The Day After (Earth Day)

 

This Sunday is the day after Earth Day; a day begun in 1970 America to draw attention to environmental concerns and provide a voice for emerging environmental consciousness. By 1990 Earth Day went global as more and more countries were experiencing environmental crisis brought on by global warming. Today another 30 years down the road, the entire planet is in climate crisis such that the life of every person, creature, and plant is affected.

Marking Earth Day is important, for our very life depends upon the health of Mother Earth.

Today we can raise our voices and pray the well known prayer - Blessed are you O God of the universe who brings forth bread from the earth and creates the fruit of the vine.

But this isn’t entirely true.  Not if one lives in a place of prolonged drought - the world map as of August 2022 has crippling drought in many areas, outside of Antarctica no continent is exempt. And bread from the earth and fruit from the vine are not present if one lives in a growing number of areas affected by flooding - either by rains from intense storms or from rising sea levels.

I find Earth Day hard to celebrate – not the part of celebrating the earth and the abundance found therein- but daily I am saddened that everyone doesn’t live the values of Earth Day everyday, as a matter of course, to be a good human being, to be in relationship with the land and one’s Creator.

 

I feel the same about Easter. I find it hard to celebrate – not the part of celebrating resurrection and the abundance of hope and grace found therein – but daily I am saddened that everyone doesn’t live the values of resurrection everyday, as a matter of course, to be a responsible human being, to be in relationship with the land and one’s Creator; to focus on that which gives and grows life.

 

This is the Day After Earth Day and we hear God’s Word relating a story about Jesus’ followers the day after Jesus was put in the tomb. Two followers of Jesus are walking outside along a road, talking about the day’s events. Earlier the women found the tomb empty; one claimed she had seen the Lord; other disciples went to see the tomb – confirming it was empty! And as they walked along, a traveler fell in step with them to hear this news.

The day after, these disciples encounter the Resurrected One while walking the land, a land that held and nourished their ancestors for generations. From the very ground, from dust to dust and ashes to ashes, God resurrected from the land; birthed to new life from the depths of Mother Earth.

Pope Francis wrote: the universe unfolds in God, who fills it completely. Hence there is a mystical meaning to be found in a leaf, in a mountain trail, in a dewdrop, in a poor person’s face. (LS 233)

The universe unfolds in God, who fills it completely – this God is the traveler who appeared and fell in step with the disciples on the road to Emmaus. This is the God who was unfolded in the breaking of bread from the earth and fruit from the vine.

 

This is the Day After Earth Day and I can’t help but connect Mother Earth with God’s journey through Holy Week and Easter. Earth Day is like Palm Sunday -the Jesus’ parade; rah rah Mother Earth; but how quickly the scene turns. Everything that Jesus planted through words and deeds, started to come back to him; his revolutionary speak and radical kindom talk were stirring up the people, some to follow with hope and expectation and others with angst and a desire to get rid of him. The parade was the last showy event to put Jesus at the point of no return on his way to the cross.

 

There are moments when I am sad, when I am enjoying nature and walking the land, and I feel the earth moaning. I feel Mother Earth dying. And I wonder is this Earth Day THE parade, the last showy event, the point of no return on Mother Earth’s way to the cross.

 

The Day After Earth Day - Mother Earth is crucified – in genetically modified grain to make bread from the earth, by pesticides used on the fruit of the vine; open wounds of mineral extraction, gashes and burns of abused prairie and destroyed forests; cancerous water and caustic air --- all death by human hand. Crucified.

 

I have been reading Our Home and Treaty Land: Walking Our Creation Story, by Raymond Alfred and Matthew Anderson. Raymond is Nehiyawak (Cree), an Anglican priest, and professor at the Vancouver School of Theology. He writes:

Indigenous people have preferred to regard all things as sacred because at any point in time Creator could do something powerful within Creation, and that powerful working makes a place sacred. Indigenous peoples, then, in anticipation of Creator doing something powerful, maintain an attitude of awe and anticipation, trying to understand the movement of all that is around us and within which we live our lives. The journey upon the land, then, is put into stories, songs, and Ceremonies that remind us and help us to understand our journey upon the earth. …

Jesus has joined or was always part of the journey, which takes place on the land. Creation is always the context of Creator’s interaction with us. (pg 59-60)

 

In Raymond’s words, I picture the indigenous walkers on the road to Emmaus, not only are they walking the land, they are pondering ‘this something powerful’ that has occurred; the Creator’s interaction, trying to understand the movement of all that is around them.

