but it’s a lie. Your worth is not what you do. Not in this church, not for your pastor, and especially not in the eyes of your Creator. Until we each come to believe that we are worthy of love and belonging regardless of what we do…we will continue to give into the allure of productivity until it consumes us, spirits and all. Child of the living God, hear this voice of truth, even as I speak it to my own soul: “Come to me, all you who are weary, and I will give you rest.” A final note of humor. Briggs came down this morning as I was finalizing my sermon. He took one look at my word document and said, “you really have to say all THAT?” No, I didn’t. Not to be loved by you or by God. But being away for 3 months is a long time…and I just can’t help sharing this good news. As I pray, I invite you to offer up whatever is keeping you from embracing your full worth- just as you are- beloved in the eyes of God, accepted and loved in this faith community. Let’s pray.  The work of the women disciples in the time of Jesus & the early church is often glossed over in scripture- which makes sense when we consider the place of women in society at that time. Knowing how little status women held in general, it makes the presence of women disciples in the bible all the more powerful. So hear this story today from Acts 9: 36-43 as inspiration to consider the unsung disciples YOU know who embody sacrificial love. "Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. 37 At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, “Please come to us without delay.” 39 So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40 Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up.” Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. 41 He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive. 42 This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 Meanwhile he stayed in Joppa for some time with a certain Simon, a tanner." This is the pinnacle of a faith experience. Through the power of partnership and prayer, Tabitha’s life is restored. Peter uses his faith in Christ’s resurrection power to proclaim God has more good in store for the world through Tabitha’s devoted spirit. She was a true servant leader among the early church disciples, this much is clear. But what I hadn’t considered as much is Tabitha’s legacy as an artist. Cara Quinn highlights Tabitha’s story with her artwork & commentary on knowyourmothers.com What sets Tabitha’s story of creativity and faith apart, Cara says, “is how she gave her beautiful clothing–her works of art– to everyone who needed them, no matter their ability to pay her. She lived out Jesus’ message to love others and value them above herself. Why? Because she knew the skills and resources she had been given were meant to be shared for the community AND because she saw the divine in everyone, particularly those others did not.” This is the legacy of faith we bear witness to on Mother’s Day. Mother’s Day hasn’t always been flowers and chocolate. “Mothering Sunday” was an early form of Mother’s Day within the Christian church, inviting everyone to return to their mother church; Another precursor to today was Mother’s Friendship Day, established to unite women in a quest for post Civil-war reconciliation between their children, both confederate and union soldiers. Another historical marker of today’s celebration was Mother’s Peace Day, petitioning for an end to war & slavery. These Mother’s Day roots are all about women empowering other women and the communities they knit together through right relationships and service to others- much like the disciple we celebrate today.. “Tabitha was devoted to good works and acts of charity.” Other translations say, “She was always doing good and helping the poor,” “always doing kind things for others, especially those who needed it most.” We KNOW Tabitha prioritized her community because of the deep sense of loss displayed at her death. Even Peter, a high-profile disciple, drops everything to rush toward her side. It’s this display of affirmation between Peter & Tabitha as co-workers in the church that moves me most. Peter sees Tabitha’s ministry as equal to his, even though her steady work of empowering women wasn’t flashy enough to get the credit her male counterparts received. You see, adventure and travel, exploring unknown places and people is exciting, mystifying work…and throughout our history, much of that work (including the disciples of the early church) has only been given to men. So Peter & Paul travel all across the Mediterranean world proclaiming Christ’s good news, and they get all the press coverage to match. Meanwhile, women disciples like Tabitha, whose recognition is a brief paragraph in scripture, worked equally hard establishing a community of believers. Her local efforts of planting seeds of sacrificial love were no less worthy of Christ’s call, it just wasn't the glamorous work that made the history books. For most of human history, the accolades of (mostly) men traveling far and wide are recorded…but someone was hard at work raising those same boys into men. Someone was putting food on the table and doing the laundry. And while I certainly know men who do some of this work, our society