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For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, their is neither slave nor free, theiere is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  (Galatians 3:27-28)

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”  (Revelation 7:9-10)

For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.  Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.  (Romans 12:4-8)

   

It seems so long ago now in some ways…we’ve had worship, the annual congregational meeting, sun and snow since we gathered for our last Adult Study.  Beginning fairly promptly at 10AM after opening with prayer we heard thoughts on the check-in, the question of (if) & what/how discipline can (should?) look like in church for children/youth/adults.

This is not an easy conversation.  When considering children & youth, what about their parents?  Isn’t there the possibility of overstepping?  We are excited to have families worshipping with us — if there is discipline, won’t the families just leave?  If the church disciplined you — wouldn’t you just leave?  And the conversation on discipline opened up a larger conversation, what exactly does it mean to commit to nurturing people in faith?  Do we just offer Sunday School, or is there more?  Interestingly enough this also became a theme of the annual congregational meeting in the nursery/Sunday School report — talking about meeting the needs of the children who are part of our fellowship.  What does it mean to nurture those in the faith, at any age?  What responsibilities do we have to each other, even if the conversations feel awkward?  How do we approach each other in love?  Perhaps taking care to make sure that we are approaching in love, approaching because we sincerely believe God has more for the person to experience, and approaching knowing that we ourselves also need to grow for perhaps it is well to remember,

God who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.  (Philippians 1:6b)

And that means we are not done — we are not perfect — God has begun a good work in us & is faithful to continue that work until it is completed in a time to come — God’s still working on each of us AMEN — and that includes through walking out our faith in community.  It is not a mistake we are in this family of God together, it is not a mistake that we see the world differently & God gifts us with this community — this diverse community — so that we might be able to see God more clearly!  (And spoiler alert — learning how to see God more fully — is not always comfortable!)

So we talked about some things…and then we considered scripture, Matthew 5:14-16

“You are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”  Jesus speaking  (English Standard Version)

And heard a poem, “Our Greatest Fear” by Marianne Williamson.  It was a good conversation with both those who enjoyed the poem, found it to be a “shoe that fits” and those who disagreed with the poem for different reasons.  And this (thanks be to God!) allowed for us to consider the Scripture & the poem on a deeper level thinking of the conversation they had with each other.  What does it mean to shine?  To be light in the world, in our community?  And that question leads to the homework (the lifework) of the week — to be shiny!  If we are to let our light shine before others (Scripture) or if we are in the words of Williamson to make manifest the glory of God that is within us — what does that look like?  Well…I do believe that by the grace of God and through the power of the Holy Spirit we have light to offer to the world and in the specifics of our lives and our community contexts!  So – I am looking forward to the stories yet to come about a week of being “shiny” a week of sharing light!

Until Sunday (when we we likely will again allow scripture to dialogue with us & another piece of writing!  Get excited!) be blessed & keep on shining!

~ Rev. Sabrina Slater  

Last Sunday Adult Study met and while I missed it — thanks be to God — the conversation continued in Proverbs!  A huge thanks to Gina & Gene for co-facilitating Adult Study while I was traveling!  So after opening in prayer there was the opportunity to check-in.  The check-in of course discussed the homework of daily praying for our enemies.

It seems that many of us are a bit uncomfortable with the language of “enemy.”  Who is an enemy anyway, right?  Often I think many would not think they have enemies — and honestly I wonder how that word felt and sounded to the original hearers of the Bible?  Does someone who has served in the military have a fuller understanding of an “enemy?”  Do we have the ability to be our own enemy with the internal dialogue we have with ourselves?  Is our enemy evil?  The devil?  Those trying to destroy us physically/emotionally/spiritually?  And, how many of us act & treat folks as though they are enemies?  In a culture & context where we struggle with enemy language, I wonder if the invitation to pray for our enemies is a method of inviting us to pray for others with intentionality?  What do I mean?  Well, it can be easy for me to forget to pray for my friends & those I love, but that person who is annoying me/opposing me/causing some conflict, they I think about easily and often, so what if that was how God was laying a person on our heart who needs prayer?  And when we do pray for those who are our “enemies” how do we change, does the very act of holding them in prayer unite us more in grace, does the prayer affect us more than them?

