May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of our hearts, be acceptable in your sight, Oh Lord. For you are our strength and our redeemer. Amen.
In the scripture readings, we hear of the shining faces of those who communicate with God. In fact, we are called to tear off the veil of Moses and to speak the truth boldly.
So how is God speaking to us now?
As a Lutheran pastor’s daughter, who only reluctantly takes on the role of Sunday School Teacher, I feel a great trepidation by standing behind the pulpit on the Sunday of the reading of the Transfiguration.
So I trust that the answer to this question, “How is God speaking to us now?” will be answered through the biographies that these students have chosen. Reverend Susan lent me a book, “Ten Amazing People and How They Changed the World.”
I paraphrase from the introduction, “Here in this book are ten human beings, like Desmond Tutu, Dorothy Day, Black Elk, Mahatma Gandhi, who lived in the past, yet remain with us today. What they believed, and even more important, what they did to uphold their beliefs, values, and principles keeps them still very much alive with us. These ten people from the past can help us all think of the future: what needs to be done if this world of ours is to become a better one for all who enter it as children.”
The Live at Five Sunday School program has begun in fits and starts, but with these students, we have begun an inquiry process that is a spiritual pilgrimage. We do not know where this profound undertaking will lead us, but we trust in God to guide our way.
As a community, we knew that we wanted to have the children be more active participants in our worship together. Consider this some of the early fruits of our intentions, and efforts.
---------------
Albert Schweitzer was born in Europe, but spent much of his adult life in Africa. He was a successful musician and pastor, but chose to go to medical school even after having much success in life. Schweitzer decided that he wanted to show his belief in God by working with his hands, as Jesus did, and by caring for other people. He chose to go to Medical School when he heard about how desperately doctors were needed in Africa.
In Africa, he worked hard to cure people of tropical diseases like malaria and sleeping sickness. He built hospitals and kept writing about how to follow Jesus. When he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, he used the million-dollar prize to build a special colony for people with leprosy. His reverence for all living things is an inspiration for many today.
---------------
Martin Luther King Junior first heard about Gandhi’s idea of peaceful protest when he was studying to become a Baptist minister in Pennsylvania. When he returned to Montgomery, Alabama, he put those ideas to work in nonviolent protests to end segregation between Blacks and Whites. He organized bus boycotts and brought the black churches together to work for justice and the end of racism in the South.
King is best remembered for his speech in Washington, DC, when he shared his dream of a time when all God’s children would live in freedom. Like Schweitzer, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his civil rights work. His dream of freedom is an inspiration for many today.
--------------
“I’m for truth, no matter who tells it.
I’m for justice, no matter who it’s for or against.
I believe in recognizing every human being as a human being—neither white, black, brown, or red.”
Malcolm X started out life as a young criminal who was put in prison for armed robbery. But he turned his life around by converting to Islam and working for the empowerment of African Americans. He rejected his given name, Malcolm Little, and became Malcolm X to symbolize the legacy of his family that was lost through slavery.
For many years, he was the minister of a temple in New York City and worked to improve conditions in black communities throughout the United States. In 1964, Malcolm X went on a sacred pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca. When he saw blacks and whites together offering prayers to Allah, the Arabic name of God, it gave him hope that all races could live in harmony. For choosing courage over fear throughout his life, he is an inspiration for many today.
--------------
What veils have been stripped away for you today? That those who pray to Allah are praying to someone different? That powerful words don’t come from the young? Perhaps we all already knew Schweitzer’s insight, that Jesus comes to us as one unknown, and speaks to us from our own personal experience.
Just like the candles you brought in to bless last week, and the way their light can lead you in your path, we can also see this light through others, who can reveal the light of God’s countenance to us.
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Albert Schweitzer was born in Europe, but spent much of his adult life in Africa. He was a successful musician and pastor, but chose to go to medical school even after having much success in life. Schweitzer decided that he wanted to show his belief in God by working with his hands, as Jesus did, and by caring for other people. He chose to go to Medical School when he heard about how desperately doctors were needed in Africa.
In Africa, he worked hard to cure people of tropical diseases like malaria and sleeping sickness. He built hospitals and kept writing about how to follow Jesus. When he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, he used the million-dollar prize to build a special colony for people with leprosy. His reverence for all living things is an inspiration for many today.
Martin Luther King Junior first heard about Gandhi’s idea of peaceful protest when he was studying to become a Baptist minister in Pennsylvania. When he returned to Montgomery, Alabama, he put those ideas to work in nonviolent protests to end segregation between Blacks and Whites. He organized bus boycotts and brought the black churches together to work for justice and the end of racism in the South.
King is best remembered for his speech in Washington, DC, when he shared his dream of a time when all God’s children would live in freedom. Like Schweitzer, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his civil rights work. His dream of freedom is an inspiration for many today.
“I’m for truth, no matter who tells it.
I’m for justice, no matter who it’s for or against.
I believe in recognizing every human being as a human being—neither white, black, brown, or red.”
Malcolm X started out life as a young criminal who was put in prison for armed robbery. But he turned his life around by converting to Islam and working for the empowerment of African Americans. He rejected his given name, Malcolm Little, and became Malcolm X to symbolize the legacy of his family that was lost through slavery.
For many years, he was the minister of a temple in New York City and worked to improve conditions in black communities throughout the United States. In 1964, Malcolm X went on a sacred pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca. When he saw blacks and whites together offering prayers to Allah, the Arabic name of God, it gave him hope that all races could live in harmony. For choosing courage over fear throughout his life, he is an inspiration for many today.
