I’m fascinated by this passage. At least a bit, I admit, because it is second-level scripture that makes me feel like a church insider. If you get most of your Bible exposure from A Charlie Brown Christmas, you’d think the Christmas story begins in Luke 2, but here we are with this gem concerning the elderly Zechariah, about to be a first-time father to son John the Baptist.
Long-time fans of this site (ha) know that a surprising number of posts have dealt with my interest in becoming more “present”, “all-in”, “there”. It’s something that does not come at all naturally to someone who suffers from an “American share of 21st century stress“, but I am at least aware enough to know it’s worthy of my efforts heretofore. I’m doing well. My personal reflections of late have, for a variety of reasons, advanced to a new level, that of appreciation.
In all that we do, we can only hope that what is committed to the page, canvas, or podium will be for us a satisfactory representation of that period, in hindsight. For this reason, it is of importance to a musician planning a concert, senior recital, or audition that he choose exactly the “right” pieces. In planning for worship, a church musician adds to that complexity the desire that the pieces reflect the “right” message. In planning for his commissioning (or ordination, or wedding, or child’s baptism), a worship planner is given the unique opportunity to determine the course of an entire experience for those gathered, and for historical record.
“I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours…” (Genesis 1:29, NIV)
Sanctuary. I’ve written previously in this Lenten series that it’s a given for me, according to my personal history, that hearing or seeing those nine letters will conjure up imagery from the four churches I’ve served faithfully throughout my life.
“You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.” (Psalm 32:7, NIV)
As I alluded to in a previous reflection here (March 10), the term “sanctuary” has a long-standing representation for me which is physical in nature, God’s sanctuary, as evidenced by the walls, steeples, windows, and instruments which we blessed on the First Sunday in Lent this year at Edwards Church. My connection with the many instances of “God’s house” in which I have served and worshiped has led me to feel quite comfortable in them, like home almost.
“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
When I was a young man, I was quite active in my local church, and a budding professional musician. There are many stories such as mine.
This evening marks the culmination of a long journey. Feeling called by our God in heaven, and inspired and driven by the Holy Spirit who lives and breathes with us through all our waking lives, I embarked upon this journey to Commissioned Ministry in the United Church of Christ in the fall of 2014. It’s been a long and winding process, one which has taught me a lot about the UCC’s history, polity, and structures. One that has also taught me about myself, how to self-reflect to an even deeper level than I’d thought I was capable, and which has given me the confidence to speak clearly and freely about my beliefs outside the walls of my sanctuary (meant according to both its definitions).
I’d been wondering how I would find out that one of my strongest mentors had passed away, so it wasn’t that much of a surprise to find this email preview on my phone early this morning: “News about Sue Ellen: Rick, Sorry to share sad news but wanted to le–“. I got in the shower, allowing the truncated first line to resonate with me until I was outside, as the car warmed up this bitter November morning.
For the past two years I have been involved in a process toward being a Commissioned Minister of the United Church of Christ, through music. In October 2016, I present my commissioning paper to the Committee on Ministry of the Central Association of the Massachusetts Conference of the UCC, as I continue the final steps of the journey. This is a the paper I have submitted to the committee.
This post is the working copy of a sermon I gave at Edwards Church, UCC in Framingham, MA on August 7, 2016. The live version deviates a bit, in that I was not reading from these notes. (PDF)
“I believe all religions pursue the same goals, that of cultivating human goodness and bringing happiness to all human beings. Though the means might appear different the ends are the same.” (The Dalai Lama, 1989)