a devotion
Over the weekend the Board that has oversight for the ministry of our Region met. This was the first meeting of a new biennium. By design, half the board or more are new to serving as we intentionally change leadership of the moderator team as well as leaders (chairs) of our commissions (committees) and members at large. It was a time of orientation as well as some business. I was asked to lead the worship which I chose to do as a devotion for the work that is ours to do, individually and together.
Gathering Words
When the Regional Youth Council meets for their orientation with new members we remind one another that RYC, the Region, and the Church is bigger than any one of us. We are, for a short time, leading and nurturing what has been passed on to us, and that we will hand on to others. It is our turn to be trusted with leadership. We need to remember the past, learn from it, and do the work and leadership that is ours in this moment imagining a future that we will not lead nor maybe benefit from. Today, this group begins a similar service as leaders of the Region.
And so we remember.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless the Lord’s holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and do not forget all the Lord’s benefits—
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the Pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good as long as you live
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Psalm 103:1-5, 8
Let’s pause and remember where we are and where we’ve been through the music of Carrie Newcomer.
We could do an entire devotion or worship just with Frederick Buechner memes, but we will only use a few.
Often, we don’t know the context of a meme or quote. Writing about a “Christian,” here is this Buechner quote from his book, Wishful Thinking: A Theological ABC.
Christian
Some think of a Christian as one who necessarily believes certain things. That Jesus was the son of God, say. Or that Mary was a virgin. Or that the Pope is infallible. Or that all other religions are all wrong.
Some think of a Christian as one who necessarily does certain things. Such as going to church. Getting baptized. Giving up liquor and tobacco. Reading the Bible. Doing a good deed a day.
Some think of a Christian as just a Nice Guy.(sic)
Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) He didn’t say that any particular ethic, doctrine, or religion was the way, the truth, and the life. He said that he was. He didn’t say that it was by believing or doing anything in particular that you could “come to the Father.” He said that it was only by him–by living, participating in, being caught up by, the way of life that he embodied, that was his way.
Thus it is possible to be on Christ’s way and with his mark upon you without ever having heard of Christ, and for that reason to be on your way to God though maybe you don’t even believe in God.
A Christian is one who is on the way, though not necessarily very far along it, and who has at least some dim and half-baked idea of whom to thank.
A Christian isn’t necessarily any nicer than anybody else.
Frederick Buechner, Wishful Thinking: A Theological ABC. Harper and Row Publishers (New York) 1973 p. 14.
Just better informed.
One of the lectionary readings a couple of weeks ago was from Hebrews. Near the end of the reading we are reminded:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.
Hebrews 12:1-2a
Who is in your cloud of witnesses?
What weight do you need to let go?
Grab a piece of paper or open a note on your device and write the names of your witnesses and or what weight you need to let go. Put it away somewhere. On those days that feel heavy, chaotic, or when you need to remember, open that note or find that piece of paper. Remember.
Spend a few moments in prayer, in silence, for the weight, the witnesses, or the work that is yours for today.
Stay centered in God’s shalom.
Thank you Michael. I appreciate your leadership (always have) and teaching words. I give thanks for your presence among us and for your gifts shared and for those gifts yet to come. Peace, love, grace.