Beloved

We are your beloved.

You gather us all in you, 

So no exceptions,

Gathered like flowers

From a beautiful garden,

Each of us precious.

(Photo: Longwood Gardens, March 17)

Kindred

We are family

(Everyone across the globe)

Bound by God's deep love.

God embraces all

So why can't we do the same, 

Sisters and brothers?

(Photo taken at the Women's March on Washington, Philadelphia location; January 21, 2017)

Sacrifice

Difficult, for sure,

To die so new growth comes forth

But, it is worth it.

Sacrifice means that

Life is not all about me

Rather, about us.

(photo: Tyler Aboretum, winter 2016)

Connecting Us

I want to try to understand why you gossiped behind his back without bothering to talk with him first to see if the story you were telling was true or not.

I want to ask you why you posted and "liked" the story of the young girl who shot and killed "illegal alien home invaders" which the author called, "good news."

I want to know why you use my name to preach hate and start wars.

I want to figure out why you focus on your own self-interests instead of being concerned for the needs of those around you.

I want to know why you - church - behave as an exclusive club, that doesn't want to connect in new ways with others in order to do ministry that really matters to the broken people in your community.

I want to grasp why you think your nation is superior to all others, your school is superior to other schools, your religion is the only way to believe, your work is more important than the labor of someone else.


Our brokenness is this:

We want to demonize others.
We want to judge others.
We want to be superior to others.
We want what's best only for ourselves.

We are disconnected from you and each other.

Connect us like branches to a Tree.
Make us whole.

[Other words for laps, starting with the letter "c" include Come to us, Create in us, Care for us, Calling us, Comfort us.  What are you "C" word prayers?]

Reunion

We had a family reunion today and I missed you.

"Why do I need to worship regularly?" you ask me.

I could give you the commandment ("Remember the Sabbath"), but I don't want to push the law here. Believe me when I say that there are days when I would prefer to worship at St. Mattress by the Pillow!

But, please hear me out and don't turn away just yet: I can think of two really good reasons to worship every week.

The most important reason, of course, is to set aside time to worship and praise God.

I know, I know. That sounds like a line right out of the confirmation instructor's mouth. But, we have heard that so often that sometimes I think we really don't think about what that means...that the focus is on God.

Maybe the music doesn't turn you on. Or, perhaps, it's difficult to sit through the sermon. Maybe the choir makes you grit your teeth. But, it's my opinion that those aren't the reasons we worship together on Sunday. It's not for our own gratification (although we can get something out of it...and maybe I'll talk about that another time).

My point is this:

~It's not about you.

~ Or me.

It's all about God. Praising God. Thanking God. ALL about GOD.

But, you say, "I can do that anywhere!"

You're right of course. But, there is something about doing it with a community of believers. A community of people like yourself and myself. Broken. Sinful. Hypocrites. Liars. Doubters.

God gave us the gift of community. It's not all bad all the time. It is a community that can lift up prayers on your behalf when you're not doing so well. It is a community where you can look others in the eye and know that they - like you - love God. It is a community where you can listen to God's Word with others and struggle with what it means for you, for me, for us. It is a community unlike any other in that it is one of the few places left where folks of all ages gather together.

You can't do that alone. In the woods. By the ocean. Doing yoga.

And that brings me to the second reason why weekly worship is important. I miss you! The rest of your family misses you. Really!

Each week is a family reunion. We're a happier bunch when you are there. When the pews are full - when the house is packed - the place is bursting with energy and life....all that "God praise" fills the room and fills my heart.

I love that passage in Corinthians when St. Paul compares the body of Christ (you and me and other believers) to a human body. When one part suffers, all suffer. When one part rejoices, all rejoice. I think Paul could also say, when one part is missing, we all miss that one.

We truly miss YOU.

Come back to the family reunion! All your adopted uncles and aunts, grandparents, parents, siblings and children are waiting for you. We're throwing a party to give thanks and praise to God.

The table is set. God's arms are outstretched beckoning you, "Come. Come to the banquet!"

There's a seat waiting for you ~