Getting Lost in the Woods

  Believe it or not, once upon a time, a young carpenter and religious leader took up an advice column for the Galilean Times.   This was the most recent letter that he received: Dear Jesus of Nazareth, I am so glad you’ve started this advice column. Next weekend I am supposed to go to a Sabbath meal with several other influential community members.  This being my first time joining them, I am unsure of the etiquette.  Most especially, where do I sit?      Sincerely, Anonymously Anxious  This was the advice given: Dear Anonymously Anxious, So often at these gatherings we want to sit near the host and the most distinguished guests.  To the degree that we will sometimes strategize how to get the best seat.  I do not recommend this course of action.  When we go after the best seats, our actions are telling others just how important we believe we are, and risk putting our host, other guests, and ourselves in a truly awkward position....

This summer I have been preoccupied with one question:  What does it mean to be the Church today? It’s possible this question is redundant; unnecessary even.  After all, in some respects the answer is unchanging.  In today’s Collect we actually see some of that unchanging answer outlined: “Grant, O merciful God, that your Church, being gathered together in unity by your Holy Spirit, may show forth your power among all peoples, to the glory of your Name…” In other words, we are united by the Holy Spirit as a body of Christ, called to proclaim in thought, word, and deed the transformative power of God’s Love.  To proclaim to the world the ability of our Creator to change this world for the better when humanity works in concert with God and one another. This particular calling of the Church belonged as much to the early Church as it does to us today.  What does change are the particular contexts that each generation finds itself.  Over the last several decades...

  Today’s teaching sermon is focused on the daily office and daily prayer.  I thought we might begin by exploring the role of prayer in our lives, share a bit of history about the daily office, and reflect together on how we might continue to grow in our prayer practice.  In her book, Beginner’s Grace: Bringing Prayer to Life, Chaplain Kate Braestrup suggests we need prayer in our lives.  She writes:  "What it can do—what prayer, at its best and at our best, has always done—is help us to live consciously, honorably, and compassionately. Because I am not stronger, more self-sufficient, smarter, braver, or any less mortal than my forebears or my neighbors, I need this help. As long as prayer helps me to be more loving, then I need prayer. As long as prayer serves as a potent means of sharing my love with others, I need prayer." 2 Biblical scholar Walter Brueggeman, in his book, Prayers for a Privileged People , also emphasizes our need to be vulnerable and to co...