Last night the sermon shifted greatly, content changed, scriptures added and removed. The flow of change continued this morning after I awoke in the early hours. I left my place a little after 7 and purchased bread and juice and then drove to Worthington. Arriving around 8 am, an hour before the next person would arrive. I took this time to walk across the lightly dusted landscape and the gentle falling snow. As I walked I stopped and prayed, I rejoiced in creation and marveled at the sound of the birds I could not see. After a time my ears began to grow cold and so I went and sat in the car a bit, and then once again went out and walked. Taking slow deliberate steps, praying prayers of hope and joy as I circled round the church building, as I walked down the road, and as I returned once more to the car and sat in a space slowly growing cooler and listened to the sound of a piano playing hymns, and other instruments and voices singing and playing other songs. Then once more I was out, the snow no longer falling.
I walked a bit and then the first people other than I arrived. They opened up the church and I went inside. Then back out I went to retrieve items from my car. I prepared the table for the sacramental meal and placed the bread upon the paten, the unfermented wine of the grape (grape juice) into the flagon. I set up various other things, and prayed. Then to the kitchen, to help prepare the communion trays, and then back to the Sanctuary to reflect, prayer and go over the sermon. Pausing at times to go stand in the doorway and listen to the adult class.
Then it was time, into the kitchen with the others who would be up front. A few words about the service, a prayer and then we walked in. The normal nervousness was thee, perhaps even strong than in the past. We arrived up front and sat. Joys and conferences were shared, people were welcomed, and we were called to to worship. The offertory remarks were given, the offering collected and then a scripture read. A calm started to come to me, though it did not calm me fully.
It was time. I stood and step around the table, down the steps, scriptures in hand. Then I started to speak. The changes of the night before and early this morning reverted away, and the sermon returned to something closer to that of Thursday and Friday except perhaps the first few words. The words escaped my lips, and hopefully entered into the ears of those around, I know they entered mine. I broke the bread and poured the wine as I spoke to them. The sermon came to a close, with an ending reflecting how I had anticipated, and yet different. I turned and walked slowly back around the table, and sat down. The three others who were up front with me had descended into the congregation as I spoke, and so as I sat and removed my glasses, they returned as well. The screen was taken down, Bread Before Us Broken was sung by the congregation, I without eye to see, listened and reflected and prayed. Then we knelt and the prayer over the bread was read. The trays of bread taken and we participated in this sacramental meal. Then the prayer for the wine, and the trays were taken out and all had opportunity to drink their small little sip of juice. Then we stood, my glasses returned to my face and we sang our closing hymn, then read the Lord’s Prayer together as a benediction and slowly proceeded out of the Sanctuary. I was greeted by many in attendance, hands shook, hugs given, words of peace and thanksgiving exchanged.
Then I stepped back into the Sanctuary to hear the reading of the Words of Counsel the Presiding Quorums of the church. I had read these words when given to the church on Thursday, but felt a call to hear the words regarding the new callings of several people. As the letter was read, I sat in the last pew and reflected. I heard parts of the words and other parts my mind was adrift in prayer and reflection on the words begin read and upon the service. I came to realize that that the changes of the night before and this morning were not changes to the sermon, but reassurance and comfort that the sermon I had worked upon, prayed upon, and sought guidance on was the sermon, or at least the early stages, of the sermon that was needed at this time and place.
After the letter was read I went and slowly packed up my things and watched as Jim took pictures of the communion set and bread which I had brought, and then when he was done I slowly cleaned the items and packed them back up. Sometime in the next month or so they are to make a trip to Kirtland where they will get a new home at the new Spiritual Formation and Visitor’s center, and hopefully more use than if they remained with me. Once all was packed, I left with the pastor of this congregation, his wife and another family to share together in a meal, and then to his house to share in a time of fellowship before going to Restoration Plaza III’s open house. The restoration Plaza’s are a ministry of Community of Christ that in partnership with HUD provide low-cost senior citizen housing. It was an interesting facility, and then I was back on the road to return once more to my apartment.
It has been an amazing day, and has aided me on my journey. It has also lead me somehow to become closer to the state I need to be for World Conference which is now just a few weeks away.
Peace be with you
— Lyle II