Thursday Sermon: for your (my) mid-week sermon needs

[Ringing Of The Gong]

[Prelude Music]

[We have two Prelude Music Options. There is the low-tear audio only option, and the high-tear video option]

[Low Tear Option: Top of the World by Patty Griffin]

[High Tear Option: Top of the World sung by the Dixie Chicks]

Thank you so much for that lovely music, Patty, and/or The Dixie Chicks.

Now we will have the children come forward as we light the Chalice

[Opening Words]
There is no time to wait. Let yourself be known, so that you can be loved. Let yourself soar and give your gifts freely to the world.

From The Dance of The Dissident Daughter by Sue Monk Kidd:

If someone should ask me, “What does the soul do?” I would say, It does two things. It loves. And it creates.

Now we will have our opening hymn. Please join me in singing, Many the Miles. The words are on your insert in your order of service. (If you don’t have an order of service, you can just click here.)

Thank you for that beautiful song, Sara.

Now is the time in our service when we share our Joys and Concerns. Please come up to the front if you would like to share.

[First person to share:]

That was beautiful music. I actually heard the first song on A Prairie Home Companion on Sunday. I was driving over to the nursing home where my Granddad is staying and even though I was late, I had to pause in the parking lot to hear the whole song. The music expressed so well the despairing? weird? numbness? I’ve been feeling? I’ve been unconsciously out of sorts and I don’t know exactly why.

Later this week I was shaken out of my self focus when a tragedy happened in my family. I have a deep sorrow to share. My cousin died this week. She was a year younger than me. She had 4 little girls. and a husband. and two parents still married to each other. and a brother. and a sister. And she must have had a deep sorrow, and pain, for she killed herself. I just can’t believe it. You just never know how people really feel on the inside. I would never have guessed it.

Lots of people will have their ideas about why… and some may be right, but none of us will ever really know for sure. I never ever had any idea that she was hurting. I would never have guessed it. She was always beautiful and had so much. Her brother killed himself about 11 years ago. That must have hurt her so much… I don’t know the kind of anguish her parents must be feeling and I hope I never do know. Please reach out your hearts to them.

I was crying and crying when I found out about my cousin. Because she is not in my life on a day to day basis, the grief comes and goes. My mom wisely told me to find happiness when I can find it and not hold on to the sorrow. My mom held me on the couch and she said a beautiful prayer for my cousin. She asked God to take her in his arms and comfort her, wash away her pain. She prayed a lovely long prayer.

I do have a few simple joys to share. I’m glad for little Henri the baby bird who arrived just in time to be a sweet little distraction from pain, and a reminder of life, who needed to be fed every half hour and liked to cuddle. I’m glad I got to hang out with my mom and have toast and jam and tea and read from On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I’m SOOO glad that I get to hang out with my dog P.J this summer. I’m glad for the crickets and the locusts. I’m glad for the trees and the big window through which I can see them.

Thank you for sharing. I light a candle for all the joys and concerns of those here today, those spoken and those unspoken. I light a candle for all the people hurting in the world, the ones receding into themselves, not reaching out, not sharing. I light a candle for all your hearts to remember that your kind words, your smile can make a difference. I light a candle so that you remember that when you are hurting, you can reach out. And when you are celebrating, we can celebrate together. I light a candle for all the joys and concerns today, those spoken and those that remain in our hearts.

[Meditation]

Please join us in our moving meditation which will be led by Karel. Please stand if your physical body and spirit allows, or join us in the movements from your chair.

[Announcements]

Some of your hearts have lost their songs. We’ve also found several clipped birds wings. If you have lost the song in your heart, please pick it up today. We need all hearts singing. Also, there are several bird wing repair kits on loan in the library, so please come by if you need one.

[Offertory]
This Sunday we have a special offering. We will be donating our offering to the world today. Please search your wallets, purses, back pockets, and sleeves for any spare talents, wisdom, and well wishes you have. Please don’t be stingy with your creativity, even if you are feeling like you don’t have enough. Every little bit you can share will make a bigger difference than you can ever imagine. Those little projects you’ve thought would be fun? That card you though you might send? Now is the time. Now we will pass the candlesticks. Please get off your bushels, put your candles on the candlesticks, and let your candlelight shine.

[Sermon]

We are so pleased to have His Holiness The Dalai Lama the 14th with us today to talk about Inner Peace and World Peace. Click here to listen to the sermon.

Thank you so much, your Holiness. That reminds me of what one of our recent speakers, John Lennon, was saying. Our happiness and inner peace are inextricably linked to world peace and happiness for everyone.

[Sing A Hymn]

Now we are honored and thrilled to have John back with us and joined by Yoko to sing Give Peace a Chance. Please join in on the chorus with us. “All we are saying is give peace a chance.”

[Closing Words]

From Dido’s song Life for Rent:

I’ve always thought
that I would love to live by the sea
To travel the world alone
and live my life more simply
I have no idea what’s happened to that dream
Cos there’s really nothing left here to stop me…

While my heart is a shield and I won’t let it down
While I am so afraid to fail so I won’t even try
Well how can I say I’m alive

From The Dance of The Dissident Daughter by Sue Monk Kidd:

Our lives are meant to unfold, to evolve, and that’s good. The only wrong thing, perhaps, is permanently hesitating on the verge of courage, which would prevent this process from taking place…

If someone should ask me, “What does the soul do?” I would say, It does two things. It loves. And it creates.

[Postlude]

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