ST. MICHAEL & ALL ANGELS EPISCOPAL CHURCH
  • ABOUT US
    • WHO WE ARE
    • 2023 Annual Meeting
    • Leadership
    • Newcomers
    • Pastoral Care
    • Faces of Our Community
    • Contact
  • Transition
  • Worship & Prayer
    • Download Service Bulletins
    • Daily Prayer Services - The Daily Office
    • Sermons
    • Art, Music, & Literature
  • FORMATION
    • Adult Formation
    • Retreats
    • Family & Youth
  • Outreach & Social Justice
    • Casa San Miguel Food Pantry
    • The Landing
    • LGBTQ+
    • Immigration Ministry
    • Navajoland Partnership
    • Senior Ministry
    • ALL ANGELS EPISCOPAL DAY SCHOOL
  • Give
    • Annual Pledge
    • Stewardship
    • Gifts & Memorials

Sermon, The Children of Live at Five, February 10

2/10/2013

0 Comments

 
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.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011

    Categories

    All
    Advent Season Year A
    Advent Season Year B
    Advent Season Year C
    Baptism Of Our Lord
    Baptism Of Our Lord
    Blessing Ceremony
    Brian Taylor
    Children Of Live At Five
    Christmas Season Year A
    Christmas Season Year C
    Easter Season Year A
    Easter Season Year B
    Easter Season Year C
    Easter Sunday
    Feast Of All Saints
    Feast Of Christ The King
    Feast Of Epiphany
    Feast Of Epiphany
    Feast Of Pentecost
    Feast Of The Virgin Of Guadalupe
    Jan Bales
    Jp Arrossa
    Jp Arrossa
    Judith Jenkins
    Kristin Schultz
    Larry Gallegos
    Lenten Season Year A
    Lenten Season Year B
    Lenten Season Year C
    Live At Five
    Michaelmas
    Palm Sunday
    Pat Green
    Randy Lutz
    Rob Clarke
    Season After Epiphany Year A
    Season After Epiphany Year B
    Season After Epiphany Year C
    Season After Pentecost Year A
    Season After Pentecost Year B
    Season After Pentecost Year C
    Susan Allison Hatch
    Susan Allison Hatch
    Transfiguration Sunday
    Trinity Sunday

    RSS Feed

Questions about the life and ministry of St. Michael's?
Contact Us!
Click here for information on
​legacy giving.
Picture

505.345.8147                601 Montaño Road NW, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87107                  office@all-angels.com

  • ABOUT US
    • WHO WE ARE
    • 2023 Annual Meeting
    • Leadership
    • Newcomers
    • Pastoral Care
    • Faces of Our Community
    • Contact
  • Transition
  • Worship & Prayer
    • Download Service Bulletins
    • Daily Prayer Services - The Daily Office
    • Sermons
    • Art, Music, & Literature
  • FORMATION
    • Adult Formation
    • Retreats
    • Family & Youth
  • Outreach & Social Justice
    • Casa San Miguel Food Pantry
    • The Landing
    • LGBTQ+
    • Immigration Ministry
    • Navajoland Partnership
    • Senior Ministry
    • ALL ANGELS EPISCOPAL DAY SCHOOL
  • Give
    • Annual Pledge
    • Stewardship
    • Gifts & Memorials