August 21-Ps. 71, Heb. 12, Luke 13:1-17
We have an adult baptism today. In our tradition, we baptize people at any age, any stage of life in community with God. Hebrews, we do not come to stand at Sinai as we gather for worship. Instead, as we journey toward the heavenly Jerusalem, our worship provides, in Fanny Crosby's words, "a foretaste of glory divine." Our worship is preparation for our life in the city of God, for as we worship that life breaks open to us even in the midst of time and space.
Worship and its attendant sacraments provide access to God and participation in community. Worship connects us with God, with angels, and with the saints past and present who comprise that "great cloud of witnesses" (12:1) encompassing us. Yet that thankfulness does not end in an easy familiarity with the divine. While we move forward with courage instead of shrinking back, we nonetheless approach the Holy One with reverence and awe. The goal of our worship is not entertainment, nor do we consume worship as a commodity. To worship is to encounter God, to hear God's voice, to be transformed. True worship does not leave us as we are, at ease with illusions of our own power and significance. Rather, it makes us aware of the impermanence of all human lives and institutions as we bow in awe before the permanence, might, and splendor of our God .(See Working Preacher)
Ps. 71 and jeremiah on age and youth -identity, industry, community -generativity
All of these have virtues and vices associated with them. We move through them but they always exist in the background. Indeed old age challenges every one of them.commitments-and link to Hebrews regrets-road not taken-how we look at it with eyes only positive but Garth brooks song on unanswered prayers.
Control letting go and holding on
Sense of humor-youth middle age and looking good-See Capps Ministry of Good Humor
Accept limitations but push against them-adapt to the limitations but still paint
Look to what you have gone through. Integrity is looking at life as a whole. Despair threatens to give it all up, what’s the use;nothing I can do.
Not downward slide but a continued forward movement-time may take on a different quality one of past present and future sometimes having indistinct borders or a sense of urgency born of its short span left, of more yesterday than tomorrow's -For jesus the time was short-the entirety of the gospel mission has Jesus under the gun of short time. Fro the woman he says not one more day-In baptism we say, not one more day-concern for legacy-mentors to share wisdom and experience as in the CORE group or the Monday men’s bible group.
Humor as resource as it makes the difficult bearable. Too often the decline of age brings about a constant grumpiness, even bitterness.
Does Time, as it apsses, really destroy?..but can this heart, that belongs to god, be torn from God by circumstance?...can we ever be severed from childhood’s deep promises? Ah, the knowledge of impermanence that haunts our day is their very fragrance.
Kay begins a formal life with god this morning. We reaffirm our commitment to a christian walk this morning.god is with us, a constant companion through all of our days.
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