Glad to be with you today as we continue our time together in the "Pastor's Workshop."
This week we've been working on Psalm 46. Our focus - "Comfort in the midst of Chaos."
Monday, we listened to the Scripture. We read and re-read the whole Psalm, silently and aloud. We listened for words, phrases and images that caught our attention and inspired our "holy imagination". We jotted these down.
Tuesday, we looked at the Psalm. We examined its structure. We tried to discern some of the Psalm's "big pieces" and how they fit together. We noted these.
Yesterday, we looked at the Context for the Text, the World into which this Biblical word was and is being spoken. We received a very brief historical background and reflected on the experiential setting of this Scripture. Again (as always), we recorded our thoughts.
Today, using your thoughts and notes from the last three days, we start to tell a story. A sermon is a spiritual journey that (like a story) has a beginning, middle and end. It has a "from", a "to", a "thru" and a "through."
A sermon starts by connecting with how we experience life. It is vulnerable to and explores some of the deeper, more troubling aspects of that experience. Even as it descends into the tension of trouble, the sermon proclaims a word of faith and hope. In that word of faith and hope, the listener receives (or is reminded) of something/someone (our God) we believe in. More than that, a sermon calls us to do something to live into what we believe.
What might this journey look like for Psalm 46?
Look back into your notes from Wednesday. As we look into our "world", we need to be speaking on our individual and collective experience of the Coronavirus. It truly has been a surreal time in so many ways. Your own notes detail your personal trials.
More than that, the Biblical words of "shaking", "roaring", "trembling", "tottering" invite us to dive deeper into our feelings and our fears. Certainly as you speculate what might be ahead it becomes easy to fall into an abyss.
In the midst of those inner voices of worry and woe, we hear the call and command of faith, "Be Still!" Know who it is who truly holds your life. "Know that I am God!" Let that faith lead you towards an unshakeable assurance that "shall not be moved". (vs.5)
Let that faith be your refuge, your abiding place. In that security and stability find inner spiritual strength. This inner strength is God's Comfort. Let it lead you beyond the chaos surrounding the coronavirus into how you can be a blessing to others even in these troubling times.
And as we live into this outbreak of grace we experience over and over the recurring "chorus" and benediction of this Scripture - "The Lord of Hosts (the God of the Angel Armies) is with us, The God of Jacob (an ever- faithful covenant God) is our refuge."
You get a sense of the story as it weaves and moves. The Sunday morning message will take us on this journey with more fullness and nuance.
Tomorrow we'll look into a final step in the "Pastor's Workshop". I think it is the most important part of the whole week. It's the step that brings power to the message. (So you'll have to check back in).
More than checking in tomorrow, I encourage you to turn to our website Sunday at noon (or after) to share in a full hour of sanctuary worship. The music, prayer and message will be a blessing that grounds you in God's grace and provides a foundation of faith for whatever you'll face in the week ahead! I look forward to this time with you. In that blessing, we'll "see" you on Sunday at svumc.org!
In Christ,
Paul