 

The Day After Earth Day – as I ponder Mother Earth in the shadow of the cross, she gives life through the powerful transformation of Jesus –from dust to dust- to an open tomb and a risen Christ.

 

The land tells a powerful story, the good news. Those who walk the land maintaining an attitude of awe and anticipation, trying to understand the movement around us and within which we live, will recognize that Mother Earth again and again walks from life to death to resurrection. Holy Week through Easter is relived! Often!

 

In school I enjoyed geography class, particularly the units on rocks and tectonic plates. Rocks and tectonic plates are always moving, always in the process of transition and change. Shifting tectonic plates – push up mountains and open the earth’s crust to form new land. Earthquakes, volcanoes, glaciers carve out escarpments, press dead sea life into limestone, create pools for freshwater; tectonic plates move causing rock to take on different forms and the lay of the land to drastically change causing some ecosystems to die and others to emerge.

Mother Earth’s nature is to be in the constant state of living, dying, resurrecting.

Christ’s nature is the state of living, dying, resurrecting.

 

The Day After Earth Day – I ponder the good news; Easter. Jesus’ death and resurrection gives me hope that all is not lost, that in death (and only through death) is there the possibility of life and resurrection. Walking the land, Mother Earth whispers to us – acts it out for us- that we are to die to ourselves, die for the sake of the other, die to give our life for the life of the other, so that HOPE, RESURRECTION, PEACE blossom. And it is whispered across the land, proclaimed in earthquake and the bursting open of rocks and tombs, that the universe unfolds in God and that Creator is doing something powerful around us.

 

Let us anticipate the Creator at work. In this season when we celebrate the resurrection part of Mother Earth’s cycle, the season of Christ is risen Christ is risen indeed, may be take time to ponder with others the Mystery of faith, to go for walks with another human being and be attentive to them and to the world around you, and be in relation -physically touch Tree, Earth, Flower and give thanks for life.

 

Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!

How Beautiful Are Our Feet - Part 2

Prepared for Sunday April 16, 2023

Last week we left church, setting the intention to commit to living Easter, one intentional step at a time.; leaving a trail of resurrection in our wake. We reflected on how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation.

 

It is the first day of the week, early when Mary encounter Jesus in the garden, and she runs to tell the disciples, “I have seen the Lord.” In the evening of that same day, the disciples meet behind locked doors. Jesus stands in their midst and says, “Peace be with you.” Excitedly they tell Thomas who had not been with them at the time, “We have seen the Lord.” A week later they are again in the house when Jesus stands in their midst and says to them, “Peace be with you.” The Gospel of John continues with more stories of Jesus appearing to the disciples.

 

Beautiful feet don’t happen overnight.

Looking back at the stories it seems like the disciples are taking their time getting it – that Jesus is risen. With compassion to allow for the disciples to wrap their hearts and minds around this ‘new thing’ God is doing, Jesus keeps showing up in their midst. Jesus appears amid the activities of their daily life.

Mary proclaimed, “I have seen the Lord.” The disciples share with Thomas good tidings, “We have seen the Lord.” Their feet are becoming beautiful…and then the feet stop moving. “We have seen the Lord,” is stopped in its tracks, as the disciples take some time to figure it all out.

 

I am a long-distance runner.  I get excited when I sign up for a race; I will tell people right away. Then people forget because it appears that I am taking a long time getting it done. To prepare I have a 19 week training schedule. Pre-race I study the race route, carefully pick race day attire, work-in a new pair of shoes just enough, carb-load, prepare my kit with other items needed, and run through the race day plan over and over.

 

The disciples are not out and about bringing goodness, proclaiming peace, sharing good tidings, or proclaiming salvation --- other than amongst themselves. They are preparing for this new thing God is doing. Jesus has them on a training schedule, unbeknownst to them. Jesus appears. Jesus shares peace. Jesus does other signs in their presence. Jesus helps them fish. Jesus makes a fire to cook breakfast. Jesus speaks with them.  50 days of training – this season that we call Easter, we are in training too; filling ourselves with resurrection accounts of Jesus; fueling our spirits and hearts for the task ahead. We know that for the disciples the Spirit came on Pentecost (50 days after the resurrection) and what appears like a slow start, becomes a fast race and a long marathon. Feet become beautiful -as good news, peace, good tidings, and salvation are proclaimed.

