august 10, 2021 dear friend in faith,

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August10,2021DearFriendinFaith, Wearemorethanhalfwaythroughour“GearedUpforLife”seriesbasedontheNewTestamentEpistle-theLettertotheEphesians.ThisweekRev.DaleCockrumisservingasourguestpreacherandwillbepreachingthisweekonEphesians4:25-5:2.Ofallthevirtuesofthelifeworthyofthegospel,truthtellingmightbethemostcrucialinthismomentinhistory.Ephesiansmakestheargumentthattellingthetruthoughttobethecenterofallourrelationships,certainlywithinthebodyofChrist.Notthecrueltruth-tellingthatpointsoutothers’insignificantflawsthatmanyimaginewhenthinkingaboutalwaystellingthetruth,however.Thistruthtellingseesthroughthelieswetellourselvesaboutourmotivationsandourhiddensinfulnessandtoconfessevenaswecallotherstoconfesstheirlessthanfirmgriponthetruth.Letus,asweworship,pledgetobearwitnesstothetruthinallthings. Asalways,thisbulletincontainseverythingyouneedtoexperienceatimeofworship:liturgy,hymnsheets,andPastorDale’ssermonmanuscript.Throughoutthebulletin,whereveryouseeboldedfont,considereitherspeakingthosepartsaloudifyouareonyourown,orpickingsomeoneyou’reworshipingwithtobetheleaderandjointhemontheboldedparts.BesuretocheckoutStanKerr’sLectioDivinapracticeincludedattheveryendofthebulletin.Thisservice,withsomevariations,willbeavailableonYouTubeifyou’dliketoviewitthisweekend.Simplygotowww.youtube.com,searchfor“CheneyUMC”andselecttheAugust15thvideo.Ifyouhavequestions,comments,oraprayerrequest,pleasecontactme.Mayyouspeaktruthwhereveryougothisweek,PastorAlissaBertsch2044thSt.Cheney,WA99004c:509-879-2278 alissabertsch@gmail.com

CheneyUnitedMethodistChurch

August15th,2021–GearedUpforLifeSummerWorshipSeriesCalltoWorship

Come,letusputawayallthingsthatdivideusandloveoneanother. Forwearemembersofoneanother.Come;letusputawaylies,anger,stealing,andcorruptwords. Forwearemembersofoneanother.Come;letusputawaybitterness,wrath,clamor,andmalice. Forwearemembersofoneanother.Come;letusputawayuncleanness,idolatry,anddeception. Forwearemembersofoneanother.Togetherletusspeaktruth,labortogether,anddowhatisgoodandedifyingtotheLord. LetusbeimitatorsofGod,walkaschildrenofGod,andloveasChristfirstlovedus.Come,letusbethepeopleofGodwearecalledtobe. Forwearesaints,God’schosenpeople,andmembersofoneanother.AMEN.

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OpeningHymn “SingaNewSongtotheLord”-TFWS#2045

OpeningPrayer Breadoflife,youtaughtustoputawaybitternessandanger,andwithtenderheartedkindness

tosharethefruitofourlaborwiththeneedy.Strengthenusbyyourgrace,thatincommunionwithyou,wemayforgiveoneanotherandliveinloveasChristlovedus.Amen.

EpistleReading–Ephesians4:25-5:2(NRSV) Sothen,puttingawayfalsehood,letallofusspeakthetruthtoourneighbors,forweare

membersofoneanother.Beangrybutdonotsin;donotletthesungodownonyouranger,anddonotmakeroomforthedevil.Thievesmustgiveupstealing;ratherletthemlaborandworkhonestlywiththeirownhands,soastohavesomethingtosharewiththeneedy.Letnoeviltalkcomeoutofyourmouths,butonlywhatisusefulforbuildingup,asthereisneed,sothatyourwordsmaygivegracetothosewhohear.AnddonotgrievetheHolySpiritofGod,withwhichyouweremarkedwithasealforthedayofredemption.Putawayfromyouallbitternessandwrathandangerandwranglingandslander,togetherwithallmalice,andbekindtooneanother,tenderhearted,forgivingoneanother,asGodinChristhasforgivenyou.

Therefore,beimitatorsofGod,asbelovedchildren,andliveinlove,asChristlovedusandgavehimselfupforus,afragrantofferingandsacrificetoGod.

TheWordofLife. ThanksbetoGod.

