Rooted, Growing and Reaching Out in Love
September 9, 2017
Christine E. Burns
“And then I found one inscribed, TO THE GOD NOBOBDY KNOWS. I’m here to introduce you to this God so you can worship intelligently, know who you are dealing with…. He makes the creatures; the creatures don't make him. Starting from scratch, he made the entire human race and made the earth hospitable, with plenty of time and space for living so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find him.” Acts 17:23, 25
Welcome Back! Welcome if this is your first time at West Parish! Here you are invited to become part of a community of faith where you belong. Each week we begin our worship service with singing and a welcome where we say that we are one diverse community, growing up in faith and reaching out in love. Today, as we begin our faith journey for a new church school year, let us unpack what it means to be rooted in scripture, growing in faith and reaching out in love.
I don’t know how the first week or two is going for you and your family as we switch over into the fall routine of school bus schedules, packing lunches, getting everyone off to daycare or switching from the carefree rhythm of summer to the schedule of fall, but I know for me it’s a jarring switch. For those of us who are retired, there remains something significant about the days and the times of our routine that switches after Labor Day. I invite each of you into this mediation to take a few moments to recognize how difficult change may be for each of us and accept that the nervousness that we face embarking on new schools, new routines, meeting new people is an important and valid concern. It is a good sign that you or I may feel a certain amount of anticipation or even nervousness as we embark upon something new. Perhaps it’s a time of trying out a new church school class experience, starting a new school or beginning a new job or volunteer opportunity. Listen to how your body is responding to these new stresses. As we begin our new fall chapter, I invite you to connect up with what we are doing here at church.
First, we are rooted in scripture. Our theme for today is the forest. As trees require the structure of their root system to anchor the trunk and branches and provide a network to draw water up for life and growth, so too do we need to find a root system to help anchor us to creation. We have this wonderful, life-giving resource of the Holy Scriptures to provide nourishment, hope and connection to the stories of our ancestors and what God has taught us to connect up to. Each week our children will meet with Pastor Reed and our fantastic team of Saturday teachers and learn stories from the Bible to deepen their rootedness to scripture and God. As adult life-long learners, we will also study the Scriptures each week to root ourselves in the lessons of Bible to provide a deep and abiding faith to accompany us on our journey through the days and nights of what it means to be human. Here we will listen and learn together how God’s word connects up with our experience in the world today.
In today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we learn of Paul visiting the city of Athens. He speaks to the believers in the synagogue and the marketplace about a new vision that is grounded in the reality of Jesus Christ. As he stands in front of a shrine, Paul invites the listeners to consider two things. First, this “unknown” God can be known intimately as the One in whom we live and move and have our being. What a remarkable statement that is. Paul wants his listeners to know that we are meant to seek out and worship God. God longs for us to find God as we look and listen for God’s hands shaping our experiences in creation. God is among us, dwelling beside us in creation and in the ways we meet others. And second, God cannot be contained in shrines made by human hands. So often, we want to make God fit into our control, into what we can build or make or do. God is bigger than all of that. In our reading for today, we are reminded of how much God longs for us to seek out and find God. God knows us and loves us and will continue to work to transform us into becoming our best selves. We are rooted in the scriptures, like a tree, rooted into the earth. Let us turn to our Bibles in times of joy and sorrow and find what words can help us grow in faith.
The second theme of today is growing up in faith. Like a tree, stretching towards the sun, we are always invited to grow in faith. This week and last there was a string of beautiful posts on social media showing pictures of kids heading off to their first day of school. I love the possibility and hope in those smiles with fresh backpacks and new or clean clothes on and the chance of a whole new year awaiting each child. Here is the good news for each of us; God is inviting each of us to our own first day of faith in the school year of 2017. We don’t have to be school age to get a chance to grow in faith. Some of the opportunities we get for growth come through sickness, loss and grief. Some of our opportunities come from friendship, love and family. Some growth comes from loneliness, but in all things, God gives the growth.
Three years ago, Lydia and I traveled out to see my oldest daughter, Katie, in California and she took us hiking in the Redwood Forest. Who has visited the Redwoods before? They are incredible. The redwood trees begin as a seed the size of a tomato and grow to be over 367 feet in height. These trees can be over 2000 years old and are unique to the northern California coast. When you walk through the shade of the redwood forests, you cannot help but imagine walking with dinosaurs. And yet, these magnificent forests are under threat from forest fires and logging. The Redwood forests teach us important lessons about growing up in faith and rooting deep into the earth.
Walking through the redwood forest changes your perspective on what a forest feels like as the entire forest creates a natural skyscraper effect with everything working in a symbiotic relationship to protect the forest. The redwood forest recycles naturally building a complex soil floor and forest. The trees require fog to have enough water to survive, accounting for 40 percent of the redwoods’ moisture intake. Only 4% of the original Redwood forest remains due to logging beginning in the 1850’s and fires.
As we walked on the trails, the sounds were quiet as the forest was wet and waterfalls and pine needles covered the trail. We were stunned by the power of trees so tall and wide. At the entrance to the park there are trees you can stand inside and we took all the required tourist snapshots, but I look forward to my next humbling visit to listen to the timber choir of the redwood forest. How can we draw inspiration from trees like the Redwood to grow in faith? I believe that growth can happen spiritually for us long as we are alive.
Our third theme for today is reaching out in love. Our church community teaches us that we are not alone and together we can reach out in love to the world and to one another. The events of Hurricane Harvey in Texas two weeks ago demonstrated the power of nature and the power of human compassion and love. Individuals and organizations across all political, ethnic and economic backgrounds drew together in reaching out in love to help those affected by the devastating effects of the storm. We are our best selves when we reach out in love. As another Hurricane, this time Irma, is brewing, we are called to help one another out again. Storms can bring us together in ways that tighten our bonds of connection. And through the giving we offer up through our offerings, we can contribute financially to making a difference in the short term and long run for those who are impacted by hurricanes and other disasters. As storms increase in intensity and degree of damage, we are reminded of how important our role is in protecting our planet and slowing down climate change. We are each critical components of reaching out in love.
As you go forth from here, may you feel wrapped in God’s love reminded of three important things: first you are rooted in Scripture. The Bible is filled with messages and lessons for each of us to draw upon to help orient our lives. Second, may you grow in faith like a tree reaching ever upward towards the sun, may you grow in your faith all the days of your life. And finally, may you remember that we are all called to reach out in love. Reach with your hands and your heart, and see how those around you, are reaching right back with love. May you be filled with the love of God today and everyday. Amen.
1