And then there was the pivot to scripture:

• Proverbs 13:24-25
• Proverbs 23:13-14
• Proverbs 26:3
• Proverbs 29:15

Where we read about discipline, children, the rod, and foolishness (to name some of the themes).  And y’all started talking about the rod — considering if it is something to actually inflict physical punishment or perhaps if it is a metaphor used to discuss discipline, or the guidance that parents are to offer their children.  There was the mention of those who might have the challenge of ADD, ADHD, and/or other specific needs.  Also a mention of if consequences are involved as well…

And then eventually came the homework assigning time.  And this week there are a few connected pieces (questions) to be considering.  We are all to consider, what can or should discipline include/look like in children/youth/adults … in church?  So think about this question and come back with thoughts and ideas.  Though, perhaps some will push a little bit with such a question (which is fine) asking a bit appropriately — WHY? — why, would we need to even consider such a question?  And I offer, when we take vows to nurture those baptized in the faith (and yes, at every baptism this is part of the liturgy — part of the questions asked of the gathered congregation!) it means we need to be thinking and asking, as we vow “to guide and nurture the newly baptized by word and deed, with love and prayer, encouraging them to know and follow Christ and to be faithful members of his church,” if discipline is supposed to be included?  And if discipline is to be included, how can or should that look exactly?  

Discipline is a challenging topic and these scriptures are challenging scriptures.  And yet, we are called to be disciples of Jesus Christ, followers of the One who came to serve, the One who washed feet.  This is not easy, and in fact doesn’t the very identity we profess as Christians, as those who follow Christ require that we be disciplined by the very One we follow?  Do we not in saying we are disciples of Jesus, say we are disciplined by Jesus/God/Holy Spirit?

Looking forward to Sunday morning y’all!

In Christ ~

Rev. Sabrina Slater  

Last Sunday, we gathered.  On the day before our country recognizes and celebrates the birth of Martin Luther King Jr. (the Rev.Dr.) we considered a challenging text (though, perhaps many if not ALL the texts are HARD), Proverbs 24:17-22

First, however, as is our custom.  We opened in prayer and then had our check-in time.  It was a brisk morning (ie COLD & some needed to essentially dig out their cars…) we began a little late & grew in number over the course of the conversation.  And the check-in was about a week of not lying.  It was a robust conversation, with sincere questions about lying to self, about lies of omission, about even asking, “what is a lie?,” naming even that a lie repeated enough becomes the truth (well, not really…but many of us live this way & it is a truism.) In a way there seemed to be a mild consensus that lying for the sake of making others comfortable might be alright (or at least the motivation of many) & yet there was challenge to this asking, who exactly do we make comfortable with our lies?– the other person, or ourselves?

Spoiler alert, we did not plumb the depths of these questions — how ever could we within a 45 time frame?  And yet, we do gather to engage these questions, to bring ourselves to the ongoing (alive) conversation that scripture has with us — seeking to hear from God in the conversation & the discerning.  It is important to think deeply about what we believe (& even – gasp! — to question our beliefs at times, through hearing the insight of others, and engaging life — which can be challenging!).  How do we grow if we do not have questions?  And so may these conversations & homework too invite us all to be growing in Christ & drawing nearer to God! 

And we transitioned to the scripture before us for the day.  Proverbs 24:17-22.  And we did not even get to verses 21 & 22, which speak to fearing/respecting both God & king — which in the political climate (really, of ANY day & age) should be a challenging set of verses, for those who love God first & above all else, to consider.  And of course a rich conversation to be had as well on the eve of MLK Day.  But we didn’t make it to those conversations.  Instead we spoke of the challenge in verses 17-20; to not take pleasure (rejoice) out loud or in your heart when your enemy falls; to not be envious of the wicked prospering; to not fret (because of evildoers).  Short story this is hard.  Honest story, we cannot do it without God’s help.