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TheWordInterpreted “SpeakingTruth” PastorDale 300yearsago,inEngland,livedacommanderofamerchantship—whosenamewasCaptainFudge.Weknowabouthimbecausehewasknownfortellingtalltalesandexaggeratingtotheextremehisexploitsonthehighseas.Hewassuchanotoriousliarthathebecameidentifiedwithanyonewhotoldtalltales,andonboardEnglishships,whenacrewmembertoldatale,otherswouldpointathimandsay,“Fudge!”Fudge’sfamespreadacrossEnglandandontotheUnitedStates.Inthemid-1800’s,whenchildrenplayedgamestogetherandonestartedtocheat,theotherswouldsay,“Don’tfudge!”Fudgingmeanshedgingthetruth…orstretchingitorcheatingormisrepresentingthefactsinsomeway. Andlet’sfaceit,weallfudge!Atonetimeoranother,weallfudgethetruth.Itmaynotbesomethingbig!Itmaynotseemdevastating,butit’sstillfudging! Asalesmanlistshisexpenses,andsays,“NoonewillcareifIaddanextralunchorafewmoremiles….” Oryou’reastudentinaclassroom,andtheteacherannouncesapopquiz.Yousaytoyourself,“It’snotfair.Teachersoughttosaywhenwe’regoingtohaveatest.Ihaven’thadtimetoprepare.”Asyousittheregrumbling,youseetoyourleft,slightlyinfront,thatgirlwhoalwayshastherightanswers.Herpaperisrightwhereyoucanseeitandyousay,“Theteachershouldhavetoldus.I’lljusttakeaquickpeek...” OryoureadajuicypostonFacebook.Youhaven’tcheckeditout,but,hey,it’sagoodstory!Andthenextthingyouknow,you’veforwardedittoallyourfriends,“Haveyouheard…?” Wearesogoodatrationalizingbadbehavior!Youknowwhathappenswhenyougettotherootof“rationalize”?Youget“RationalLies!”Tooeasilywebuyintorationallies! We’reinaseriesonEphesians,andwe’vearrivedattheendofchapter4.Inverse25,Paulchallengesusto“putawayfalsehoodandspeakthetruthtoourneighbors.”OrasTheMessagetranslatesit,“Whatthisaddsupto,then,isthis:nomorelies,nomorepretense.Tellyourneighborthetruth.InChrist’sbodywe’reallconnectedtoeachother,afterall.Whenyoulietoothers,youenduplyingtoyourself.” For38years,WaltKallestadpastoredalargeLutheranchurchinPhoenix,theChurchofJoy.Onedayhestoppedbyaconveniencestoreandboughtafewitems;theclerkgavehimhischange.Hesticksitinhispocket,goesouttothecar,andrealizeshedidn’tcountthechange.Sohelooksandrealizesthattheclerkgavehim$20toomuch.“Whattodo?”Hereturnedtothestoreandsaid,“Yougaveme$20toomuchchange.”Theclerklookshimintheeyeandsays,“Yes,Iknow,Rev.Kallestad.IcametoyourchurchforthefirsttimelastweekandIwantedtoseeifyouwereforreal.” Theworldislookingatyouandatme.EachofusisarepresentativeofJesus.Andtheworldiswonderinghowweconductourlives,asking,“Areyouforreal?” Onestudysays2outof3Americansbelievethereisnothingwrongwithlyingifitsuitstheirpurposes,andthat91%ofuslieregularly.Timemagazinehadacoverstoryafewyearsagowiththisheadline:“LYING…Everybody’sdoingit!Honest!”Paulsays,“No—God’speoplearenottolie.Putawayfalsehood;speakthetruth.” Jesussays,intheSermonontheMount,“Letyour‘Yes’be‘Yes’.Letyour‘No’be‘No.’”Hesaysthisinthecontextoftakingoaths.InJesus’day,takingoathswas,paradoxically,oftenatimetofudgethetruth.Ifsomeonesaid,“Ipledgebyheaven,”theywerelikelytokeepthatpromise.Butiftheysaid,“IpledgebyJerusalem,”or“Ipledgebymyhead,”itwasn’tsosurethey’dhonorthosepledges.Therewasthen,astoday,atendencytocompartmentalizeourlives. Whenwecompartmentalize,wethinksomethingsareGodthingsandothers,notsomuch.SosometimesI’lltellthetruthandothertimesIdon’thaveto.I’lllivewithintegrityinsomeplaces,butnotinothers.Andwebegintoactinacertainwaywhenwe’rearoundGodthingsandinotherwayswhenwethinkwe’renotaroundGodthings,thoughinfact,wealwaysare!

