As usual this blog is the final script I prepared for today … which I barely looked at when I spoke. I rambled more than usual and people seemed to get the gist of what I had heard. I started by mentioning a story Larry told me, before worship started, about his 2 year old grandson who takes off up the path without paying his grandfathers any attention “…sort of like us and God” Larry said. In my preamble, I also mentioned that the opening song, My Hope is Built – “on Christ the solid rock I stand…”, is a great metaphor for how Jesus is part of our lives. I also mentioned how the next song More Love sounded like the Psalm for the day… ” There is more love* somewhere. / There is more love somewhere. / I’m gonna keep on ‘til I find it. / There is more love somewhere. *Additional verses: hope, peace, joy.” I commented that with the Holy Spirit pouring love into our hearts, like Paul told the Romans, maybe we need to look inward for “more” love, joy, peace and hope – which could be signs that Yahweh is standing by our side. Anyway despite my rambling I feel it was an OK homily. I gave folk a chance to share a God moment which isn’t part of the script here. Lloyd came up and shared that he’d seen Bruce Cockburn at the Winnipeg Folk Festival the day before and how Bruce’s spirituality came through in his songs … a God moment for Lloyd. After my homily Owen, the worship leader, gave a time for sharing and others spoke of some God moments in their lives – primarily how family and community helped them with health issues.

Scriptures for the day: 1 Samuel 4:2, 5-11,19-22; Psalm 77:1-12,19-22; Romans 5:1-5; John 14:25-31

The song I requested and we sang before my homily was one of those sort of cheesy – early ’70s, especially the pic on the video – AND like many hymns there is truth buried in the chorus. I included a link if you want to hear it all.  You are Near – Dan Shutte https://youtu.be/_Uge74xLmg0?si=W_sPLy3k9p_GgGMB

Chorus:

Yahweh I know you are there standing always by my side.

You guard me from the foe and lead me in ways everlasting.

This is the script I had written out:

What stood out for me as I read the scriptures Wilda Gafney chose for today, was the ways that God showed up for folk in the stories we read. And the song Yahweh I know you are there, standing always by my side…came to mind. So that’s what I’m going to share around this morning. How does God show up in your life? How do you know, when do you become aware of Yahweh standing always by your side? Standing always by your side…whether you know it or want it. How do you experience living and moving and having your being in Love? Big questions and if something comes to mind, a story about a place or person or spiritual practise that seems to help you know – not just your head but your heart and body…helps you know that Yahweh is by your side…make a note of it…physically or mentally and if you want there will be time during my homily to share your symbol, story, ritual or whatever helps you know that Y is standing always by your side…you’re not alone. We’re not alone.

What is your story. I got the impression as I meditated on these reading that at one level they are simply stories about people experiencing Yahweh standing by and there were things, symbols that helped them know or hope Yahweh would be there – cause Yahweh had showed up in their story before.

Obviously for the early Israelites the ark of the covenant was main symbol of Yahweh’s presence. Even the Philistines knew the story of how the Israelites gods smote the Egyptians …notice the plural. You speak of what you know and the Philistines had many gods so why wouldn’t the Israelites – what did the Philistines know about Hebrew theology. Anyway the Ark was a major part of the Israelites story and when they wanted Yahweh to be with them they brought out the ark and unfortunately in this story Yahweh didn’t guard them from the foe. Not sure what to say about that other than the story doesn’t end here. You should read how the ark eventually got back to Israel, almost like it had a life of it’s own…which I’m sure was the intent of the editors of these books in the Hebrew Bible … they wanted folk to know that Yahweh is bigger than our enemies and will punish us and them if we don’t do what Yahweh wants. I’m not comfortable with that theology and am glad Jesus showed us that Love is bigger than judgement and punishment. Suffering happens and Yahweh I know you are there, standing always by my side…I’m not alone. We’re not alone. Psalm 23 all over again. And that comforts and encourages me…especially as this body doesn’t work perfectly anymore…aging has it’s challenges and I’m glad that my story continues. Enough of me.