remains largely dependent on women to complete the unglamourous domestic work. Today is for every unsung woman who’s embodied sacrificial love without thought of recognition. We need both the high-profile workers for Christ & the unsung heroes, doing their laundry & dishes. Peter’s relationship with Tabitha reveals not only how necessary BOTH roles are, but how fulfilling life can be when we acknowledge the contributions of each other. We need creative types and compassionate souls; extroverts and introverts, singers and cooks, teachers & gardeners, folks who are wanderers and those who remain rooted. We need everyone to give of themselves for the common good, allowing Tabitha’s legacy to lead the way. So if you work toward right relationships, nurture others in compassion and justice, develop community through acts of selfless love, then we celebrate YOU on Mothering Sunday; Mother’s Peace Day & Mother’s Friendship Day recognizes YOUR contribution to this world. We affirm the gift of all mothers & mother figures who ground our communities and families with the sacrificial work of love. I’m wearing a new necklace today- it’s a gift Briggs made me in school. I’m delighted for a few reasons, it fits today’s message perfectly. First, other women made sure my son had a unique way to celebrate his mom on Mother’s Day (women empowering women), Second, here’s the note written in his handwriting on the glass: “I love my mom because she does all of the cleaning.” It may not be flowers or chocolate, but this simple reminder that my countless hours spent cleaning up other people’s messes has not gone unnoticed, at least not on Mother’s Day. Whatever your unsung ministry within our community is, I hope you hear in Tabitha’s story an affirmation. The countless acts of devotion you embody are recognized and appreciated by your God, who works tirelessly to create new life in us and through us- lighting the way with sacrificial love.  Hear, Lord, and be merciful to me; Lord, be my help.” You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever. -Psalm 30 I know for many of us, questions about Jack’s final days linger in our hearts. The truth I’ve been wrestling with since I got the call two days after Easter, is that our questions will go unanswered. As hard as that is to accept, I’ve found a certain peace in turning my attention to what we DO know. I know Jack felt at home here in this sanctuary, using the musical gifts he’d been given every chance he got. His relationship with God was nourished in this very space. I would try to thank him for his music ministry, the time commitment of practicing those beautiful duets with Gloria, accompanying the choir, even leading music at Edgewood, and he would just shake his head and say, “No no, thank YOU! I want to play- I appreciate the opportunity.” That was Jack’s faith lived out loud, shared with the world no matter if he got recognition or not. That same quiet and constant faith is what guides us in the midst of unanswered questions. I can’t help but think also of the significance of Jack’s death occurring during Holy Week. We may not know exactly when he died, but we do know he gifted us with his final songs on Maundy Thursday. And his experience of Easter was being closer to the risen Lord than ever before. My heart is drawn to the final words I got to speak as Jack’s pastor. We leave the Christ candle lit during our tenebrae service, a reminder that even in the darkest shadows, Christ’s light is not diminished. Here are the words guiding me through Jack’s loss, and I invite you to let them guide you too. “The story of Christ on the cross reveals that it takes a human with Holy Spirit, a human like Christ, to believe that nothing, not even death itself, will separate us from God’s love. Christ may have felt momentarily torn from God, “my God, my God, why have you forsaken me (just like you and I do in the wake of grief), but Holy Spirit never left Christ, and Holy Spirit never leaves us. It’s Holy Spirit that gave Christ the light he needed to see hope beyond his own death. Friends, it’s Holy Spirit who lights our way too. We journey forward, one day at a time, relying on the faith that has carried saints like Jack, affirming the truth of God’s steadfast love, “You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Jack Horner is singing the praises of his Creator right now, alongside us, basking in the glow of God’s love. Friends, let’s keep on lifting our praises in honor of the one and only, Jack Horner, who rests now in the eternal peace of Christ.  