Over the past week my mind has been churning and pondering a sermon that is just over a week away. Sometimes sermons seem to come fairly quickly, other times they seem to take their time… This one seems a bit of both. The theme is “Loose your life for Jesus” though in planning the service and embracing my own reflection it became “Lose your life for Christ.”
I am not completely sure about the theme. I think perhaps better words can express Mark 8:27-38 from which it is drawn and what the people at HQ may have been intending with the theme when it was made some time back, but I am moving forward. I have reflected in this week the words of the prayer that has been written, the enduring principles/core values of Community of Christ, Conditions of Membership, sacraments, the six lectionary passages for the day… My mind wonders, I feel something there, something budding… and yet it eludes me how to draw things together. I read a post on a friend’s blog as she described a parable and it touched me… her expression of not being a “favorites” person, something I relate to very well, and then the wonder of the words she used to describe the parable that she went with when asked which was her favorite. Words about the Holy, about individuals and community… I wish the words for this sermon would start to flow, and I hope that perhaps a 1/100th of what I felt in her words will be able to come forward in the words I prepare.
We are entering a time of congregational reflection on conditions of membership, as part of the discernment process the entire denomination has been asked to engage in. This, the scriptures, the idea in my mind for a worship center or centers reflecting the sacraments, my baptismal story, and more are flowing through my head…. I just need to find the threads of connection and weave it into some form of tapestry that may in some small way reflect the Living Word, the Peace of Christ that is needed for those gathered (including me) in that place, on that day so we may embrace our call as individuals, as community and go forth seeking the peaceable community, we call Zion.
If things go well and as planed, a version of the worship service will appear here at about 10:30am on the 13th (15 minutes before the service starts) and if the sermon is in a form that lends to posting a draft (as the sermon is never final, at least not until it reaches the ears of the congregation, and perhaps not until it is engaged by those who hear and even then…) of the sermon will appear let’s say 11:30~11:45 by which time I’ll hopefully be part way through the sermon if not finished. So if your in the Kirtland area, come and join us for worship. If not join with a faith community in your area for worship if you are able to.
Oh, a new addition to the site: There is now a calendar listing various events. Some are just general, some more specific. I’ll try and keep it updated, ensuring services and events I am participating in (or wish I could) are listed, for now it will just be ministry/church… related things. Link is over there on the right in the pages section.
Peace be with you,
— Lyle II