 

Tomorrow is the 127^th running of the Boston Marathon. The race has 30,000 runners from over a 100 countries. For the past few weeks, the Boston Marathon Twitter feed has been highlighting the beautiful feet who will be running in the race. Posts have shared runner’s answers to ‘Why We Run;’ a spotlight has been given to the Adaptive Program for Runners – a program that works to make the race accessible; and an emphasis has been placed on charity team stories. On the day of the Boston Marathon, broadcasting outlets focus on the stories – good news, and tell stories of good tidings that often come out of an experience of suffering. The Boston Marathon tells their story and the stories of those who run with them, and their connection to the larger community and charities that benefit.  The stories are good news, good tidings, that inspire people to participate – whether running or giving or participating in other ways. The stories build community, excitement, determination, hope.  How beautiful are the feet… 

 

The Boston Marathon has had 127 years to perfect the telling of their story and the story of others. As a congregation we have had almost as long, 108 years. How beautiful are our feet?

 

Since the annual congregation meeting, you have been invited, and given prompts to assist you, in the proclamation of good news, peace, and salvation. In many and various ways, we can articulate, “I have seen the Lord.”

 

When I think about the disciples and their meetings in the aftermath of Jesus’ resurrection; I wonder if there was a delay in proclamation because the disciples didn’t have the words, or they weren’t quite sure, or they were confused as to who to tell, and I am sure they were scared for their lives. In my experience as a pastor, no one has ever come to me saying, “I have seen the Lord.” This is our hurdle.

People have shared with me stories of feeling a presence, being wrapped in peace; a moment of clarity, of knowing exactly what to say, of being filled with a passion to act. People have shared with me coincidences – or as I call them God-incidence. People have articulated being healed and forgiven. People have shared with me starting a relationship with God and how the relationship changed their life, and all their relationships. People tell me stories of the hope that comes through prayer, belonging and empowerment that comes from participating in community, love that sinks in through powerful music and congregational singing. All of these are “I have seen the Lord” experiences (it doesn’t necessarily mean your ‘eyes’ did the seeing) In the running example – The highlighted runners have beautiful feet by their participation in making the world around them a better place; runner’s actual feet are not so physically beautiful unless you are into blisters and missing toenails. How have you, and do you experience, –‘see’- the living Christ?  Identify these stories and tell them over and over again in a myriad of ways.

 

Donald Miller, an American author, CEO of StoryBrand, and founder of the Mentoring Project, a non-profit that partners with churches to mentor fatherless young men wrote:

Once you live a good story, you get a taste for a kind of meaning in life, and you can’t go back to being normal; you can’t go back to the meaningless scenes stitched together by the forgettable thread of wasted time.

 

Easter. Resurrection. What a good story. And this good story has me think about my own story and possibilities of life and love that are way bigger than I can comprehend. The stories people have told me – proclaimed to me- in the “I have seen the Lord” category; and the interaction with faith community worshiping and participating in charity—gives me a taste of a kind of meaning in life. I can’t go back to being normal, I can’t imagine not being a part of a community of faith because it changes me. If nothing else, it has me continually reflecting and being challenged to make life more than meaningless scenes stitched together by the forgettable thread of wasted time. Each week I come, I experience an ‘I have seen the Lord’ moment because my daily life is interrupted – like a water station during a race- I get filled with something other than my own pursuits, the negativity and self-centredness in the world, or the continual barrage of all things lacking hope and goodness.  Easter – Christ- greets me here.

Thanks be to God, I have seen the Lord!

 

And so… I invite you to line up at the start line, for a race you have prepared for. Let us leave here surrounded by a sense of peace, to run the race set before us.

And despite the possibility of getting blisters or losing toenails – let us not waste time, let us run to bring good news, proclaim peace, bring good tidings, and proclaim salvation.

Resurrection time is now!

Run Beautiful feet run!

 

Resurrection Footsteps

 

How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!

 

Jesus had beautiful feet! In the wake of Jesus’ footsteps there were: blind who saw, lame who walked; dead raised, people forgiven, demons cast out, hopeless saved, powers stymied, lost found, woman recognized, poor empowered, children welcomed, the bound set-free.

 

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation. – Isaiah 52: 7; Nahum 1: 15 (Rms 10: 15)

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary had beautiful feet!

