Sunday, July 11, 2010

You are NOT in control...

Sunday morning worship regularly reminds me that I am NOT in control - which is a good but not always an easy truth to affirm - and it happens in so many ways. Sometimes someone will make a bone-headed announcement full of dreadful theology and unhelpful ideas, other times I will spontaneously find myself going down a side road in my message only to discover too late that I shouldn't have made the turn. From time to time a person will hear something that was never intended - and most likely never said - and then there are the outright interruptions that throw everything in worship up in the air.

+ For example, early in ministry I shared some socio-economic observations about shepherds one Christmas Eve - something about how they were often ritually unclean and considered less than socially desirable because they worked "the third shift" - only to be scolded for picking on people who have to work swing shift to keep their families fed. I thought I was being in solidarity but...

+ Same thing happened in Arizona when talking about Christ's radical inclusion of women: I referenced three women who would be considered outsiders in traditional society but who were celebrated in the ministry of Jesus only to be told that I needed to get over my sexism and honor the important contributions that women make in the church. "Men aren't the ONLY important ones, you know?"

+ And then there was the time one of my early bands was leading a gospel tune and one of the local street people came in - he was about 6'4" and looked (and smelled) like John the Baptist - as he marched down the center aisle before parking himself on the floor in front of the band. We finished the song and he said: "Do you KNOW when Christ is coming again?" Good question, I thought, although I wasn't prepared to talk about it then so I said, "Karl, how about we talk about this after worship?" At which point he jumped up straight up into the air - from the floor -shook his fist at me and screamed: "Sinner, sinner" before storming away. I thought he was going to hit me with one of his huge, ham hock fists... but he just shouted and fled out the back door.

Today was a gift - my friend Bert was a spirit-filled preacher - and together with my musician friends and liturgist they brought great skill and verve to the mix. It was a feast. And when I asked one of the children what she thought a worship stole was all about she paused, smiled and said, "It is a scarf." And when asked how you would wear it, she said, "Like this..." and tossed it jauntily over her shoulder making a true liturgical fashion statement.

So, as another Sabbath comes to a close, and I recall ALL the times I have been reminded that I am not in control, I give thanks to God. Ever so slowly I am learning that my job is to invite folks towards the grace of God's feast. I can do some training and offer lots of prayer, but the rest is not up to me. Like the movie, "Babette's Feast," teaches: we are here to prepare and invite and then trust that God will do the rest. Lord, I believe... help my disbelief, too.

2 comments:

Peter said...

When I pray the Lord's Prayer, I use all the KJV language, except for the word "Kingdom": I substitute "community", because that is how, I'd say,. we will experience the Kingdom--as a community, like Babette's feast...

RJ said...

I think that is so true... the whole experience of community is a growing edge in my theology. I used to think I "got" it - but now it seems I am really just a novice... who is very excited and open to experiencing more.

getting into the holy week groove...

We FINALLY got our seed and wildflower order in! By now we've usually had seedlings started but... my new gig at church, Di's health...