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At World Conference as we were considering as a body the counsel to the church which is now Section 163 of the Doctrine and Covenants I wanted to stand up in support/against and say “I only support its inclusion if we are really willing to embrace what we are once again being called again, if we are really willing to respond to the cries of creation, and live these words.” I didn’t, but I sure thought about it. However this post is not about that… I mean it this post is not about 163, so why did I start with those words, because while it is not about 163 but rather the sermon I gave in class yesterday on Acts 9:36-43, it is in many ways about those words.

Several weeks ago an envelope with various passages of scriptures from the upcoming weeks Revised Common lectionary was passed around the class room. I inserted my hand and drew out a small sheet of paper with “Acts 9:36-43″ written upon it. In the next few days as I started to read and reflect on the passage, I wondered how in the world I was going to preach on this passage. Yet somewhere in preparing my exegesis of the text the sermon started to form, and then came the required outline, and the sermon formed even more. To my surprise in that early form it included passages from sections 155 and 161 of the Doctrine and Covenants even though the audience was going to be my class and not a Community of Christ congregation.

It was a risk, at least for me. I knew this group of people to be open and loving. This group of people to be willing and accepting of my diversity, and yet the pain I ad experienced in 2004 at my first seminary made it risky for me to be myself, to share the words I felt called to shared. The sermon floated in my head over the next several weeks, reshaping and forming more strongly, but essential structure stayed the same. Then came World Conference, new words of counsel, new encounters with my sisters and brothers from around the globe, and the sermon came closer to final form. I struggled however, unable to place this sermon that was floating around in my head, this sermon I could stand in an empty room and give, onto the screen of my laptop in written form. I just could not do it. I tried, but every time I stumbled. Then on my last night in Kirtland (Easter night) the words flowed and finally was able to place it in manuscript form. Essentially the same flow and structure as that outline, though a bit different. Section 163:4a-b made its way alongside 155:7 and 161:2a,3a into the sermon. Many words of “rising” and “restoration” entered into the sermon.

Then Monday came and I drove down to my apartment after removing several inches of snow from the car. I entered the apartment to find a mouthy cat, who I am sure was not pleased when I left an hour or so later to head to school to run over the sermon in the empty preaching chapel and then reflect (well doze off) for an hour or so until it was time for class. I was the third of three to preach yesterday. The first two sermons went amazingly well and then it was my turn. I was nervous to start out with, the added time and hearing my two classmates share before me do so well did not help my nerves.

Then words flowed from my mouth, I relied on the manuscript a bit even though I typically preach without it. Then the words stopped and I sat down and prayed and reflected as the class wrote their thoughts and comments for about ten minutes. Then in my blurry vision I saw the professor move to the front of the class and so placed my gasses back upon my face and moved to the chair in front of the class and listened quietly as my fellow students shared their comments upon my words. I was surprised by the positive nature and that they gained so much from the words that had flown from my mouth. I was really surprised with one saying they would like to have their church invite me to preach sometime. The constructive comments were understandable, primarily relating to things due to nervousness that showed through, though one even saying that the rapid speech at times added to the message I shared. I know that through this encounter I have come out encouraged, strengthened and a bit healed and whole. The words shared from my lips were words I believed in and words I needed to hear. The words of my classmates (both the two sermons and also the comments on mine) were also words I needed to hear to aid me on my journey and dealing with my stresses and struggles as I try and respond to my encounter with the Living Christ and the cries of creation. I hope that I will be like Peter, Tabitha, and that community found in that passage I preached from and will embody the words of 163 and not just say that I will.

Peace