All In

This Sunday is the National Preach-In for Global Warming, sponsored by Interfaith Power and Light (an amazing organization).  It is also the continuation of Black History Month and the Boise First Church Anniversary, and the Sunday that our Justice and Witness Ministry group holds the "souper supper" to raise funds for Interfaith Sanctuary Homeless Shelter, and Racial Injustice Sunday on the UCC Calendar.

I like to focus on one thing at a time during worship and give the theme lots of space and attention (my approach of preference).  So which way to I go?  Link Black History Month and Racial Injustice Sunday and drop Global Warming and the Church Anniversary and the Homeless Shelter?  Or since the church was a founding member of the homeless shelter, link the anniversary and the shelter, forget Black History Month for a week and touch on global warming another time?  Or be true to my roots and focus on the ongoing season of Epiphany and mention the other themes in passing?

There is only one reasonable option:  We do it all.  The God who made all people in God's image and cherishes each one of us would want us to celebrate the past and present experience of African Americans, while addressing the continuing racial injustice in our world.  This same God is also deeply concerned over the lack of safe and adequate housing for all people - we cannot ignore this reality because it does not fit conveniently in the calendar.  And as for global warming - unless the climate change crisis is immediately addressed, the struggle to find safe and adequate shelter on our planet will become a crisis of unimaginable proportions.

We do it all - which, I think, is probably also the best way to honor the legacy of a church that has spent its life committed to speaking truth to power and advocating for justice.  It is also a good place to experience God's Epiphany - for truly God is still present and speaking in all these areas.  

This past Sunday during worship I shared a realization that I have found to be quite disturbing and sobering.  Each week, in one form or another, we ask God to bring peace with justice into our world, and pray that the resources of our earth be shared with ALL in a sustainable way, so that ALL may have the basic necessities of life, and ALL can live a life of dignity, purpose, and peace.  But if we are completely honest, we pray this prayer without believing that God will actually answer it - because if God does answer it, it will mean radical change for all of us!  Do we really want that change...are we truly willing to give up some of what we have, so that everyone can have the basis for a better, sustainable life?  Speaking truth to power and advocating for justice is important... but taking it to the next level and living it - well, that is where it starts to pinch, and where we experience epiphany.

On Sunday morning we will do it all, because God is in it all.

In preparation for the Preach-In for Global Warming, I've been reading The Body of God by Sallie McFague, who is one of the modern theologians who has most influenced my theology and life.  Whether I also have time to read her most recent book A New Climate for Theology remains to be seen (the calendar is pretty full this week).  I have been using Sam Hamilton-Poore's book Earth Gospel - a Guide To Prayer for God's Creation during my prayer time, and highly recommend it!  We are blessed to have many visionary teachers and guides in our world to help us grapple with these most difficult question, and help us take it to that next level of incarnation and transformation.

I close with a blessing from Sam's book - may it cause you to smile, and also invite you to ponder the wisdom it expresses:

Blessing - by Sam Hamilton-Poore

Within the economy of God's grace
nothing is ever wasted
and no one thrown away.
May you entrust yourself
and God's creation
to the power and peace
of Christ's recycling love.

Blessings,
Kim