September 14th, 2008 – Breathing Forgiveness

Among the church activities Annie announced, she let the congregation know that Susan’s mother had passed away. Susan was there for the service and our thoughts and prayers were with her.

Perhaps that announcement affected all the service that followed. Worship takes many different forms and also the corporate mood of those involved in the worship on a particular Sunday. Forms are easier to identify than mood.

Today the form followed David’s liturgy, a setting Creator has used a number of times in the past. Yet the mood of the liturgy as performed today was unique, at least in the way I perceived the moment.

The Kyrie started differently. There was a quiet, pleading reverence that filled the room and was overwhelming. In the Glory to God there was emphasis on a humility that has never come across quite as strongly for me. Both pieces of music have been very effective before but in quite different ways. Of course this is my own experience. For others the liturgy may have felt the same as past services.

Pastor Mary presided today and her sermon focused on the Gospel lesson of forgiveness. In the Children’s Time she broke forgiveness down to two words for them for and give. During the sermon Pastor Mary talked about forgiveness as being like breathing in and out. She quoted a piece that Susan Kintner sent to Pastors on what forgiveness is and what it is not.

There was strength in these definitions, a realistic look that recognized the conflict in our lives and how we respond and how we can choose to respond.

After the Hymn of the Day and Prayers of the People there was a fun, interestingly strong moment when a ring tone that sounded like the Windows theme when a PC boots up, sounded over and over. Mary quipped “That’s God calling.” and after some appreciative laughter, Kelly responded by asking “Well, should we answer?”

After the sermon the service proceeded to Sharing of the Peace. This is always an exuberant time in Creator worship. Today conversation moved well beyond where it usually stops and the piece of music Kelly performed was hard to appreciate above the voices. An unusual moment for a congregation normally devoted to music.

Before communion Pastor Mary talked about “the smell of forgiveness” in the fresh bread and in the wine.

The Sending Song, Hallelujah! We Sing Your Praises, had an exultant ring that was an appropriate end for this service.

I looked forward to participating in the Congregational Conversation but the executive council meeting conflicted with that meeting after worship.

John agreed to be Vice President for Creator again this year. This was supported by council before but John was initially reluctant to take the office for another year. Susan made astute observations about the strengths John brought to the concerns of Creator as Vice President last year in the meeting and made similar comments about the strengths of the other executive council members that were quite impressive.

What is an ongoing concern for this congregation is Creator’s financial picture. The money coming in has not matched our expenses. In the past the church used money from the sale of property to the county to make up the difference and trusted that giving would increase when the church’s finances were communicated to the congregation. A lion’s share of the budget is fixed in mortgage, personnel and operating expenses. The council has felt these expenses are not discretionary. A Finance Task force has given the council recommendations on how to increase giving.

We will have challenges this year. This is a good group of people to work with to meet those challenges.