Scott Barber
June 5, 2005, Brunswick Street United Church
We are living a crucial time in our church's history. Danger and possibilities lie along the way, and we must remember the parting gift of our Savior, who left us a Comforter, and Guide. While we are a very small congregation struggling to stay alive, we may open our hears to the Spirit of God and discover new possibilities in ourselves, and one another. There are new faces appearing on Sunday. They are finding a welcome and fellowship. The Spirit is here, encouraging us to use our imaginations with open hearts and minds as we look at ourselves and the possibilities of our future. We can share this Source of sustenance, and It will guide us into solidarity with our neighbors and All Our Relations.
"Do not, therefore, throw away your confidence, for it carries a great reward." admonished Paul in his letter to the Hebrews 10:35. It is my hope that we will move in the direction of solidarity and community amongst the various parts that make up the whole of Brunswick Street United Church, that our worship, service, caregiving, and celebration will evolve together as we share this place and our dreams. If we allow God to inform our imaginations, and His Spirit to energize and in-form us, I have no doubt that we and our children will come to live a vision of our Church that reaches far into the future, and further into Love. Jesus showed us how. The here and now is ours, a gift... and opportunity.
I would like to share a quote from the Lakota Elder and shaman, Wallace Black Elk (1)
"So we were told by the old people about the sacredness of this lodge. You start very simple. the most simple way is the best. So every step you walk to the lodge is a prayer. From there you walk off, and every step you take is a prayer. The old people told us this. So every step you take is a prayer..."
The Buddhist tradition practices what it calls "Walking Meditation".
And, there is an old hymn that sings about "Walkin' and talkin' with my mind stayed 'pon Jesus." We Christians might call it "Walking Contemplation"; Walking Prayer. One step following the other ritually, rhythmically, in mindfulness of Jesus example and obedience to His Spirit. Our ultimate ritual is the journey of our life here on Mother Earth. There is danger in our ritual, yet the reward is beyond measure.
On the one hand, we must beware of slipping into idolatry by confusing symbol with the reality.
On the other hand, how can our reason come to understand even a drop in the Ocean of the Mystery of the Almighty? Our language and symbol, our words and various expressions allow our reasoning to become aligned with the Spirit and the Heart of Jesus. Without stars or compass we easily become lost upon the way.
We call music the "Universal Language". When made in supplication, praise and thanksgiving, music can bring our hearts into rhythm with the Spirit, directing our minds to the glory that is Christ. Our bodies are quickened and enlivened. We are filled with new devotion and energy, and our steps join together into the sound of God's people walking together towards union with our Merciful and Holy God. Ritual may be seen as the order that brings the notes and the silences together into relationship, thus co-creating with the Spirit of God a wonderful sound. Could it be the Word of the Lord? Could our own lives become as a song sung in Praise and Love?
Our Creator has instilled within our bodies a created, and natural ritual. This giving and receiving of Breath, the times of wakefulness and sleep, and in the great give-away of life to sustain life. We eat our relations, and they eat us. We are called to do so in remembrance of Him that gave His life that we might Live.
Most ancient amongst our social rituals surely must be the Sabbath. Every 7 days, roughly four a month, or quarterly if you are keeping time by the moon, we come together for respite from the activities of survival in the material world, and we gather to worship and keep the Sabbath. We celebrate God and nurture one another in our faith, and share in the joy of our celebration. And each week we testify to the Glory of God in our midst. We share fellowship, and give thanks and praise together. We make a space together to hear the Voice of God within us, or on the lips of our brothers and sisters. It empowers us to live our daily lives throughout the week in close obedience. Our time of rest and our time of action become mutually supporting, and the love of God becomes evident in our love of each other and ourselves. Our worship begins to shape our lives and our lives begin to shape our worship as we learn to listen and discern our Lord's direction.
Each Sunday calls us to remember that it is not we who have created ourselves or this world. There is One Greater than All, encompassing all, and bringing all together in Magnificent Love.
Our rituals call to us as reminders that the ultimate ritual is the "Life Dance of Is". (2) Our very beings in unification with our God and All of our Relations. This dance is a procession leading Home. A grateful celebration of God's mercy and loving kindness. We can dance together in the living of our lives, keeping time with the Rhythm of the Spirit, journeying towards that which already resides within us and gives us our being.
When three (!) Irishmen pushed off into the sea in a coracle together, without paddles, they must have had tremendous trust and faith in the Lord to provide guidance and direction. After 7 days (!) drifting in the Irish sea, they arrived ashore at Cornwall, where the guards of the coast took them before the king. He demanded to know where they were journeying and to what purpose; and they answered him in this manner: "We are but on a journey for the love of God." (3)
We who have remained aboard at Brunswick Street United Church are called to embark upon a new journey, on troubled waters. You know how the saying goes, and we are truly up that creek without a paddle... so let us allow God to carry us down this course, and through the breakers by the strand, and out into the waters. May God help us to bring our wills in line with His Will. May our spirits sing in harmony with His Spirit. May our hearts be as open and encompassing as the heart of our Lord Jesus.
We, like Peter, Lord, we seem to only get so far before we go under.(4) But you O Lord are ever present with outstretched hand to pull us to safety. And yet, like Peter, you are building your Church with us. And You, Lord, are our Cornerstone, holding us fast and giving us strength. Let us minister unto your people.
You, O God, are the Almighty and Everlasting Wellspring of Life, Creator of the Universe and we repent our failure to enter fully into the Holy Rhythm of Being, most especially in our failure to love one another as our Christ Jesus loved.
We are weak, and in need of your healing power! Oh Mighty Spirit! Heal us in our dis-ease and dis-chord. Help us to reach out to touch you Lord, even the hem of Your garment. Grant us your Peace, and help us live in harmony in Your world together.
In our rest and in our waking, in our speech and in our silence, in our giving and receiving,
May we bless You O God, as you bless us.
May we bless Your Creation, as it has blessed us.
May we honor you in our comings and our goings, in every step we make upon this wonderful Earth, and may these our Prayers be granted for All Our Relations that we may continually bless each other in your Name and Spirit, to come at last, together, into Union with You. Amen.
notes:
(1) p. 69 Black Elk: The Sacred Ways of a Lakota
©1990 Wallace Black Elk and William S. Lyons
(2) lyrics by Brandon, guitarist with Oliver Lake's "Jump-Up" of NYC, NY
(3) from Chapt. 1, The Celtic Way of Prayer, Recovery of the Religious Imagination by Evelyn De Waal
(4) Matthew 14:28-33
© Scott Barber May 31st, 2005 Used with permission from the author.