On the first day of the week, at early dawn, [the women] came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened. The disciples went home amazed, but not after plenty of doubting, “Christ is risen? Nope- I don’t believe you, Mary.” I get it. The last thing the grieving disciples want to hear is someone telling them to “cheer up! Jesus didn’t really die!” “But I saw it,” Peter thinks. “I was there, I felt it too. My grief is real!” Peter’s emotional journey reveals something we all know deep within our souls: the best hope emerges after deepest grief. I spent a lot of time with a particular friend I met in seminary during her first pregnancy. I hosted her baby shower; I so enjoyed her company and was delighted when she gave birth to a baby boy named Ben. I moved back to SD, got pregnant with Briggs shortly after she had Ben; at first we stayed in touch- so much to share! But our conversations decreased slowly over time, until we weren’t calling anymore. I didn’t know why, exactly, chalked it up to being busy moms. I found out years later that she’d experienced three miscarriages, so I reached out again, but never heard back. Turns out, she went on to suffer three more miscarriages after that- six in all. I wanted to be supportive, but didn’t know how…any of my words as a mom who hadn’t experienced that sounded like an idle tale. How do we know the difference between good news and an idle tale-especially in the midst of grief? Peter’s response tells us that good news is only believable in the right state of mind…and heart. The process of grief is real and cannot be rushed. My friend knows it well. After each miscarriage, she got a lot of unsolicited feedback, the hardest for her to hear was this: “Cheer up! At least you have one beautiful child.” Over and over she heard this idle tale, carving more pain into her grieving heart. See, it may have been objectively true, Ben is a wonderful child, but “Cheer up!” never works when it’s said at the wrong time. Today, hearing Jesus’ story unfold with the benefit of hindsight, it’s easy to be like, “duh, Peter, that’s what Jesus has been saying all along, he’s gonna rise from the dead- I know, because I heard him say it back in Luke chapter 9! Cheer up already, Jesus conquers death!” Not helpful, right? I know you’ve been through pain too…maybe you’re grieving even today. The loss of a friend, a parent, or even a child, no one wants their grief to be minimized with a cheery little statement- and maybe Easter doesn’t feel so happy this year. Let grief take its course, don’t rush your heart. But when you sense an opening, recall this story- THE story of resurrection hope; it’s for you to claim as good news in your life too. See, Peter’s “idle tale” turned into hope when he made the choice to run to the tomb and claim the good news for himself. No one can do that for you. The women first to the tomb doubted too, but their hearts were opened by these words, “why do you look for the living among the dead?” Good news remains an idle tale unless we claim it for ourselves–always with the help of Christ. In Luke 18 Jesus says, “What is impossible for people is possible with God.” Can you believe that the impossibility you wait on might just be possible? It’s okay if you can’t at first. Life is hard to manage. Beloveds relapse back into addiction. Friends betray us. Mental illness persists. Businesses fail. Chronic pain lingers. Parents die. Children die. Families are separated by war. This is the stuff of life, and it's good to grieve. But if there’s ever a day to claim the good news that Christ’s love is powerful enough to transform every human grief- it’s today. Friends, it’s EASTER! Jesus says, I have come so that you may have life and have it in abundance. There’s no part of life, especially the hard parts, that Jesus doesn’t know intimately, within his very being. And there’s NO part of your life outside the realm of God’s hope. After experiencing 6 miscarriages, my friend had just about given up hope on having another child. But she and God persisted, and I received a truly hopeful Christmas card one year–news of another baby boy added to their precious family. A rainbow baby, as they say. And then a daughter. Three beautiful children who fill her life with love. Hope is not predictable- it wouldn’t be hope if it were. My own cousin shares a similar story, except without a happy ending. She remains in grief for the children she doesn’t have. I certainly have no “cheer up” speech prepared for her- or for anyone in the throes of grief. But I do believe deep in my being that Christ is in the business of transforming idle tales into stories of redemption. And only God knows how it will unfold for you and for me. Until we have good news to claim, until that moment when we can be like the disciples walking home from an empty tomb, “amazed at what can happen,” let’s wait on it together, on behalf of one another, trusting that what is impossible for us is always possible for the God who conquered death itself.  After Jesus had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
29 When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’” 32 So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 They said, “The Lord needs it.” 35 Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, 38 saying, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!” 