Book of Faith - Genesis 1:1-10 - In the Beginning

Genesis is a fascinating book.  Written after the exile, Genesis addresses the question of beginnings.  The book is filled with stories that were told through the centuries and were then compiled in a wonderful tapestry.  In the first two chapters, we have two creation stories.  In the first chapter, we have the priestly telling of a cosmic God who speaks and creation happens and God's creation is both good and beautiful.  In the second chapter, we have a more ancient telling of the story where God does not speak but fashions creation with his own hands and breaths life into that creation.  Both of these stories are great and both of them need to be told.  These stories, like all stories, shape who we are and how we understand ourselves. We look at the world around us and see the gracious hand of God.  For our group, we understand that there is power in these stories.

This led to a discussion of stories.  Stories are a part of the fabric of our lives.  There are faith stories, but there are also national stories, family stories, and personal stories.  Sometimes the only way you can tell the whole truth is by telling a story.  I could describe my grandfather to you.  I could tell you that he was strict, not demonstrative, faithful, hard working, opinionated, and giving.  That description would paint a partial picture, but not the whole truth.  The best way would be for me to tell a story.  My grandfather would work quietly all year in his wood shop behind the garage making wooden toys for all the children in the neighborhood.  On Christmas Eve, he would deliver those gifts anonymously to all the homes.  He never wanted recognition and he never wanted thanks.  That's my grandfather.  In one short story, more truth is conveyed that in a whole list of adjectives.  The beauty of the Bible is that the Bible is a book of stories.

Stories have a way of speaking to us in the living of our lives.  We talked about the creation story in the first chapter.  Not only does the story speak of our beginning, but the story also speaks of possibilities in the here and now.  The God who moved over the water of chaos and created the world that is both good and beautiful is also the God who can work with the chaos of our own lives with the promise of creating something both good and beautiful.  This is a story people need to hear.

Next week:  Mark 9:14-31 - The Power of God and the Power of Man

Peace,
Pastor Summer

Book of Faith - Phillipians 3:12-4:7 - Message in the Stars

We have changed direction and are using Frederick Buechner's The Magnificent Defeat as a guide.  This week, we explored Buechner's sermon on this passage from Paul's letter to the church in Phillipi.  It's considered Paul's letter of joy.  What is amazing is the letter was written from prison.  Paul, it seems clear, loved the church in Phillipi.  He loved their generosity of spirit and gifts.  That does not mean that he did not have concerns.  He worried that some in the community felt that had made it.  They were saved by the grace of God in Jesus and nothing more was needed.  Many of those who felt that way to looked to Paul as a shining example of someone who was the "perfect" example.  Paul makes it very clear that he was not perfect and that he was still on the journey of becoming what God wanted him to be.  The group talked about how that expectation of being more than you are can be both encouraging and empowering.  We talked about teachers who saw more in us than we saw ourselves.  By extension, God sees more in us than we can imagine and calls us to live into that greater image.  We are all on the journey and we all have a ways to go.  May the journey continue for everyone of us.

Next, we turned to the sermon itself.  Buechner preaches how we look for the presence of God in large script i.e. the message in the stars.  Buechner is persuasive in saying, even if we had proof of God written in the stars, it would not be enough.  The real question is "So what?".    The group talked about the presence of God that takes place in our lives every day.  Often, we do not notice that presence at first.  When we come to realize that presence, the more often we experience that presence in the future.  We also talked about that awarenss being a gift from God, the gift of faith.  We  talked about bearing witness to that faith rather than teaching the faith.  One of the keys is finding a touchstone for conversation.  What has a person experienced that is real to them which suggests something holy is happening?   I often ask the confirmation class when and where they have experienced God in their lives?  Many times, they have no clear answer, but when we talk about their lives and the most meaningful moments that have occurred, we often find one of those touchstones when I can say, from my understanding of the faith, that was a moment of grace, that was the presence of God.  

In the weeks to come, we will be continuing to use The Magnificent Defeat.  You can order one of the books through the office even if you can't come on Wednesday.  Next week, we will be studying In the Beginning: Genesis 1:1-10.  Join the conversation!

Peace,
Pastor Summer