Yesterday was our Summer Celebration service. In my enthusiasm for making sandwiches, I completely forgot to prepare music for the service and hoped that this was not a sign of how the service was going to go . I never know what each service will bring, but today I was sure it was not going to bring much music. On the way there I wondered out loud about whether the services are uplifting for the folks that attend, if I lean too much into the experience of homelessness and the systems that allow it, and not enough into grace and faith and holding out hope that their circumstances will improve, or that they have the resilience and faith and hope to withstand living unsheltered or marginally sheltered for however long….knowing that some have been unsheltered and living on the streets for over 3 years.
We arrived, and set up, and a small crowd gathered. One participant was sharing with another that they were attacked the previous night. This person was pretty banged up. The other listened, really listened, and then said “I’m sorry that happened to you. ” Some deep knowing passed between them, and there was a moment of grace and healing because someone shared, and someone heard and offered compassion.
We started the service by singing our opening chorus “Sanctuary.” A song that affirms that God is within us, and moves through us. But that had already been affirmed in the exchange that I witnessed between our two participants.
I led the group in singing one line at a time, with a little introduction assuring them that they won’t be “voted off the island” if their singing isn’t performance ready…this is hardly a performance but instead is a way to prepare ourselves body and spirit to participate in this connecting worship service. And people SANG, with all their hearts, with volume, with movement. This was a sign that surely the Spirit was among us mightily today.
We offered prayers: folks lifted up prayers for healing from cancer, for housing needs, for people to be kind to each other and stop fighting each other, for places war torn and places dealing with the aftermath of natural disasters. We prayed for safety of body, mind and spirit as folks continue to live unsheltered, and continue to hope for housing before the cold weather sets in.
We used passages from Ecclesiastes 3:1 “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.” and 3:11 “God has made everything beautiful in it’s time. Also, God has put eternity into every person’s heart.” and Isaiah 43:18-19 “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing, now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
As is our custom, we remind folks in worship that God’s Wisdom flows through each and every one of us and we invite people to share what words or emotions spring forth when they hear these passages. Folks shared from their hearts in such beautiful ways yesterday. One person let us know that they were having a really difficult time, and were having trouble feeling God in their lives, but had faith that God is still with them. Another noted that it was a good thing that God put eternity into our hearts, because it reminds us that what we are going through won’t last forever. Still another found hope in the idea that God can make what seems impossible possible.
We talked about where we find God when God feels distant, and someone said in morning glories, reminiscing about when they had a house that had beautiful morning glories growing in their yard. This led us into a discussion about finding God in the beauty of creation, and how God’s love, and mercies and forgiveness are ever renewing, new every morning like those morning glories.
Someone shared the Ho’oponopono practice of saying “I’m sorry, please forgive me, I love you, and thank you.” We held that for a moment then reflected that we can forgive others, and we can also forgive ourselves. This led to a collective wince, and lots of folks shaking their heads and making it clear that self-forgiveness is the hardest thing to do. We discussed how hard it is to live mired in guilt..or worse-shame, and held space for the truth that God forgives over and over and over and over again. Why should we hold onto unforgiveness directed at ourselves when God has already forgiven us and continues to call us Beloved. Pastor Tina reminded folks that Nothing can separate us from God’s love, nothing!
We shared communion, affirming God’s love, and mercy and forgiveness, and calling us into beloved community with each other, nothing separating us from each other, no power dynamics, no currency, no class or status, just us, and bread, and juice, and calling folks by name, and offering God’s unconditional love through the power of the Bread of Life and the Cup of Compassion…. through the power of seeing the Christ in each other.
I never know, going into these services, how many folks will be there, how many will stand on the sidelines, how many will participate, if anyone will sing, how many will wander off and then wander back in when it’s time for lunch and offerings. I never know if I have struck the right balance of affirming the difficulties of living without one’s most basic needs met-homeless-and holding out hope that this is a season, a difficult season, but a season nonetheless. I never know, and so I work hard to have faith that God’s love will flow through us and create that balance that holds space for pain and grief, and at the same time celebrates loving connection, resilience, faith, and hope.
At the end of the service, a person I’ve known for a long time said to me “I was hopeless when I came here today. It wasn’t a mistake that I was walking up main street and saw you all here. I needed to be here. When I came here my hope was (and they squished their index finger to their thumb to signify nothing), but now I have hope, I have this much hope (and they demonstrated about an inch of space between their thumb and their index finger), it’s like a little flame that was sparked by being here.” “Don’t stop what you’re doing, it’s important.”
The Spirit was among us today in a powerful way and I am grateful.
Peace and Blessings my friends!
Pastor Pam
Rev Pam Wannie 