The Mary’s were the first human witnesses and the first confessors of the news, Jesus is risen!

The Mary’s, on foot, left quickly with fear and great joy to run and tell the disciples.

On there way suddenly Jesus met and greeted them. “They came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.” –Mt. 28: 9

 

How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation.

 

For a moment, rather than, looking up and greeting this Easter morning with loud ‘Alleluias,’ let us pause to consider our feet. Your feet are pretty amazing. Feet are literally the foundation of the human body with 26 bones, 33 joints, 100 muscles, and 8000 nerves. The state of our feet impacts our health, mobility, balance, and posture. In an average day of walking, feet carry forces totalling hundreds of tons, equivalent to a fully loaded cement truck. In a lifetime, a pair of feet will walk approximately 185,000kms; that is circling the globe four times. And at the end, when bodies die, the feet are the first to mark the change from life to death.  

Your feet are pretty amazing! Are your feet also beautiful?

 

How beautiful on the mountain are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation. The Bible is clear on describing beautiful feet. This passage is spoken by the prophet Isaiah, the prophet Nahum; the Apostle Paul wrote it into the book of Romans and the author of Ephesians described putting on shoes for spreading the gospel of peace.

 

All the scripture passages for this morning are examples of articulating the story of Easter weekend - the spreading of good news, good tidings, and proclaiming salvation. Through the Easter season we will hear more examples of the articulation of Jesus’ death and resurrection, along with the actions of Jesus’ followers that proclaim peace and bring good tidings.

 

You are invited to consider your feet.

Upon hearing the greeting of Jesus, the Mary’s hold his feet; a sign of respect, honour, and worship. The Mary’s know that these feet have done justice, loved kindness, and walked humbly with God- Micah 6: 8. Do you know someone for whom such respect can be given? Do your feet do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God?

If you are anything like me, we spend our days putting one foot in front of the other moving forward to accomplish goals, catch our dreams, and make the most of our time while we can. In the process we are unconscious of what is left in our wake. Thoughts, words, and deeds can leave messy ground behind. We leave behind disturbed earth. We trample others underfoot. We stomp on shoots of growing kindom.

 

‘Beautiful feet’ requires thought and intention.

 

Do you walk with purposeful footsteps? In my late teens I pulled a ligament in my knee, at that time the university sports medicine clinic found that my kneecaps tracked diagonally instead of going up and down. This meant exercises and taping, and most importantly I had to consciously think about every step I took when I walked. Each foot strike was done with careful intention. It took lots of practice, retraining my brain and my joints. When the movement became habit, I was not done; 30 years later I still have to return to practicing and to consciously consider how my feet are placed on the earth.

 

Just as I learned and practiced conscious walking as a teen, as followers of a risen Christ, we too are to step with intention. The resurrection is an idle tale if doesn’t change how we walk through our time on this earth. Jesus’ story is resurrected through its being lived.

The events of the past week, from the procession of palms to Jesus’ death and resurrection, remain only a story if legs are not given to it. Easter happens as people choose to hold on to Jesus’ feet and then run to tell others. Feet blossom into being beautiful as they go, telling the story of resurrection; and through actions living resurrection by bringing the kindom of God.

Beautiful feet leave a trail of resurrection.

 

As days start to feel more like spring than winter, as the air begins to smell like moist soil and growing things, as we are more likely to go out for walks remember to take a look at your feet. Remember to grab a hold of Jesus’ feet, breath in life, and go, running to tell others the good news. Set an intention to leave church this morning committed to walk a life that leaves a trail of resurrection in your wake.

 

There is a folktale of a woman who walked a barren path twice a day to get water for her household. One of her buckets had a small hole that left a trail of water beside the path. People told her she should fix the bucket. She didn’t and a few months later flowers grew along the path that was watered in her wake. This is an image of what it is to live Easter --- to patiently and consistently walk through the barren, the forgotten, the tramped down, the unloved, the dead, and leave a trail of resurrection.

The Bible has informed us as to what produces a trail of resurrection -- Footsteps and actions of: justice, compassion, mercy, kindness, love, humility, hope, positivity, goodness, peace, salvation.