In the scripture readings, we hear of the shining faces of those who communicate with God. In fact, we are called to tear off the veil of Moses and to speak the truth boldly.
So how is God speaking to us now?
As a Lutheran pastor’s daughter, who only reluctantly takes on the role of Sunday School Teacher, I feel a great trepidation by standing behind the pulpit on the Sunday of the reading of the Transfiguration.
So I trust that the answer to this question, “How is God speaking to us now?” will be answered through the biographies that these students have chosen. Reverend Susan lent me a book, “Ten Amazing People and How They Changed the World.”
I paraphrase from the introduction, “Here in this book are ten human beings, like Desmond Tutu, Dorothy Day, Black Elk, Mahatma Gandhi, who lived in the past, yet remain with us today. What they believed, and even more important, what they did to uphold their beliefs, values, and principles keeps them still very much alive with us. These ten people from the past can help us all think of the future: what needs to be done if this world of ours is to become a better one for all who enter it as children.”
The Live at Five Sunday School program has begun in fits and starts, but with these students, we have begun an inquiry process that is a spiritual pilgrimage. We do not know where this profound undertaking will lead us, but we trust in God to guide our way.
As a community, we knew that we wanted to have the children be more active participants in our worship together. Consider this some of the early fruits of our intentions, and efforts.
---------------
Albert Schweitzer was born in Europe, but spent much of his adult life in Africa. He was a successful musician and pastor, but chose to go to medical school even after having much success in life. Schweitzer decided that he wanted to show his belief in God by working with his hands, as Jesus did, and by caring for other people. He chose to go to Medical School when he heard about how desperately doctors were needed in Africa.
In Africa, he worked hard to cure people of tropical diseases like malaria and sleeping sickness. He built hospitals and kept writing about how to follow Jesus. When he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, he used the million-dollar prize to build a special colony for people with leprosy. His reverence for all living things is an inspiration for many today.
---------------
Martin Luther King Junior first heard about Gandhi’s idea of peaceful protest when he was studying to become a Baptist minister in Pennsylvania. When he returned to Montgomery, Alabama, he put those ideas to work in nonviolent protests to end segregation between Blacks and Whites. He organized bus boycotts and brought the black churches together to work for justice and the end of racism in the South.
King is best remembered for his speech in Washington, DC, when he shared his dream of a time when all God’s children would live in freedom. Like Schweitzer, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his civil rights work. His dream of freedom is an inspiration for many today.
--------------
“I’m for truth, no matter who tells it.
I’m for justice, no matter who it’s for or against.
I believe in recognizing every human being as a human being—neither white, black, brown, or red.”
Malcolm X started out life as a young criminal who was put in prison for armed robbery. But he turned his life around by converting to Islam and working for the empowerment of African Americans. He rejected his given name, Malcolm Little, and became Malcolm X to symbolize the legacy of his family that was lost through slavery.
For many years, he was the minister of a temple in New York City and worked to improve conditions in black communities throughout the United States. In 1964, Malcolm X went on a sacred pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca. When he saw blacks and whites together offering prayers to Allah, the Arabic name of God, it gave him hope that all races could live in harmony. For choosing courage over fear throughout his life, he is an inspiration for many today.
--------------
What veils have been stripped away for you today? That those who pray to Allah are praying to someone different? That powerful words don’t come from the young? Perhaps we all already knew Schweitzer’s insight, that Jesus comes to us as one unknown, and speaks to us from our own personal experience.
Just like the candles you brought in to bless last week, and the way their light can lead you in your path, we can also see this light through others, who can reveal the light of God’s countenance to us.
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Albert Schweitzer was born in Europe, but spent much of his adult life in Africa. He was a successful musician and pastor, but chose to go to medical school even after having much success in life. Schweitzer decided that he wanted to show his belief in God by working with his hands, as Jesus did, and by caring for other people. He chose to go to Medical School when he heard about how desperately doctors were needed in Africa.
In Africa, he worked hard to cure people of tropical diseases like malaria and sleeping sickness. He built hospitals and kept writing about how to follow Jesus. When he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, he used the million-dollar prize to build a special colony for people with leprosy. His reverence for all living things is an inspiration for many today.
Martin Luther King Junior first heard about Gandhi’s idea of peaceful protest when he was studying to become a Baptist minister in Pennsylvania. When he returned to Montgomery, Alabama, he put those ideas to work in nonviolent protests to end segregation between Blacks and Whites. He organized bus boycotts and brought the black churches together to work for justice and the end of racism in the South.
King is best remembered for his speech in Washington, DC, when he shared his dream of a time when all God’s children would live in freedom. Like Schweitzer, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his civil rights work. His dream of freedom is an inspiration for many today.
“I’m for truth, no matter who tells it.
I’m for justice, no matter who it’s for or against.
I believe in recognizing every human being as a human being—neither white, black, brown, or red.”
Malcolm X started out life as a young criminal who was put in prison for armed robbery. But he turned his life around by converting to Islam and working for the empowerment of African Americans. He rejected his given name, Malcolm Little, and became Malcolm X to symbolize the legacy of his family that was lost through slavery.
For many years, he was the minister of a temple in New York City and worked to improve conditions in black communities throughout the United States. In 1964, Malcolm X went on a sacred pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca. When he saw blacks and whites together offering prayers to Allah, the Arabic name of God, it gave him hope that all races could live in harmony. For choosing courage over fear throughout his life, he is an inspiration for many today.
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