So we arrived at the homework time.  And this one I’m excited about…pray for your enemies — each day this week.  Each day pray for your enemies.  So we need to think, who are our enemies, what exactly is an enemy?  And then we need to pray for them — daily.  I really am interested in hearing what happens with our desire and commitment to pray for our enemies — and hey, if needs help — well just ask.  While no this is not an invitation to share with others who our “enemies” are — we might need someone to pray alongside us or for us as we lift our enemies in prayer — and that is part of the blessing of the Church, the breathing body of Christ — we are not alone, and we do not walk alone — thanks be to God!  So for us all — prayers for strength and courage as we all pray for our enemies each day this week.

In Christ ~

Rev. Sabrina Slater    

We gathered.  As we do — in many ways the Church is those who gather and who are sent.  And if you think about it, that is especially what we have been doing with each of our Adult Studies, we have gathered, looking into Scripture to hear what God is inviting us (instructing us) to do, and we have left the physical building with “homework” (lifework) to live out what we read, to live out our faith.

As we gathered last week, I was unsure what the feedback would be.  An assignment to bless the community can sound like a big ask.  And yet, as we opened up after prayer, during our “check-in,” people named the little things, the everyday things, the taking time to read someone’s name & use it when they are checking out, taking the time to smile, to see people & to hopefully make the day better, easier, or lighter in some way.  And as people named the ways that they bless it opened others to see how they might be blessing the community too.  Now — there was mention of blessing the community through the offering of hospitality and also we named the challenge of when we  seek to “bless” and it is not received as a blessing (we did not dwell long on this — which is a worthy topic of its own!)

Being one who can think in the extravagant way it was encouraging to hear how so many could identify how daily they (we) bless our community.

And then we turned to scripture — specifically to Proverbs 12:17-28.  And we discussed.  Some voiced that these Proverbs can be a best case scenario (for example, that “no ill befalls the righteous” see Proverbs 12:21a.  While others named that these Proverbs also ask us to think differently, as in if we have been reconciled to God (through Christ) then what possible ill could befall us?  (In other words, if God is for us who (or what) can be against us?)

The conversation engaged some other scriptures and perhaps in some ways became more philosophical in nature as we considered the tongue of the wise bringing healing and those who plan for peace have joy.  However, the homework for this week was “simple.”  Based on more than one of the scriptures but we’ll highlight Proverbs 12:22

Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who act faithfully are his delight.

our homework is to not lie.  To tell the truth.  But the homework specifically is to not lie.  In a society where lies seem to be a way of life, this might be challenging.  Or it might not.  Someone had shared how they instructed their children to always tell the truth!  (Older children said thank you — it makes life easier!)  For those who find the invitation “easy” let us also consider not lying to ourselves.

Looking forward to being gathered together on Sunday (@10AM)!

Until then — may we be encouraged in & delighted by Christ!

~ Rev. Sabrina Slater 

It was the morning of New Year’s Eve and we gathered (about 11 of us with a few within earshot too) on this final day of 2017 to discern what God might be speaking to us through scripture.  Not a bad way to end a year and to prepare for the beginning of a new one.

As is our custom after opening in prayer (in which naming the blessing of warmth was not forgotten) it was homework check-in time.  A variety of scriptures (long & short) were mentioned.  The honesty of naming a scripture that became what comforted following the death of a loved one immediately made me think of the quote from the week before — with placing scripture on our hearts so that when our heart breaks the scripture falls in.  It sounded as though there are some scriptures we are drawn too, and those are what we named as written on the tablets of our hearts.  A question near the end of our time actually, asked if we actually (practically speaking) understand what & how it is that we write scripture on the tablet of our heart?  The question went unanswered (due to time) but it is one worth asking & pondering — just how do we write scripture on the tablet of our heart?

