March 8, 2009
Rev. Hilde Seal
On the Occasion of the Centennial Celebrations of Nelson United Church
It is certainly a privilege to be here, to celebrate with you as you worship this evening... and thank you, David, for your invitation. I bring greetings from Conference and all the staff that work there. I also bring greetings and words or joyful celebration from my home congregation, Knox United in Parksville and a special word of love to you all from Foster Freed my colleague there. interestingly, it is Knox's 100 anniversary this year as well, and we will be celebrating in November.
And now, breathing in and breathing out, we lean into the heart of God and thus we pray:
Is it ever entirely what we expect? Is it ever what we thought it would be? Does all the planning and the effort ever give us what our minds conceive? Whether you have been planning this celebration for 12 months or for 12 weeks, does it feel like something is happening now? I certainly hope and pray that what you are expecting from this homily isn't going to make or break the celebration! Actually, I hope and pray that what you have planned does NOT happen — not exactly, that is of course, unless you actively took seriously the implication of Isaiah and John's gospel: that you truly believe that the Spirit is here amongst us, weaving us together as God's people. And even then, even then, what a shame if we only get what we hope for because God's yearnings, God's yearnings for us are so much grander . God desires for the people of God, God's desire for the people, for us, a people who see only dimly, who sometimes walk in darkness, who complain that we are not something else, who stay alone in the desert while Jesus is being ministered to by angels, who live apart and not in unity, God desires for us Ñ God yearns for us to see face to face, to be transformed by that great, great light, to be fully who we are, alive and contributing to the body, to accept from angels the gifts of comfort, healing, and deep, deep peace and to be one, united in love.
But how do we do this? How do we be God's people in this place? After 100 years of being the church, why do we ever think we'll get this right? But is it really about that absolute, right or wrong, is it about following the rules, living up to expectations, following through with responsibilities of being a Church? I wonder, I wonder if instead of trying to live up to God's expectation — if in fact God has expectations — I wonder if instead of trying to live up to some of God's expectation, might it not be better to live with expectancy, to live in deep relationship with God, alive, vital, full of possibilities... and why be burdened with responsibilities when we could be free to respond to God and to respond to each other and and to respond and be responsive to all creation.
In Spirit's dynamic stirrings we have the gift — the ability to respond, to respond with love and joy and service. Our way forward has always been about relationship. Where we are intimate in relationships with God, responsive to the holy All of God, when we share expectancy in that replationship, then, then we are alive and moving and living from our best place and living and moving as Christ's church in this place.
And so the word that goes forth from the mouth of God, from the heart of God, the deep settling place of peace in God, from the wild, laughing, passionate loving of God, that word shall not return empty, but will return to full and overflowing, return to God in a multitude of ways unique to each person here, unique to this community of faith heard in the praises of your lips in your loving and in your service. that word from God is experienced in that deep, intimate relationship you cultivate with God spilling out to each other, spilling out to this community, spilling out to the world let everything that breathes, praise God!
And the trees breathe... and the beasts breathe... the oceans breathe... the crocuses breathe... the eagles breathe... the people breathe... let everything that breathes, praise God
Breathe in... really... breathe in, breathe out, breathe in and let everything — everything praise God.
Amen
Re-dedication Service
Holy One, gracious and compassionate God, You who greet our celebration with laughter and promises of hope, we come to you with an openess to hear your word for us. We gather together, trusting in your light and grace, gladly expecting to be transformed by your love. For all that has been, thank you; for all that is yet to come, Yes! And now, may the words of my mouth and the meditations of each of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, for you are our rock and our redeemer. Amen