,

 

God is still speaking,...

what does that mean?

Ready to Print

 

Daring to believe that God is not dead (with all due respect to Nietzsche, who, by the way, is.)

 

That you don't have to be 3,000 years old and have a name with four syllables to hear from God.

 

 

"I have so much more to say to you..."

-John 16:12 (NIV)

 

Believing that Jesus meant it when he said he'd be there whenever two or three are gathered in his name.

 

But mostly, "God is still speaking" means believing the good, good news that we are not alone.

 

 

"God is still speaking,"...

 

When there is no word but Chaos, God whispers, "Let there be."

 

When the world says, "Slavery," God says, "I don't think so."

 

When the people say, "There is no more to learn about God," God says, "This is my son."

 

When people say, "God has spoken, there is no more to learn about God," God takes a deep, patient breath, and says,...

 

When the Disciples said, "We can't go on without you!" Jesus said, "I will be with you always."

 

When the Church said, "There is only one way," the Reformers said, "Maybe not..."

 

 

What does the comma mean?

 

God didn't stop speaking at the end of the Bible.  God has more to say.

 

God is still trying to get my attention, trying to get me to look, to feel, to listen.

 

God speaks through other people, nature, music, art, and the Bible.

 

God is still speaking through the life and teachings of Jesus today.  Our faith is over 2,000 years old, but our thinking is not.

 

We're all on a journey that continues throughout our lives.  God accepts us no matter where we are on that journey.

 

It's time to focus beyond my worries about all the little "gods" --money, family, job, retirement, whatever--to a God who is real and alive and isn't finished with me yet.

 

 

 

Do you think your church is pretty great?

If you do, why keep it a secret?

 

Most church members talk about their church only to other members of the church.  But they already know about your church!

        If you found a great restaurant, you’d tell people about it.  If you read a good book or saw a good movie, you’d tell people.  So why not tell people about your church?

        If your church adds value to your life, share it!  Church should add more value than a great restaurant!

        Let the world, or just one other person, in on the secret:

“I love my church.”

 

Here are some ways a few of us have found to say we love our church…

 

14 Ways to Say “I Love My Church”

ü      I love my church because it’s sort of like the Wizard of Oz—it’s about having a heart and a brain.  And courage!

ü      I love my church because when we cried together on Sept. 11th, we cried for the whole world.

ü      I love my church because the Sunday school teacher gives out prizes to the kid who asks the best questions.

ü      You know, if you want a church where you can pretend for an hour or two that everything is just fine with you, with your family, and with the world, then we’re probably not for you.  But if you want a church where you can tell the truth about how it is and know that it’s okay, maybe you’ll find a home here.

ü      What I love about the UCC is that it’s about Jesus—not just Jesus who’s on our side, but Jesus who calls us to walk by his side.

ü      I’m single and I love my church because it’s the only place I don’t feel like I need to buy a family size to belong.

ü      What I love most about my church is that it’s a place where we feel free to “think out loud together.”

ü      I love my church because they make space for wheelchairs in the sanctuary, and care enough to have hearing devices for people who need them

ü      You know why I love my church? Because for one hour every week I get reminded that life is more than getting up and going to work, dealing with problems, and worrying about everything under the sun.

ü      I love the United Church of Christ because we’re giraffes not turtles; we aren’t afraid to stick our necks out.  We ordained the first African-American in the 18th century, the first woman in the 19th century, and the first gay man in the 20th century!  That helps me stick my neck out and take a risk every now and then.

ü      I love my church because the sermons make me think about things I would probably never normally think about.

ü      I love my church because when we get together we aren’t afraid of sharing our feelings. A few years ago we voted on whether or not to move the whole congregation to a new building. People of all ages shared how they felt, and nobody was mean.

ü      Why I love church? Just last Sunday a little girl, maybe four, walked by herself across the aisle, left her parents, and climbed into the lap of a woman who is 83 years old and who lives alone.

ü      Why do I love the UCC? Because it’s not just about believing in Christ, it’s about following Jesus!

 

What about you? Why do you love your church?

 

Here are some of the times and places when you might tell someone about your church:

 

·        At the soccer game or swim practice.

·        In the emergency room waiting area.

·        On the golf course.

·        At dog obedience class.

·        At the gym.

·        At a neighbor’s barbecue.

·        On a fishing trip.

·        At a block party.

·        At the barber shop.

·        At your book club meeting.

·        On the playground.

·        While getting your nails done.

·        At the donut shop.

·        At Happy Hour.

·        At a School Board meeting.

·        At the unemployment office.

·        At the country club.

·        At Open House at school.

·        At yoga class.

 

 

 

The Comma is a Reminder

 

        The comma reminds me of our ancestors who fled religious oppression.  As they listened to God they heard a call to reform the church and work for a world with religious freedom.  They set us on a continuously expanding path of understanding that all people, are loved by God and should be treated with dignity and respect.

        The comma reminds me of an unusual religious freedom we celebrate at my church--the freedom and responsibility to engage the Bible with our own unique experiences, questions, and ideas.  We don't leave our brains at the door; we're expected to bring them to church.

        My church gave me this comma, reminding me to balance our rich religious past with openness to the new ideas, new people, and new possibilities of the future.  From what I read about Jesus in the Bible, that's what he did.  So, I'm trying to be more balanced, open, and trying to listen.  I believe that God is still speaking, and this comma reminds me to be hopeful.  Sometimes I need that.  As I imagine the future, and all the problems big and small, I remember that God will be with me.

 

 

The Comma means Continuity

 

        The UCC is a church of many "firsts." Ours was the first historically white denomination to ordain an African-American (in the 18th century), the first in the modern era to ordain a woman (in the 19th century), and the first to ordain an openly gay man (in the 20th century).

        We were in the forefront of the anti-slavery movement.  We founded the first institutions of higher learning in America (Harvard, Yale) and were among the first to establish schools and colleges for newly freed slaves (Fisk, Dillard).  We were early leaders in the Social Gospel movement, taking seriously Jesus' commandment to "love your neighbor as yourself."  We brought to North America the concept of freedom of the press; today, the Pilgrim Press is the oldest publishing house in the U.S. We published the first book in what would become the United States (The Bay Psalm Book) and the first (and only!) Christian hymnal that honors in equal measure both male and female images of God:

 

 

Go to www.Stillspeaking.com

for further information on these and many other UCC "firsts."