This story reminds the Jewish people of Yahweh being with them through symbols and there’s always a story that go with symbols. That’s what Ps. 77 reminds us of. It seems like the psalmist had a problem believing Yahweh was by his side…until he started remembering his history, his story and recalled Yahweh’s faithfulness in the verses Gafney left out of the reading.

What god is so great as our God?

You are the God who works wonders;

you have displayed your might among the peoples.

With your strong arm you redeemed your people,

the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.

The Passover and freedom from Egypt is a great story and are good reminders of Yahweh presence and it’s ritualized every year in Jewish homes. I like the idea that our Bible is a library of stories Hebrew and Christian and rituals, prayers, ceremonies that keep the stories alive.

The last verses of psalm 77 are – “in the sea was your way, and your paths in the many waters, yet your footsteps were not seen…” It can be hard to know that Yahweh is near AND the psalmist concludes with a positive statement – “you lead, your people like a flock, by the hand of Miriam, Aaron and Moses” Another way that you can know that Yahweh is standing near is through people. Leaders, authors – like Wilda Gafney, like Thomas Merton (I pointed to a book of Merton’s I had put at the front) I’m sure you have a list of folk living and dead that remind you that Yahweh is standing by you.

People tell stories and ritualize stories to help us remember that Yahweh is standing by. That’s basically what communion is, a ritualized story about Jesus … given to us by Jesus and recorded and re-enacted millions of times around the world especially today, daily in some communities.

Perhaps you have other rituals that you do that help remind you that Yahweh is always by your side. Every religion in the world has stories, people, rituals that remind them that Creator, Yahweh, Allah, Brahman, Love is as close as the breath we breath.

And that’s what the Christian story we heard earlier in Romans and John reminds us of – Ruach, the wind, the fire, the mysterious Holy Spirit that Jesus promised would help us know that we are not alone. Jesus also promises us peace. So there’s an emotion that can remind us that Yahweh is always standing by.

SO … Anyone experienced Yahweh standing by this week. Have you had an experience a sense of Jesus peace in contrast to the world peace. Recently or from the past… Are there stories that bring you peace? Are there symbols that bring you peace. Places that help you connect with the peace that passes understanding. Are there people, alive or alive in books or memory that remind you that Yahweh is always standing by. Anyone. Here or Online? We have a few minutes if anyone wants to share a Yahweh standing by story.

(Lloyd shared and I continued) Here’s my latest Yahweh standing by – being in the presence of Love story…

As you may know I had my 70th birthday party last Friday – and interesting ritual. Sorry I couldn’t invite all of you but our house is too small…it was full…full of love and that spoke to me of Yahweh standing by me in many shapes and sizes. That night I felt surrounded by love, hopefully others felt that way. I will remember that night for the rest of my life – it’s part of my story now. I’ll forget the haichus folk wrote but that sense of being loved will never leave me. Many brought symbols – cards and haichus – which have covered our piano for that past week. Whenever I looked at them I sensed Love standing by. I’ve felt calmer, grounded in the Love that sustains the universe and this world and my life, no matter what’s happening … Symbols, words, stories, even after I clean them up, Love won’t go away … I’ll still move and live and have my being in Love and those cards and smiles of friends just added to that reality. I wrote a haichu after that night –

Hugs smiles cards haikus

Live move have being in love

Got to party more

Never thot I’d say that…it’s a birthday miracle…

Let me conclude by saying as confidently as I can that I believe each one of us can experience the peace of Jesus, the peace of Christ – especially when we tell the Jesus story and remember it when we share the symbols of bread and wine. I believe Yahweh is standing by as we worship together, sing and pray. Yahweh is standing by when we share announcements and sometimes food. These are all ways I believe we can experience Yahweh standing by…comforting, encouraging, giving us peace… letting us know we are not alone, in symbols, stories, people and by the Spirit’s power, no matter what’s happening in Gaza, Ukraine, south of the border, in our province or homes. Yahweh is by our side as a community and by your side no matter what your going through. Thanks be to Love. AMEN