23 Pentecost/Year A
Nov 8, 2020
Psalm 78:1-7; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:1-13
I would like to begin this morning by asking for a moment of silence…
In the midst of so much chaos and unrest for so many months, I’m inviting us this morning, to stop for a moment and stand still…
Moment of silence…
"Lost" [by David Wagoner] 1999
Stand still. The trees ahead and bushes beside you
Are not lost. Wherever you are is called Here,
And you must treat it as a powerful stranger,
Must ask permission to know it and be known.
The forest breathes. Listen. It answers,
I have made this place around you.
If you leave it, you may come back again, saying Here.
No two trees are the same to Raven.
No two branches are the same to Wren.
If what a tree or a bush does is lost on you,
You are surely lost. Stand still. The forest knows
Where you are. You must let it find you.
Dr Catherine Meeks…(from the Absalom Jones Episcopal center for Racial healing) shared the poem I just read to you, Lost, by David Wagoner, in a webinar I attended this past week…In her webinar, she spoke to the common thread of people feeling fatigued, and overwhelmed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and all the other social unrest and divisions being played out in our daily lives.
With so much going on…people are feeling lost…and unable to make any decisions, or to see any way forward in the midst of so much happening all around us…. And wondering, what you and I could possibly do to contribute to the healing of such a divided nation right now…
When she shared this poem…it was a reminder to us…to stop from time to time…to get our bearings….and stand still…
Stand still. Where you are. Let love find you again. Trim your lamps, replenish them with the oil of hope and gladness, and let God’s love and light shine in you once again.
She offered some simple things we could do, right now…
1. stand still, in this present moment, that is right before you…take notice of all that is around you, all that is in you…take notice of the love of God all around you, and in you …
2. Pay more attention to Jesus…what does Jesus’ life, death and resurrection have to teach us and show us in this moment of history….
3. Take one small step at a time, talk to one person at a time, reach out to one person at a time…
When the chaos of the world is making our minds run around aimlessly and in never-ending circles or worry and doubt…..stop for moment…get your bearings…
Stand still. Where you are. Let love find you again. Trim your lamps, replenish them with the oil of hope and gladness, and let God’s love and light shine in you once again.
Episcopal Relief and Development, and the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, Michael Curry….also have some simple words of hope to help us reach out in love to find a way forward together, to heal our hurting and grieving nation….
ERD shares in the invitation:
World Kindness Day is an international holiday that was created in 1998, to promote kindness throughout the world and is observed annually on November 13. It is celebrated in many countries and presents us with the opportunity to reflect upon some of the most important and unifying human principles: love and kindness.
They also…give us three simple tasks, or acts of love to help us move forward together, for the healing of our nation…
Check-in with someone you haven’t seen recently.
Thank someone special in your life.
Do something for children.
FROM ERD: 1000 days of love..
https://www.episcopalrelief.org/1000daysoflove/day-of-love/?fbclid=IwAR3jFrnLVhEh_z_bbaOXIglfThRPpekds7Izz4chtXlj7jbNPzr3HIN401E
View Bishop Michael Curry Message:
When the chaos of the world is causing you to despair…. stop for a moment...to ground yourself and connect with the love and the hope that unifies us all…
Stand still. Where you are. Let love find you again. Trim your lamps, replenish them with the oil of hope and gladness, and let God’s love and light shine in you once again.
And Rejoice - Rejoice! rejoice, believers, and let your lights appear!
The Hymnal 1982 - #68 Rejoice! rejoice, believers
1 Rejoice! rejoice, believers,
and let your lights appear!
The evening is advancing,
and darker night is near.
The Bridegroom is arising,
and soon he will draw nigh;
up, watch in expectation!
at midnight comes the cry.
2 See that your lamps are burning,
replenish them with oil;
look now for your salvation,
the end of sin and toil.
The marriage-feast is waiting,
the gates wide open stand;
rise up, ye heirs of glory,
the Bridegroom is at hand!
3 Our hope and expectation,
O Jesus, now appear;
arise, thou Sun so longed for,
above this darkened sphere!
With hearts and hands uplifted,
we plead, O Lord, to see
the day of earth’s redemption,
and ever be with thee!
Rev Julie Platson
St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church
Sitka, AK