39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.” Jesus knows. Sometimes I forget this- he KNOWS on that donkey ride into Jerusalem what awaits him. He’s been foreshadowing it for his disciples. In Matthew 20 we hear him say to his 12 disciples, "We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!" He KNOWS! In fact, he can probably already feel the stab of betrayal, the pain of tearing flesh, the merciless hot sun, the final gasp. Even so, less than a week before his last breath, he rides into Jerusalem on a donkey. And he readily accepts this blessing spoken over him, “Blessed in the king who comes in the name of the Lord.” I wonder if Jesus felt that blessing—or something else entirely–knowing what was about to take place? We can’t know exactly how Jesus felt, but we know that he embraced his fate with as much courage as humanity has ever seen. He embraces this blessing over his body too: “Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven.” How many of us, when we KNOW something hard is going to happen- allow ourselves to embody peace? It’s mostly the opposite, right? We get anxious, maybe so unnerved that we begin to question ourselves. Self-doubt sinks in, our bodies begin to shake, our heart beats faster. Maybe we want to avoid the challenge at all costs. All of this is totally normal. To be human is to react against what is hard. This is why it takes a God like Jesus to reveal a NEW way of being at peace, even when turmoil surrounds us. I don’t know about you, but I often seek to create my own peace by changing my environment or circumstances; that works a little bit, right? When I’m anxious and go for a walk or run, my mind clears and my spirit feels rejuvenated….but I return to the same life circumstances that caused my anxiety in the first place. Unless….I allow that time away to change my heart, my spirit. Until I recognize that no amount of human effort is going to create peace, I won’t be open to the dramatic change Holy Spirit within me can create. Recall from last week- that spiritual change requires vulnerability. See, that’s what makes Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem triumphant- he KNOWS what’s about to happen to him, and he embodies peace anyway. How? He’s got Holy Spirit. It’s the only explanation for this scene, in which Jesus faces his greatest fears with a clear mind and heart: “Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven.” I tend to think it's a lot harder for us non-God humans to do this; but then again, I can easily get distracted from this truth: we ALSO have Holy Spirit in us. We ALSO get to choose to embody peace, despite whatever comes our way. We have the chance to change our hearts through the power of Christ. Sure it takes practice and commitment and faith- but it IS possible to be at peace regardless of our circumstances. On Monday- with my group of cool contemplative pastors on zoom, we heard this devotional on Inner Peace from Daily Word Devotionals I think peace. I feel peace. I am peace. Peace lives in my heart. At the place within me where all appearances of separation dissolve, I feel only peace, only God, only oneness. This peace is always mine, part of my divine inheritance. I carry it with me through every experience, every moment of the day. Nothing can destroy or even disturb my peace when I invite the divine presence, the Christ of my being, to be my constant guide. A passing thought of fear, worry, or anger is a reminder to breathe, to release negative energy, to embrace peace. I feel renewed when I meditate, enjoy a walk in a peaceful garden, or take a moment to appreciate natural beauty wherever I find it. My indwelling peace manifests all around me as beauty, harmony, and bliss. May the Lord give strength to God’s people! May the Lord bless God’s people with peace! – Psalm 29:11 Only God could have known how much my spirit needed that message on Monday. Just 5 minutes prior, I had lost my patience with my brilliant children who still can't seem to put their socks and shoes on in the morning before school! With my heart still racing a bit, I logged onto that zoom call- and I heard this word, “peace lives in my heart” and I knew it to be true. Even when I don’t pay attention to it, peace is within me. If only I make space to discover it- to practice peace…then I am drawn closer to the Prince of Peace who paved the way for me. What do you need to do to discover your own peaceful spirit? What voices might need quieting in order to hear the still-speaking voice of the Prince of Peace? What parts of your spirit feel broken, in need of the healing light peace can bring? How will YOU embrace the peace that lives within your heart this Holy Week? I’m not saying it’s easy- or convenient, or even natural. Embodying peace is perhaps the hardest work of all- but you are worth it- you were certainly worth it to Christ as he accepted his fate with courage and peace. This Holy Week, we remember that joy and sorrow are two sides of the same coin. Faith is not the opposite of despair, but the very road through it. Hope–resurrection hope– cannot come without first experiencing the grief of loss. Peace is not possible in this world until we discover the peace that lives within us. PEACE is the fabric from which our spirits are formed. Allowing us to say, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!” May we be people who yearn for peace, as we enter Holy Week in awe of the Prince of Peace who leads the way.  Even though I, too, have reason for confidence in the flesh. If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. 