Terry Paul Choyce
September 30, 2007, Brunswick Street United Church
Several years ago I became very involved in a program called Living Values. A group of us began to train teachers to incorporate the teaching of values in the classroom. We used material found in these super books ( hold them up), which give teachers ideas how to make values interesting, fun, and also educational. For instance to teach cooperation, they suggest you have several kids stand in a circle and hold a big bedsheet in the middle. You then throw an inflatable globe, or a ball, in the middle of the sheet, and the kids have to toss the ball up and catch it at least ten times, with the sheet. Then they are to discuss the importance of everyone in the game and how each child felt while playing it. Then you ask them how this relates to global relationships.
The values that are focussed on in this program are peace, respect, love, happiness, freedom, honesty, humility, tolerance, cooperation, responsibility, simplicity, and unity. These are all essential to people being able to create a world where we can live in harmony and where we can begin to wipe out injustice, cruelty, prejudice, and disrespect for people and everything on the planet. The Living Values program is not based on any religion or spiritual belief, but I think it is a building block for developing a sense of spirituality. When the children realise that we are all connected, and what each one of us does affects many other people, then children will want to treat everyone as they wish to be treated. The world will become a much more loving, peaceful place.
In a report to UNESCO Jacques Delors wrote: "The call for values is currently echoing around the globe, as educators, parents and more and more children are increasingly concerned about and affected by violence, growing social problems, and the lack of respect for each other and the world around them. In confronting the many challenges that the future holds in store, humankind sees in education an indispensable asset in its attempt to attain the ideals of peace, freedom, and social justice." (From LVEP Educator Training Guide, page 181)
We need to live our values in school, in our homes, in our community, and in our church. My home church, Bedford United, created a Values Statement, which we will read together later in the service. The congregation thought it was useful to have a definitive statement of what they felt was important in their church. I am excerpting some of the sermon Rev. David Hart delivered on Feb. 18, 2007:
"How do we create the community that Jesus called us to create? First of all it emerges out of respect. We respect each other as children of God, but more than that, as expressions of God in life and in the world. The Spirit in me honours the Spirit in you (Namaste)...All of us need care and compassion."
It is important to see how much we are the same and how much we need each other. This is the true basis of community.
"When we profoundly respect each other, it leads to deep listening...Listening comes from a quiet heart and a quiet mind. It means hearing not just the words, but really trying to understand the meaning the other person is trying to convey...It is a natural result of respect."
Another important value is openness. "You seek to find ways to have shared answers, shared commitments, shared solutions. You become open to the wisdom and learning we all have to share." And along the way we become nonjudgmental, so that we do not make snap decisions about people or events without knowing the full story, and all the complexities that are involved. When we understand the full picture, we are usually more compassionate in our actions. We know that what people do, often "arises out of their own pain and suffering in life... The entire ministry of Jesus was based in a deep respect, listening, openness and caring compassion for people."
The Bedford congregation also sited the value of generosity, and how it is important to give our time, money and energy to the church community. This is vital to the survival of every church. Last week we talked about the importance of Brunswick Street United in our lives and in our community. Each of us has something to give to the life of this church. Every one here is important.
The folks at Bedford United also put a "spirit of joy and fun" on their values list. David Hart said "Jesus knew how to have fun, how to party, and he loved to play with children... He is an incredible free spirit." I think we would all agree that we have several very free spirits at BSUC. I don't know of any other church service that has as much laughter as what we have here. I think Jesus would be delighted.
So what are the values that you live by, and what are the values you think we should emphasise in our church? Following the musical meditation you will each have the opportunity to write down a value you would like to see here, or one which you think we already possess. And we will talk about what you write. If you like, we could also meet to create our own Value Statement. As Christians it is important not only to go to church and to read the Bible. It is our responsibility to walk our talk, and to live the values God has shown us, every day of our lives.
Praise be the Lord.
Bedford United's Value Statement of March. 4, 2007
We value deep openness to the presence of God's Spirit
and the fostering of experiences
that empower our awareness and connection with God's Spirit.
We value spiritual learning and growth,
that nurture and support us on the journey of life
We value community that emerges out of
respect, deep listening, openness,
compassion, generosity, and a spirit of joy and fun.
We call this love!
We value participation
that empowers the leadership and ministries of all people
in a spirit of co-creation with God.
We value God's creation
and working for sustainability, justice and peace for creation.
We value living with integrity
that creates alignment between our words and our actions
and enables courageous choices and risking change in the fulfilling of our mission.
©Terry Paul Choyce. Used with permission from the author.
