The following story was shared by Dr. Diana Butler-Bass on Facebook today.  It is worth a deep reflection.  First, the story as she told it. 

So this happened at Foundry UMC in DC today:

The pastor called the little ones forward for the children’s sermon, about a dozen preschoolers gathered on the chancel steps. The pastor asked, “Where is the candle? Do you see the candle?” The children looked around. One sharp-eyed boy said, “There it is.” And the pastor replied, “Would you get it?” The boy retrieved the candle and handed it to her.

“Where is the white bowl?” she then asked. And the same happened. “Where are the silver and gold beads?” Repeat. “Where is something that reminds you of Christmas?” Again.

Finally she asked, “Where is God?”

The children looked about. Up, down, all around. A few bewildered stares, some shrugged shoulders. Then, a small blonde boy in a plaid shirt, about three years old, said, “I know!” The pastor said, “You do?” The little boy looked excited insisting, “Yes, yes!” Then the pastor said, “Where?” And the little boy replied, “I’ll go get God!”

He jumped up from the chancel stairs and ran down the center aisle. His father, obviously a bit worried about the open doors at the back of the sanctuary, leaped out of his pew to fetch his son.

Before he got very far, however, the little boy had returned. He was holding the hand of a kind-looking woman in her seventies, literally pulling her down the aisle. “Here!” he cried, “Here’s God! She’s here!” The pastor looked puzzled: “Miss Jean?” And the boy pointed, “There she is! God! God!”

She was his Sunday school teacher.

* * * * *
Best sermon ever.

Thank you Dr. Bass for sharing this true life story from Foundry United Methodist church is Washington, DC.  This story has touched me on many levels:

First, I know Foundry United Methodist Church since I was a part of the Baltimore-Washington Conference from 1968 to 2002.  My heritage and work with the United Methodist church still runs in my veins and stories like this one remind me that all faith traditions are reaching to find the holy in both expected and unexpected ways.  To me, a miracle is defined as when the holy comes to us unexpectedly. 

Second, as a religious educator, I sometimes watch those who touch souls though the avenue of religious education never receives the credit due.  Many do not strive for recognition and that is admirable.  But is it not possible that we recognize the whole and not just the individual?  How do we stand up appreciate all of those professional and lay religious education leaders who have brought a spark to all?  And then, how do we adjust the church just enough to value religious education as a priority for the total of its religious life?

Third, I reflect deeper on the many teaching of Dr. Bass and the changing, shifting 21-st century church.  I have spent much of this afternoon and evening reflecting on this story in light of the shift?  What will be the role of education in the shifting church?  I believe it will be a vital component and will only work if educational models are as diverse as the people attracted to the 21st century global church.  I am excited to think about what that could look like!  Religious education will not fit into a neat package.  Instead, it could explode with possibility and great "Aha!" moments.  Bring it on.

As I continue to reflect, I give a shout out to Miss Jean and all the Miss Jean's who have shown us the face of God.  Thank you Miss Jean for bringing God to this congregation in a way that no one else could. 

For more information on Dr. Diana Butler-Bass' work, check out her website:  http://dianabutlerbass.com/

Another Perspective on Worship for the 21st Century

Photo comes from a stole of the many hands who help us in our professional work:  https://www.pinterest.com/pin/24277285469414640/

     Sunday, June 26 2016’s Sunday Morning worship at the Unitarian Universalist Association’s General Assembly has had people talking!  Rev. Nancy McDonald-Ladd preached an inspiring sermon that had the attendee’s shouting her praises and shouting joy for an on pointe message.   As my colleague Pat Infante stated on Facebook:  “Rev.  Nancy McDonald Ladd knocks it out of the park at ‪#‎uuaga‬!.”

     I watched the service online (http://www.uua.org/ga/off-site/2016/worship/sunday).  It was a great message.  It was one of those messages that takes the nonverbalized feelings many of us carry deep within us and puts words to it in such a way that we say, “Yes, that is it!  You have articulated something that I have felt for a long time.”

I was moved by her message. 

     I was also moved by the spiritual leadership and poetry of Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout who served as music leader and co-worship leader for this Sunday morning experience (check out his poem god is no noun at http://www.questformeaning.org/quest-article/god-no-noun/)   Dr. Rideout had the presence to bring us all closer to the holy.  In every word he spoke and every movement he made, I watched a transcendence that I rarely see on Sunday mornings.

     One of the most poignant and yet spontaneous examples of this leadership occurred when there was an electrical feedback through the microphone.  He paused for a moment and said, “What a beautiful thing it is that we create worship together that even makes the microphone want to sing.”  Then he went on to ask all of those worshiping to note how quickly this loud moment of feedback was taken care of.  In this he thanks the many hands and we should honor all of those who were making this morning’s worship a holy worship.

     Amen.

     Collaboration and honor of all of those who do so much work behind the scenes is a valuable part of our church experience.  Church has always run on the success of many hard working hands but I believe that collaborative ministry is moving closer to the center of vital church community than ever before.  Why is this so?  Because in our search for something greater – in our search for the holy, we find it in relationship with other people and with our world. 

     Thank you Dr. Rideout for lifting up the collaborative effort of this worship experience.  I would dare say that part of the holy was there because the congregants – who had no official duty- were involved in the service with their singing, their clapping and their shouts of joy!  Rev. McDonald-Ladd’s sermon was even more powerful because the congregants participated in the sermon conversation.  If you watched the streamed version of this service, you will see what I mean. 

      To go deeper, I have another thought that has been a part of my reflection this week.  The accolades Rev. McDonald-Ladd received during the days following the worship service were too many to count.  Facebook was peppered with many postings praising her for her on pointe message.  Rightfully so -it was a great sermon and it was delivered with passion.  I have thought about the success of this message inline with an unspoken and misunderstood emptiness that a growing number of church folk feel.  People have been leaving the churches of the United States in vast numbers – Unitarian Universalists are no different.  I have heard many a parishioner say, “I come to church for a good Sunday morning message.  If it is not a good preacher, I would rather do something else.” 

     Those who attended the Sunday morning worship at GA on June 26^th got an excellent, inspiring message.  For many, it is exactly why they come.  But in the broader picture, is this not like craving sugar when what your body really needs is water?  We do not always get such a moving message.  And honestly, I believe that if we did, we would soon tire of it.  So, how are we going to re-hydrate our “holy” existence?  How are we going to be engaged in church so that we find true nurturing in engagement with people and world? 

     Just as mentioned by Dr. Rideout, worship takes many hands.  I believe that reaching holy places also takes many hands.  Church is changing and it time for us to work collaboratively to find new models.  I believe that worship is shifting from its central place in church to a vital sideline activity in church life.  I further believe that worship is a needed component of church but only an outpouring of praise and conviction that is powered by the collaborative work of its members.  Every congregation must identity their "work" and then identify the way they will act it out.  This may seem like a daunting task.  I believe it is exciting work!  Each of us has the opportunity to play a vital role in the Re-creation of ministry.  It will be exciting to see what creative models will emerge.

     My question for reflection:  How can the church of the 21-st century engage so that we are a part of a vibrant 21st-century church? 

     Important note:  Even though the worship service mentioned in this blog was for a Unitarian Universalist audience, it fits well with all Christian denominations and people of faith.  That is also true for this discussion on the present and future vitality of church.  Even if you are not UU, I hope you will reflect and engage with the question.