8 More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, 11 if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. Friends, the fact that you are worshiping today tells me you too are still pressing on. Still yearning to know redemption. Still open to the stirring of Spirit within. The UCC is certainly not perfect, but as a denomination we proclaim something about God that I just love. God is Still Speaking. The word of God isn’t written in scripture alone. God’s word has been written on our hearts! And we MUST take our habits of the heart seriously if we are to understand what this means. Paul says even I, who got all the rules right, I am STILL PRESSING ON to listen for God’s voice at work in me- because God is still speaking. As preparation for ministry, many pastors receive a Master of Divinity. I was so grateful for my time at Princeton Theological Seminary, but in the midst of all the academic work and invigorating conversation with colleagues, one truth became quite clear. When it comes to getting God right…we never actually arrive. I didn’t really become a master of the divine. If anything, seminary taught me how little I know. So here’s the very anticlimactic reality about being Christians: Following Jesus is a life-long practice. I mean really- we have to PRACTICE in order to align our Spirits with God’s. We heard about this in Ephesians a few weeks’ back, and one key practice is prayer. Paul sums up prayer so well here. He says, “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection.” Amen, right? Paul goes on to say, “Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.” It’s about intimate connection with a still-speaking God. Here’s the paradox of spiritual strength: Our ability to reach the spirit within often correlates with how willing we are to be vulnerable. You know, that uncomfortable feeling when we admit we don’t have it all together. Yep- that’s actually a GOOD thing, if we give God those broken pieces of our hearts, to make something unexpectedly beautiful. So let’s get personal. Given what you know your spirit needs to thrive, what habits of the heart are you ready to form- or perhaps revisit after life got in the way of your practice? This is your work to do- I cannot tell you that what works for me will work for you. Trust me, I see the look AJ gives me when I tell him I’m going to jump on a zoom call to sit in silence with other pastors on a Monday morning… and I’m SO excited about it. I see him get all squirmy. Not every habit of the heart works for everyone. Each of us has a spiritual compass that needs certain practices, and mine are not yours. But because mine ARE what I know best, let me tell you about this group of pastors who gather Monday mornings at 8am on a 45 minute zoom call. This week, after each of us shared what was occupying our minds and our hearts, we simply listened to a Taize-inspired song, repeated three times. This is roughly 15-20 minutes of silence, listening to one phrase over and over, “Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom.” The melodic variety of instruments moves in tandem with this very simple phrase: Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom. Here’s what happened in my Spirit. The first time the song played, I had a million thoughts swirling- not focused. The second time, roughly 5 minutes in, I started to feel at rest in the rhythm of the words, a few tears gently rolling down my cheek. If you know me well, you can appreciate this as a sign Spirit has begun stirring. Finally, during the 3rd time listening to: “Jesus, Remember me, when you come into your kingdom” a clear and centering thought emerged, something I’d learned long ago: “What is the chief end of humankind? To glorify God and enjoy God forever.” I knew what God was speaking that day…as my very important to-do lists grow, text messages run on for days, Spirit is always with me, tenderly beckoning me back to what matters most, “Emily, pause and enjoy the glory of being a child of the living God. This is what you were created to do.” And the meaning of the words shifted for me. Jesus WILL remember me, will I take time to remember him? That is my spiritual practice I need most. To be present in each moment God has gifted me. To take time and wonder at what it all means. And because I’m an extrovert, I practice this habit of the heart in the company of others. I’m here to tell you, on Monday mornings, Spirit shows up on Zoom! I want to know what works for you. What have you tried that helps you listen to the still speaking voice of God? I’d love to hear about spiritual practices you’ve found life-giving. Trust me, your response to these questions I ask-whether in conversation or email this week, or months later, it’s yet another confirmation that something really powerful happens when we are courageous enough to speak of matters of the heart. It doesn’t matter so much WHAT you practice so long as you DO! What works today might need to shift tomorrow- that’s okay too! We just keep on moving as Spirit moves, finding new and delightful ways to glorify God and enjoy God forever with this one precious and beautiful life we’ve been given. What spiritual habit are you ready to form today? There’s no better moment than now, as we enter Holy Week next Sunday. |
Rev. Emily Mungerdelights in connecting sacred texts with everyday life. Sermon Archives
August 2023
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