Our scripture focus was Proverbs 11:10-14.  And after hearing the scripture read (lectio divina style as we do) with space for silence following the reading we had a rich conversation.  Noticing the need for guidance & (wise) counselor(s) and also spending quite a bit of time wrestling with the idea that when the wicked perish there is joy/jubilation.  We thought about a person perishing who might not know Christ, who might not be reconciled — and had compassion — while holding in tension even an example of knowing when someone who had engaged in wicked/evil/destructive behavior dying there being relief and celebration that that wickedness/evil/destructive behavior had ended.  We talked about how we can maybe hear this proverbs individually alright — and considered too though, our context (extreme individualism within the United States of America in 2017) is distinctly not the much more collective/communal/familial context that the proverbs were birthed in.

In the complexity of this tension it was also noticed how verses 12 & 13 had not been mentioned at all,

Whoever belittles another lacks sense, but an intelligent person remains silent.  A gossip goes about telling secrets, but one who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a confidence.

And it was asked, “Why?”  Do we in a smaller community just get this right?  We spoke briefly about the humanness of making mistakes even if one is a confidential person.  And we also mentioned too, that possibly we could seek to be more discerning in how & why we share — noting that often the insight is what might be helpful & not the details of a thing — perhaps a growth point for all.

And then it was time for homework.  And as we read in verse 11, “By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted” our charge for this week is to BLESS OUR COMMUNITY.  No specifics were given, a question as to what this might be/look like was asked and left unanswered.  And as we begin the new year, 2018 — we begin seeking to BLESS OUR COMMUNITY.  I both wonder with anticipation as to how this might look & honestly too — I wonder how this might shape our community for throughout whole of 2018?  What would we look like if we were seeking continually to bless our community?

In Christ & walking into the unknown beside you with a smile ~

Rev. Sabrina Slater 

It was December 24th last Sunday, the day of Christmas Eve, and we gathered in the morning before worship (the morning worship was Advent themed).  For many gathered it was the beginning of a couple services held on Christmas Eve!  And as the conversation nearly immediately turned to the check-in we opened with prayer.

And then we talked.  The homework had been to consider if love does indeed cover all offenses or if it does not.  There was talk about individual or collective forgiveness, forgiving children, forgiving those who hurt or harm children.  There was the reading of the text (Proverbs 10:12) out of the Message paraphrase,

Hatred starts fights, but love pulls a quilt over the bickering.

And there was the honesty that the assignment was hard — or perhaps more than the assignment itself, to believe that love covers all was hard.  The confession we don’t always get it right — and the reality that we cannot do this (forgive, believe love covers all) on our own.  There were the mentions of people who forgave for acts that were unforgivable.  There was the desire that people would repent before the forgiveness — and the challenge that Christ never waited for our own repentance before being born or heading to the cross.  We even were honest about the often daily need of love (God) to help us look past (or forgive) offenses that can come weekly (or daily) from those we continue to be in relationship with!

Then we turned (as we do!) to a selection of scripture, Proverbs 7:1-3.  We sat seeking to listen to what the Holy Spirit was highlighting.  There were some questions about Jewish practices of dress and affixing Scripture to their body, and there was the observation that in the keeping of God’s commandments life is found — which is HARD!  And as we listened to writing that was nearly touchable in the way the words painted pictures to engage we heard this quote from Anne Lamott (from Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith)

There’s a lovely Hasidic story of a rabbi who always told his people that if they studied the Torah, it would put Scripture on their hearts.  One of them asked, “Why on our hearts, and not in them?”  The rabbi answered, “Only God can put scripture inside.  But reading sacred text can put it on your heart, and then when your hearts break, the holy words will fall inside.

What beautiful imagery!  And a perfect way to frame the homework for this week — to write scripture on the tablet of our own hearts.  The question was asked if the scripture must be from Proverbs, and the answer is no it does not have to be.  The invitation is to write scripture on the tablet of our hearts and see what happens (and see how exactly we do that!)  So — Merry Christmas & happy writing!

In the joy of Christmastime!