 

We follow the path of Jesus. We follow Jesus down a road that comes to life in the passing of his footsteps. Jesus has beautiful feet! In the wake of Jesus’ footsteps: the blind see, mourners rejoice, women make proclamation, death becomes life, hope blossoms, grace abounds, all are embraced, reconciliation matters, and creation thrives. This is Easter! This is the path I choose to follow! This is the path I wish to leave in my wake! Will you come with me? Will you commit to living Easter one intentional step at a time?

 

May it be said of you:

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation.

The Difference ---(A Poem for Good Friday)

 

THE DIFFERENCE

 

    Peter     *     Judas

        forgivable     *     unforgivable

         righteous     *     unrighteous

 

History has not been kind to one.

Betrayers both.

One in fear and self-preservation, the other in courage to bring the kindom.

 

Peter     *     Judas

                                                              denied     *     sold-out

Betrayers.

 

later that night

restless, sleepless

in the wee hours of dawn

shadows bleed failure

disappointment

what have I done?

Betrayed!

 

Betrayers

heavy with shame     *     overcome with guilt

at the foot of the cross

 

Judas     *     Peter

their perceptions and beliefs

hopeless    *    hopeful

                                                          unforgivable     *    forgivable

                                                           unrighteous     *     righteous

                                                      beyond broken     *     possible redemption

ending one’s life     *     turning to Life

 

            suicide     *     redemption

 

the difference

Faith

Trust

in the character of God

 

innate goodness

willingness of divine to forgive and make whole

belief that one is forgivable

 

Your name     *     My name

Betrayers

at the foot of the cross

 

betrayers

hopeful in the possibility of redemption

trusting in divine goodness and willingness to make whole

faith in being forgivable

 

at the foot of the cross

FORGIVABLE

 

 

 

 

TOGETHER WE KNOW - The Cost of Transition: A Cost-Benefit Analysis

 

Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? – Lk 14: 27-8

 

Luke 14: 25-33  has the reader reflect on the cost of discipleship and the cost of living through times of transition. One is asked to consider the devotion one has to Jesus’ mission and to what lengths one will go to build and share the kindom of God. The passage is big picture!

 

One reflection of the passage sent to me reads:

This scripture is hard to hear when we are told to love our neighbour and now, we are to hate our family and our own life, to be Jesus' disciple. Very strong language is used to let us know we are to give up everything to be Jesus' disciple. We can see examples in the bible of people who were able to give up everything for God. Can you imagine the ridicule Noah must have suffered building an ark in the desert? Look at Abraham who had to leave everything and everybody he knew to be shown a strange land. He was even asked to be willing to give up his son. Joseph, remained faithful, even when sold into slavery and put into prison. The apostles carried the gospel even when it meant prison and loss of life. Are we willing to give up everything for Jesus including ourselves?  --- Mary

 

The big picture can be translated to Resurrection’s present time of transition. For Resurrection, we are in a period of estimating the cost. The community is discerning what could be and what our contributions will be. Part of the process is to consider Jesus’ mission, God’s kindom, and the community’s part in this. What does it mean for the congregation to follow Jesus? Is it addressing housing needs, partnering and sharing space, increasing interaction in the neighbourhood, increasing what we each give (time, talent, treasures)?  We have started by envisioning possible options. All options mean change.

 

This week you are invited to consider ‘the cost’ of being church and community. Action and transition are ripe with consequences and a variety of emotions. You are invited to create a list(s) that reflects where you, your spirit, and your heart is when considering the future of the church, church community, and possible options. Be creative in your list making!

 

You might make a list of options with how you feel about each. You could make a list of what losses or griefs you expect through this transition. A list could be made of the legacy you wish the church community to continue when you are gone. Perhaps you create a list of your contributions (time, talent, possessions). What do you give to the community and what do you receive from the community?

 

Another form of list making is to do a cost-benefit analysis or a pro/con list; one could do this for each possible option (property development, joining another congregation, partnership in current space, sharing pastor…), or a big picture cost-benefit analysis on

 The cost of not acting and the benefits of embracing transition.

 

Add your thoughts and lists in the comments or send them to halifaxlutheranchurch@gmail.com

  

God,

Our thoughts, words, and deeds; our actions and inactions are costly. Our choices impact ourselves, our neighbours, our relationships, the church community, and our walk with you. Open our eyes to your presence and your guiding. It is costly to open our hearts to give and receive grace and love. It is costly to follow Jesus and to participate in the building of God’s kindom. It is costly to give ourselves (our resources) to be bread for the hungry, community for the lonely, and God’s presence in a weary world. Fill us with courage, perseverance, and agency. Amen.