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JoeHardingusedtosaythatwhenpeoplefoundouthewasapreacher,theylosthalftheirvocabulary.He’dbeplayingdoublesracquetballwithafriendagainstsomefolktheyjustmetatthegym,andthey’dbewhoopingitupandtellingstories,buttheniftheystartedtolose,iftheyweredownafewpoints,hispartnerwouldsay,“Hey,PastorJoe,how’sitgoingatthechurch?”Joesaidtheeffectontheotherteamwasstupefying.They’dstartsecond-guessingeverythingtheyhadjustsaidandlosetheirabilitytoplayracquetball.InnotimeJoeandhisbuddywouldputthemaway! NoneofuscandoeverythingintheKingdom.Wecan’tallsingsongs.Notallofuscanteach.Notallofuscanlead.Butthisisonepassageofscriptureeveryoneofuscankeep.Wecanallbetruthtellers.Wecanbecommitmentkeepers—peopleofintegrity.Intensimplewords,Jesusdefinedintegrityinthisway,“Letyour‘Yes’be‘Yes,’andyour‘No’be‘No.’”Paulsaysitinthree:“Tellthetruth.” Seven-year-oldTannerMunseyunderstoodaboutintegrity.Tanner’struth-tellinglandedhimonthepagesofSportsIllustrated.TannerwasplayingfirstbaseinaLittleLeaguebaseballgame,andabaserunnercamearoundandTannertriedtotaghim.Theumpiresawitandcalledtherunnerout.ButTannerreachedoutandgrabbedtheumpirebythesleeveandsaid,“Mr.Umpire,Imissedhim.”Theumpiresaid,“Son,whatdidyousay?”Tanneranswered,“Itriedtotaghim,Mr.Ump,butImissed.”Sotheumpirereversedhisrulingandcalledtheplayersafe. Twoweekslater,Tannerwasinanothergame,thistimeonshortstop.Aballcomeshisway,andhetriestotagoutanotherrunner.Theumpirecallstherunner“Safe!”andimmediatelyrealizessomethingiswrongwithTanner.Sohegoesupandasks,“Tanner,what’swrong?”Tannerreplies,“Mr.Umpire,heisn’tsafe.Itaggedhim.He’sout!”Theumpirereversedhisdecisionandcalledtherunnerout!Theopposingteam’scoachrushedoutontothefieldandwentballistic!Theumpireturnedtothecoachandsaidthis:“Thisboyhasshownmehe’satruth-teller,andifhesaystherunnerisout,he’sout!” ThatishowPaulwantsChristianstobeknown…aspeopleofintegritywhostandoutamidstallthenoiseofdeceptionanddeceit!Let’slookatsomeoftheareaswhereyouandIarepronetofudge…whereour“yes”isoftena“no”andour“no”is“maybe.” First,let’slookatourCasualCommitments.ByCasualCommitments,Imeanthoseoff-handed,well-intentionedpromisesyouandImaketocolleagues,friends,customers,andeventoourspousesandkids.Here’smyTop10listofCasualCommitments.CasualCommitment#10:“We’regoingtotakeafamilyvacationthisyear!”(Butwedon’tgetaroundto

it.)CasualCommitment#9:“Let’sdolunch.”(Howmanytimeshavewethrownthatoutwiththebestof

intentions,butitneverhappens?)CasualCommitment#8:“Justgivemeacall;I’llbethereforyou.”CasualCommitment#7:“I’llpayyoubacktomorrow.”CasualCommitment#6:“I’llstillloveyouinthemorning.”CasualCommitment#5:“Ijustneedaminuteofyourtime.”(Howlongcanaminutelast?)CasualCommitment#4:“Youcancountonmetodomyshareofthehousework”(or,“…changemy

shareofdiapers,ortodothat2a.m.feeding.”)CasualCommitment#3:“Thecheckisinthemail.”(Ifallthecheckssaidtobeinthemailactuallywere,

thepostofficewouldbeclogged!)CasualCommitment#2:“I’llprayforyou.”(Howmanytimeshaveweactuallygottenaroundtoit?)CasualCommitment#1:“Thisisgoingtobeashortsermon!”Hey!PatandIhaveneverpromisedyou

that! Thinkforamomenthowcasualcommitmentsimpactkids.Wesay,“I’llcometoyourgame,orconcert”,butwedon’t.Or,“I’llcomehomeearly;we’lltosstheballaroundbeforedinner”,butwedon’tshowup’tilthey’reinbed.Kidsareeasilybruisedbybrokenpromises.Childrenarenaïveenoughtoexpectour“yes”tobe“yes.”Whenwefudgeonlittlethings,prettysoontheydon’tbelieveusonbig