~ Rev. Sabrina Slater 

Another Sunday and we gathered around the table exchanging smiles and good mornings, and breathing the smell of coffee.  Mid-smile we opened in prayer.  And then came the “homework” check — the weekly check-in.  Last week we looked to share a Proverb with someone, be it in a text message, through social media, in a face-to-face or phone conversation or even in a hand-written card.

There were a variety of experiences — from seeming silence to a Proverb offered over FB engaging the current congressional tax bill — to a perfectly timed opportunity to reach out to someone grieving a recent loss — to a perfect little note of encouragement to a friend struggling right now.  There was joy in being able to accomplish the homework early & honestly about not having the reminder soon enough to help success be possible!  And a note too that in the reading of Proverbs the ability to hear God’s wisdom for OTHER PEOPLE — and the humility of recognizing perhaps using our scripture in this way as chastising weaponry was not the aim nor spirit of the homework assignment (it was not!).

And then we read Proverbs 10:11-13,

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.

On the lips of one who has understanding wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of one who lacks sense.

First noticed was the consideration of the rod — is it real?  Metaphorical?  There was brief conversation on discipline/spanking/beating — mention of “spare the rod – spoil the child” and the named feeling that these are no longer appropriate topics — no longer socially acceptable.  (This would easily be another conversation as well as potentially an entire study to see what God has to say on discipline — what it looks like, how to do it….but that is for another day!)  Nevertheless there was conversation too about a judgement of sorts for those who are without sense/who act without understanding — and yet, who judges and does not Christ take that beating for us all in his journey to the cross?

As we heard the scripture in 3 different translations it was noticed how one of the translations had mentioned how violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.  A striking (& useful) imagery.  And then the question came about verse 12 — but does love really cover all offenses?  And we briefly began this conversation — which THANKS BE TO GOD — came near the end because it opened our homework invitation!

(HOMEWORK)  This week the invitation is to consider one Proverb and if it is true or not.  THERE IS NO (1) RIGHT ANSWER that I expect everyone to find & believe.  And to be honest, if everyone says the exact same thing this will again be our homework the next week (yes I did say that yesterday!).  We are considering Proverbs 10:12 (Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.) And we are answering for ourselves — Does love cover all offences?  If NO — why not?  If YES — practically how?  

To give some warning — I think this will be a rich (though challenging) conversation both with ourselves, with God & with each other.  I am looking forward to hearing how God has been speaking to each of us though this one Proverb!  May there be space to breathe & hear from the Creator of the world & giver of life for each of us this week!

In love ~

Rev. Sabrina Slater 

After a week considering all of Proverbs 1 each day — we gathered & opened in prayer that included,

Gracious God, help us develop a love and regard for Your Wisdom Literature.  Grant that these days of search and exploring may result in a new understanding of what wisdom is all about and that new evidence of Your wisdom may be seen in our lives.  Amen.

And we checked in honestly.  Not all of us read Proverbs 1 daily — because, life.  And there were a variety of experiences when we did read though.  Experiences ranging from finding it (Proverbs) to be rather matter-of-fact, common sense & without surprise (our basic — yes, we can see/understand that) to noticing the rather jarring language that “wisdom” laughs at us after we ignore her — to wondering if those who are wise speak in riddles then how are we to hear wisdom literature (for ex. Proverbs) especially when we seem to understand it?  And this lead to a conversation about God as known & revealed in the Old Testament (or Hebrew Scripture/Bible) and the New Testament — a beginning to a conversation regarding the character of God and also the question of is God = wisdom?, or perhaps said another way is one of God’s names wisdom?  Don’t worry — we didn’t answer all of this in our check in — but the conversation did dance there.

And then we turned to more Scripture, more Proverbs, more wisdom.  We spent time with Proverbs 3:5-8:

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.  Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.  It will be a healing for your flesh and a refreshment for  your body.