 

Palm Branches and Pink Carnations

 I was part of the procession on that Palm Sunday in 1987. I was one of a group of young women dressed in grade 8 graduation dresses that were getting a second wearing, boys with their grad suits starting to show that they had grown from the previous year.

A crucifer – a junior high student in their confirmation journey carrying a processional cross; followed by the reader and communion assistances, robed in white albs; next were the confirmands, and closing out the procession the pastor, clad in purple chausible. The congregation corralled in pews were boisterously singing, All glory, laud, and honour, waving palm branches and turning their heads as the procession moved from the back to the front of the sanctuary.

The procession had started in the church hall, with quite a hustle and bustle, as palm branches were passed around. Much to our surprise a mother bearing an arm full of pink carnations passed them out to each confirmation student; the pastor seeing but ignoring the scene. Flowers to start Holy Week, a shock of pale pink in a season devoid of such freshness, adornment, and luxury. With permission to act outside of accepted policy, we held and waved our contraband flowers as we boldly processed into the church.

 

Starting today we begin celebrating confirmation anniversaries and praying for those having anniversaries. Palm Sunday is one of a few Sundays through the church year, chosen traditionally for the occasion; bringing believers into the church family so that they may enter with the journey through Holy Week and have their first communion wrapped in the joy of Easter resurrection.

 

This idea of remembering our confirmations, or thinking about confirmation yet to be, is for all of us. The invitation going out to people having anniversaries is come celebrate, remember, reflect, reconnect.

During the confirmation service confirmands are asked a daunting and impossible to know the full weight of what is being asked question:

Do you intend to continue in the covenant God made with you in holy baptism: to live among God’s faithful people, to hear the word of God and share in the Lord’s supper, to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed, to serve all people, following the example of Jesus, and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth?

 

 The answer is yes, even if at the time it simply feels like a graduation or a ritual of passage. But now--- down the road whether years or decades, we are extended an invitation to check in with ourselves, to reflect on faith, hope, journey, the big questions of life, God. Isn’t it always a good time to revisit questions of spirituality, meaning, wrestling with living and dying?

 

I was part of that procession on Palm Sunday in 1987. If this was the only thing I remembered from that day, it would be enough. It was enough because I was invited to be part of the procession; it was special – I was special. For a moment a group of people saw me, prayed for me, celebrated me, welcomed me, named me. I was encouraged, loved.

 

I don’t remember what the pastor said at my confirmation. I do remember that he spoke directly to us – not just to the whole congregation. We felt important. We felt that we had worth.

 

Confirmation Sunday is the planting of seeds to carry one through one’s life. Seeds of belief that one has worth. That they are worthy!

Sometimes we forget or the seed withers a bit – celebrating confirmation anniversaries are to return us to that moment when we had the courage to stand up in front of a group of people; to remember the feeling and celebrate that moment. To remember that seeds were plant – so that we might believe we are worthy, feel that we are most certainly worthy—of belonging, of not being alone. Having conviction that we are worthy of being loved, healed, forgiven, redeemed, fed, resurrected; that we are worthy of grace, peace, mercy, compassion.

 

Why is this message important -and not just for people celebrating confirmation anniversaries – but for all of us? The message ‘you are worthy,’ to be able to say, ‘I am worthy,’ affects how it is that we treat ourselves, and thus how we treat others; it affects how we approach living and dying.

It affects how we journey through Holy Week and how we commit to baptismal and confirmation promises.

 

If we do not believe that we are worthy, if we are not reminded that we belong, that we are not alone – we loss hope, we lack the capacity to receive grace, and we wander restlessly without purpose or focus.

 

This week’s liturgy moves from a celebratory procession to death on the cross.

The Holy Week story is for us. It is a gift. We are worthy to hear and receive this gift.

We are given a multi-faceted story that helps us reflect on how far God will go to demonstrate grace and unconditional love to humankind – so that we get it- we are worthy!

Worthy to be loved, to be forgiven, to belong.

 

It is only through believing this, having faith in this, that we can fully live to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed, to serve all people, following the example of Jesus, and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth.

