I invite you to scroll through the previous posts below, read the comments, and post your own comments. You are free to post what is stirring in you, your theological reflections, your thoughts on what has been posted, questions for others, etc...
I encourage you to read the bulletin for today as you engage the liturgy that was thoughtfully provided for us by Tammerie Day.
Spend a few moments in prayer for those who gather here and for those who are not able to gather here.
Enjoy this experience as we worship together through cyberspace.
Peace and grace to you on this beautiful winter morning.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
LOVE
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
13:1 If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not
have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
13:2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and
all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but
do not have love, I am nothing.
13:3 If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so
that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
13:4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or
arrogant
13:5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable
or resentful;
13:6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth.
13:7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things,
endures all things.
13:8 Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end;
as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an
end.
13:9 For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part;
13:10 but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end.
13:11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a
child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end
to childish ways.
13:12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to
face.
Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been
fully known.
13:13 And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the
greatest of these is love. (NRSV)
As I read this scripture again, I am struck by how wholistic this passage is. I guess I have always thought about it from the perspective of an individual or one of a couple.
Reading this from the perspective of a parent, or one of a system of people (such as a congregation), and as a part of creation is very intriguing and powerful for me.
What helps my faith, hope and love to grow?
13:1 If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not
have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
13:2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and
all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but
do not have love, I am nothing.
13:3 If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so
that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
13:4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or
arrogant
13:5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable
or resentful;
13:6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth.
13:7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things,
endures all things.
13:8 Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end;
as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an
end.
13:9 For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part;
13:10 but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end.
13:11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a
child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end
to childish ways.
13:12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to
face.
Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been
fully known.
13:13 And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the
greatest of these is love. (NRSV)
As I read this scripture again, I am struck by how wholistic this passage is. I guess I have always thought about it from the perspective of an individual or one of a couple.
Reading this from the perspective of a parent, or one of a system of people (such as a congregation), and as a part of creation is very intriguing and powerful for me.
What helps my faith, hope and love to grow?
- All of the support and nurture that I receive from those with whom I live in community.
- Theological reflection
- connections with others (HUCC, friends, family)
Reflection: God has invited and gifted us with the wonderful communities of which we are a part.
- How do we benefit from our connections/communities?
- How do we contribute to our connections/communities?
- How is/does our faith, hope and love grow?
The Call of Jeremiah
Jeremiah 1:4-10
1:4 Now the word of the LORD came to me saying,
1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were
born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations."
1:6 Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Truly I do not know how to speak, for
I am only a boy."
1:7 But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a boy'; for you
shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I
command you,
1:8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says
the LORD."
1:9 Then the LORD put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the LORD
said to me, "Now I have put my words in your mouth.
1:10 See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck
up and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to
plant." (NRSV)
This story of calling has been one of great inspiration for me, especially v. 6. "But God, I can't do it, I am only a boy." (Beth Paraphrase)
I think we do this, or I do this. There are times when I feel a yearning or a draw to use my passions and/or gifts a certain way, yet I don't fully believe that I can do the thing that I am drawn to. There was a time in my life when I might not feel that I should use my gifts or passions in a way that I felt a particular yearning, that I would feel guilty about having so much fun or for something to be somewhat easy. (I have moved on from this!)
I have said many times that God invites us to use all of who we are to be co-creators with God, to make a difference in the world, in the lives of people and creation, to share God's love with others. God invites us to use our gifts and passions! Sometimes those are undiscovered even to us and sometimes our response is about our own fear.
God, I can't possibly do it, I am just a _____.
HUCC, you are that church (in the notes from the Pastors in the Epistle) that was approached by Habitat and our initial reaction was "we can't do it, we are small.) That was the same response when we first began to talk about re-settling a refugee family. Look at what we have done!!!
And even more importantly, look at how these (and many other) experiences have changed our lives!
What would happen if we (I am about to be a bit "cliche") Let go and let God?
What would happen if, when we felt a yearning or an invitation, maybe it is in the form of a strong interest. What would happen if we responded with "help me to follow that path"?
1:4 Now the word of the LORD came to me saying,
1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were
born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations."
1:6 Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Truly I do not know how to speak, for
I am only a boy."
1:7 But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a boy'; for you
shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I
command you,
1:8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says
the LORD."
1:9 Then the LORD put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the LORD
said to me, "Now I have put my words in your mouth.
1:10 See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck
up and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to
plant." (NRSV)
This story of calling has been one of great inspiration for me, especially v. 6. "But God, I can't do it, I am only a boy." (Beth Paraphrase)
I think we do this, or I do this. There are times when I feel a yearning or a draw to use my passions and/or gifts a certain way, yet I don't fully believe that I can do the thing that I am drawn to. There was a time in my life when I might not feel that I should use my gifts or passions in a way that I felt a particular yearning, that I would feel guilty about having so much fun or for something to be somewhat easy. (I have moved on from this!)
I have said many times that God invites us to use all of who we are to be co-creators with God, to make a difference in the world, in the lives of people and creation, to share God's love with others. God invites us to use our gifts and passions! Sometimes those are undiscovered even to us and sometimes our response is about our own fear.
God, I can't possibly do it, I am just a _____.
HUCC, you are that church (in the notes from the Pastors in the Epistle) that was approached by Habitat and our initial reaction was "we can't do it, we are small.) That was the same response when we first began to talk about re-settling a refugee family. Look at what we have done!!!
And even more importantly, look at how these (and many other) experiences have changed our lives!
What would happen if we (I am about to be a bit "cliche") Let go and let God?
What would happen if, when we felt a yearning or an invitation, maybe it is in the form of a strong interest. What would happen if we responded with "help me to follow that path"?
Reflection:
- What is the thing(s) that you are feeling a yearning toward?
- Could it possibly be God inviting you to live your passion(s)?
- How are you filling in the blanks--God I can't possibly __________, I am only a _________.
- How would you/your life be different if you followed that yearning?
- How would those around you be different?
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Welcome!
I am creating this blog as the result of our decision to cancel church at HUCC tomorrow (1/31/2010). The roads are icy and snowy and we have decided to not take a chance on trying to gather in conditions that are not very inviting.
Having said that, I am inviting you to check in with and follow a conversation on our brand new HUCC Theological Conversations Blog.
I hope it works that our conversation is inspiring and meaningful!
Look for a post later today.
Peace,
Beth
Having said that, I am inviting you to check in with and follow a conversation on our brand new HUCC Theological Conversations Blog.
I hope it works that our conversation is inspiring and meaningful!
Look for a post later today.
Peace,
Beth
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