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
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