 

I was part of that procession on Palm Sunday in 1987. With palm branch in hand, I slipped into an ancient ritual, marking the journey of following Jesus from life to death to life; a journey that is not taken alone, but in community; an act that tangibly connected me to a weighty never-ending story of the dance of humanity and divinity. With carnation in hand, seeds were planted that ‘I matter,’ that ‘I am worthy; ‘ worthy to receive the abundance of grace.

 

Carnations have not been handed out today – but rest assured, I see you. You are important. You matter.  As we enter the epic drama of Holy Week, be open to receive the gifts given – they are for you - grace, forgiveness, love- you are worthy.

The Bone Yard

 -a sermon for Lent 5-

 

The hand of the Lord came upon me, and brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. He said to me, “Mortal, can these bones live?”  ---Ezek. 37: 1-3

 

The prophet finds out that YES the bones can live; as does Martha and Mary and those gathered around the tomb of Lazarus; as does the disciples and those gathered together after Jesus’ resurrection.  YES these bones can live. So why is it that we are in a bone yard?

 

Bone yards are an old back-country slang for a burying ground or a cemetery. Bone yards, today, is a term applied more often to a storage space or an area containing a collection of obsolete items: the leftovers of a salvage yard or the unwanted and forgotten pieces at a scrap yard.

We live in a bone yard because we grow out of and on top of the bones of history and the bones of who has gone before us. We live in a bone yard because the bone yard fascinates us – it is part of life’s journey, in living we move to death, everything has an expiration date; everything wears out. Although we can’t quite grasp it we settle into the bone yard and get pulled into being leftover salvage, unwanted, or forgotten pieces – dry bones; it is easier to turn to death than dare to contemplate living resurrection.

Our lives are built on bone yards – literally – dig up any city and you will find old bones. The backyards with buried pets, the patches of parkland or along the ocean shore where ashes have been scattered. When St. David’s Presbyterian church by the old library in Halifax redeveloped their property, they found bones all along the foundation wall of the church… bones from paupers’ graves, bodies shifting through time from the library-once-burying-grounds down. In any city there are the bones of old buildings repurposed and found elsewhere, old foundations under newer construction. There are city streets under city streets. There are the neighbourhoods whose bones – the sense of community or lack there of, the ethics, the characteristics- grow marrow from generation to generation.

 

Most disturbing are real bones – the Bone yards on the grounds of residential schools, mass graves from atrocities of war, the rubble of 9/11; internment centres holding so-called illegals; processing sites detaining migrants; urban streets awash with death at the hand of homelessness/mental illness/drugs/violence.

Mortal can these bones live? YES ---Then why are we in the bone yard?

 

Friday was the commemoration date of the death of Archbishop Oscar Romero. Romero died March 24, 1980. He did not just die. He was martyred. Having finished the sermon in the chapel at a hospital serving cancer and terminally ill patients, he moved to stand in front of the altar; while presiding at communion he was purposefully struck with a bullet through the heart. Dead. A pile of bones on the floor.

 

Romero wrote: “A church that doesn’t provoke any crises, a gospel that doesn’t unsettle, a word of God that doesn’t get under anyone’s skin, a word of God that doesn’t touch the real sin of the society in which it is being proclaimed – what gospel is that?”

Certainly not a gospel that prophecies to a valley of dry bones.

 

The day before his death Archbihop Romero preached to Salvadoran Christian soldiers to be obedient to God’s higher order, to stop carrying out the government’s repression and violations of basic human rights. Romero spoke to dry bones – those who had succumbed to settling into death and feared living resurrection; no longer daring to hope that these bones might live. Romero was an outspoken critic of government corruption, military abuse, and oppression of the poor. Along with other priests, he was considered a traitor by those with power, money, and influence because of their bold stand for justice and defending the rights of the poor; believing that these bones can live.

 

Romero spoke: “I do not believe in death without resurrection. If they kill me I will rise again in the people of El Salvador.”  YES these bones can live.

 

250,000 people attended Romero’s funeral, with gratitude and passion to continue the work of living for and raising up the poor, the leftover, the unwanted, the forgotten. The people, once dry bones now inspired, imbued with hope, and breathing God-justice stood on the bones of Romero and amidst the attempt to return the people to bones choose resurrection. The funeral crowd faced chaos in smoke bombs from government security forces and rifle shots from plain-clothed army sharpshooters. They stood resurrected, even the 30-50 who died that day, as Romero’s body was buried in a bone yard, the crypt below the church.