We noticed this invitation to humility, to not rely on our own insight nor to be wise in our own eyes.  SUCH A TALL ORDER!  And if that were not challenging enough — the invitation to trust in the LORD with all our heart?  We had a moment of laughter confession — this is HARD — this idea of truly trusting.  And someone named how that trust is hard and they (we probably could all say “WE”) often turn to our own patterns/practices when life comes at us — they mentioned wanting to put these verses on their refrigerator to be able to read about the healing & refreshment for our body!  The conversation was rich and there was insight & an image that these Proverbs seem like  a gift from an ageing father on his deathbed with his last breaths instructing a child.  The imagery is beautiful, moving & allows Proverbs to breathe in our own lives in a more tender way.

And so what could possibly be homework out of this?  We have heard & been discussing how this wisdom — these Proverbs — are for everyone, and to help us all live a better life — to be blessed by God — to flourish & succeed — & so the invitation was to use a Proverb to encourage someone, to speak a word that someone might need.  This could be done in a conversation, or in a text message — or on social media — or even in a hand written note.  And to help out the cause cards (blank ones!) were offered to any who might want to send someone a note that way.

Looking forward to hearing how the Word has gone out & what difference it made (in us) on Sunday @ 10AM!

In expectation to see Christ!

~ Rev. Sabrina Slater 

Well — today (Sunday Dec. 3rd) we met.  And we opened in prayer and then we started into our check-in.  Check-ins from those who were able to join last week & check-ins too from those who were unaware of the homework.  And the homework was to write and/or find a Proverb to share.

Some proverbs were short & others long — some found online — others from scripture — others were written by ourselves or in a note from someone else.  It was fun hearing the different proverbs shared for they also share a bit about ourselves (of course) — we heard about if we want a mountain to move, well start picking up stones today — invitations to put on love & carry it with us — that fruit takes time to grow — to get up from our laziness — and that all you need is love (to name only some).  We observed the writing being directed toward men (ah ancient context) — and wisdom itself often being personified as a woman.  And before turning to Proverbs 1:1-7 (again) we heard from Selwyn Hughes,

I shall never forget my pastor taking me aside…and saying, “I’m going to teach you to steal, to drink, to lie and to swear…I want to teach you how to steal time out of every day to read something from the book of Proverbs.  And then I want to teach you how to drink from its clear, refreshing waters, to lie on your bed at night and meditate on its great themes and to swear that by the grace of God you will put into practice its wonderful teaching.” …This then is what Proverbs is all about — wisdom for living…

And then we turned to scripture – hearing Proverbs in our 3 times read w/silence in between before hearing what God was inviting us to consider.  A very insightful point was the importance of listening, and the invitation that the more wise we are the more we oft listen.  And in the quasi meditative silence considering Proverbs specifically as guide a question was asked, what about verse 6?  Someone else named, well both 5-6.  The word of possible contention being “riddles” — and we discovered not every translation used “riddles” some seemed to remove that line entirely — the King James version made reference to dark sayings.  And we considered this for awhile, even (possibly) equating parables as riddles.  This was a rich dialogue that invited us to consider perhaps riddles (and/or parables) are important because they invite us to be a bit more critical (perhaps similar to the sermon theme of “Stay Woke”) of the situation/problem/life in front of us because we are not able to see the same, the beauty (& challenge) of the riddle (and/or parable) is to look again and with new perspective and this perhaps of course is an invitation to listen more intently.  And that seems rather timely in this season of Advent as we keep watch (“Stay Woke”) looking for God being born (again) among us.

And we have homework (who doesn’t want homework!?!)  To read Proverbs 1 EACH DAY this week.  Yes — to spend some time with this wisdom literature, and with this chapter in particular.  To hear God speak to us through these verses, to prayerfully be surprised by what God might reveal in a week of journeying with these 33 verses.  And we will check in with what God did — with how God spoke — with what God might have even said do (or not do).

I am excited to be blessed by what God will be revealing to each of us and can hardly wait until we get to check in next week.  Until then — strength, energy & courage in the reading and in the listening to God in this Holy conversation where we learn to listen more intently.

In expectation to see Christ,

~ Rev. Sabrina Slater