 

The world is full of bone yards. We are standing in a valley of dry bones. We can settle in and continue to dry in the bleaching heat of systemic racism, political rhetoric, growing poverty, fear mongering; or at the call of the prophet, we can come together bone-on-bone and be filled with the breath of God-justice. These bones can live – growing from the bone yard of our ancestors – passionate to continue sponsoring refugees and welcoming displaced persons; excited about the transformation of this building and community; determined to be life in the neighbourhood; fervent in sharing good news; ardent in distributing hope; resolved to be God’s grace and compassion; resolute in living out God’s abundance; being bold in prophesying to dry bones and agitating bone yards to rise to live as one body – where no one will be leftover, unwanted, or forgotten.

 

Romero preached: “Let us not tire of preaching love; it is the force that will overcome the world. Let us not tire of preaching love. Though we see that waves of violence succeed in drowning the fire of Christian love, love must win out; it is the only thing that can.”  YES these bones can live. YES these bones can live.

 O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. I will lay sinews on you, and I will cause flesh to come to you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord. – Ezek. 37: 4-5

TOGETHER WE KNOW - Romans 12: 11-13

 

Do not lag in zeal; be ardent in spirit; serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; pursue hospitality to strangers.  –Romans 12: 11-13

 

This verse from Romans describes the Resurrection family and our attitude in the weeks since our annual meeting. As a community we have been taking on tasks, dreaming, and reflecting. We have done this with enthusiasm and passion. Today’s reflection shares some of the contributions and invites the community to continue reflecting on ‘what could be’ and ‘what my contribution will be.’

 

Contributions:

 

PRAYER – thank you to Mary and Shirley who have encouraged via email by specifically noting their prayers for the church and this community. Many of you pray. Your participation through a perseverance in prayer during this transition process is welcomed.

 

TIME – Thank you to those who taken the time to reflect on “What Could Be’ and ‘What My Contribution Will Be.’ Thank you to those who listened to the presentation on the theme of redevelopment.

 

COUNCIL  - “What Could Be’ – council member’s visions (prepared before the annual meeting) are posted in the church hall. After church on Sundays there has been a growing excitement as people read the ideas of others. Council continues with zeal and members are ardent in spirit, making decisions and working in many directions with a common purpose. Each council meeting begins with members finishing the sentence, “You know what I love about this church…” This exercise reminds us why we are passionate about this community and doing God’s work.

 How would you finish the phrase, “You know what I love about this church…” Please share your responses by responding in the comments or sending an email to the church halifaxlutheranchurch@gmail.com  

 

At council on Wed. night the following items were decided or reported on:

 

·         Decision made to participate in the first steps of redevelopment with Kindred Works (Synod partners with this group). This step is a visioning and capacity survey. Donors have come forward pledging most of the cost of this service. We are ready to start this step ASAP.

 

·         Property – matters of insulation in all parts of the church/hall have been investigated and videoed; the physical property and zoning have been researched;

 

·         Outreach – partnerships are being considered; new users welcomed into the hall; monthly events planned for interaction with the neighbourhood (some with a financial benefit too).

 

You will notice that council did not do the second part of the exercise, stating what their contribution will be. They are reflecting on that piece now. We give thanks for the contribution of council members who are working together and each taking on tasks and duties. Your passion and dedication is encouraging and infectious. Thank you for your positive attitudes!

 

PASTOR KIMBER -  You will have noticed that Pr. Kimber did not add a ‘what could be’ to the conversation. This is not for a lack of ideas. This comes from what she has learned in clergy coaching. The framework of ‘Together We Know’ is her creative expression to walk with the congregation through transition. It is the voices in the community that are to be heard and reflected on; this becomes everyone’s discernment and action to create what will be in five years time.

 

Pr. Kimber did do the ‘What will my contribution be,” it reads like a job description:

1)      Hostess           

a.       Attentive and graceful

b.      Conversation starter

c.       Create a safe space for discernment work

2)      Curator

a.       Taking input and distributing

b.      Responsibility of inviting/including all voice

I promise to participate in this process starting in my belief that:

Grace changes everything! Because of this grace actions are #forthehealingoftheworld

 

 

Persevering in prayer, we pray as directed in Devotion 2:

 

Create in us clean hearts, O God, and renew a right spirit within us. Keep us ardent in spirit, filled with passion, and focused on being a community who acts #forthehealingoftheworld.  Amen.