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things.Andtheystarttofollowourexample,whenthetimecomesthatthey’remakingcommitmentstous(like,“WhereamIgoing?WhatamIgoingtodo?WhoamIgoingtobewith?”),theyfudge,justlikewetaughtthem.Everytimeacasualcommitmentisbroken,incrementaldamageisdonetoarelationship.Credibilityisdiminished.Trustiseroded.Peoplefeeldevalued. WhatdowedoaboutCasualCommitments?IadmitI’vestruggledinthisarea.Pastorstendtoover-promisebecausewewantsomuchtobelikedbyothers.Maybeifwe’remakingcasualcommitmentsandnotkeepingthem,wecouldgotothepeoplewemadethemtoandapologize,andthendemonstrateoursinceritybykeepingfuturecommitments. Ifwe’resloppyinkeepingcasualcommitments,let’sdevelopanewhabit,startingtoday.Ifwecatchourselvesmakinganoff-handedpromise,ask,“AmIreallygoingtoliveuptothis?”Andifnot,maybeadd,“I’mnotgoingtopromisethistime.”Tellthetruth! Andlet’slookatourCorporateCommitments.ByCorporateCommitments,Imeancommitmentswemakeinthemarketplacetogiveourbossafullday’sworkforafullday’spay,ortotreatouremployeesfairly,tobehonestinouraccounting,tomaintainqualitystandards,tofollowthroughwithpromisestocustomers,andtobetruthfulinadvertising. Inone10-yearperiod,115ofthecountry’s500largestcompanieswerefoundguiltyofseriouscriminalorcivilmisconduct.Idon’tthinktheleadersofthosecorporationscameinonedayandsaidtotheiremployees,“We’regoingtoselloutourintegrity.”Morelikelyitwasagradualslide:“OK,wecandothisbecausethecompetitionisdoingit.”Or“theIRSwillnevercheckonthis.”Cornersbegintobecut;smallscalecheatingisoverlooked.Slowlyacompanyslipsfromasking,“What’stherightthingtodo?”to,“Whatarewelegallyrequiredtodo?”to,“Whatcanwegetawaywith?” Thewaytostopthatslideiswhenonepersonsays,“I’mnotgoingtolivemylifethatwayanymore.I’mgoingtoletmy“yes”be“yes”andmy“no”be“no.”Itwillnotbeeasy,butitisthewayofintegrity. ThenthereareCommunalCommitments.Thesearecommitmentswemakeinourcommunities,inourchurch—andthewaywebuildtrustforoneanotherinourfamilies.Thewaywemostoftenviolatecommunalcommitmentsisthroughgossip. Threepreachersareoutfishing.Theygettosharingatadeeplevel.Oneofthepreacherssays,“Youknow,I’venevertoldanybody,butI’vebeendrinkingalotrecently;I’mafraidImightbeanalcoholic.”Theothertwoaresadtohearthat,butitencouragesthemtoshare,too,andthesecondpreachersays,“I’venevertoldanyone,butI’vebeenspendingwaytoomuchtimewithawomanwhoisnotmywife.”Thethirdpreachersays,“Youknow,I’venevertoldanyonemysecretsin.It’sterriblebutIcan’thelpit.I’magossip!” Wejokeaboutit,butthetruthis,gossipplaysfastandloosewiththetruth.ItissodestructivethatbothHebrewandNewTestamentscripturecondemnitoverandoverbecauseitbreaksrelationships,violatescommunity,andhurtstheinnocentaswellastheguilty.Ithasdividedandconqueredmanychurches,andit’simpossibletoundo.Peopleofintegrityjustdon’tgossip!Theydon’tparticipateinit!Theydon’tlistentoit,andtheysurelydon’tshareit! Weneedtobelikewoodchucks,thosemarmot-likerodentsthatdigdeepintotheground…Woodchuckswerecreatedwithuniquemusclesintheirearsthatclosewhentheydig,sotheywon’tgetdirtinthem.Likewoodchucks,it’stimewecloseourearstothedirt. Specifically,ifpeopletrytopassondirtaboutanotherpersontoyou,letmegiveyoufivesimplequestionstoendmuchofit.They’reonscreen,andthey’resoimportant.“Whyareyoutellingmethis?”“Wheredidyougetyourinformation?”“Haveyougonetothatpersonandtoldthemwhatyou’retellingme?[You’retellingmesomethingthat’sreallynotmybusiness.Gotothatpersonandtalktothem.”]

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“Haveyoucheckedoutallthefactsonthis?”Andhere’sonethatstopsalot:“DoyoumindifIquoteyou?” Bytheway,thesearegreatquestionstoaskbeforepassingonpoliticalpostsorstoriesaboutpoliticians,orsciencefactoids.Justbecausealotofpeoplethinksomethingistruedoesn’tmakeitso.IcameacrossaNationalScienceFoundationsurveythatfoundthataquarterofAmericanscouldnotcorrectlyanswerthequestion,“DoestheEarthgoaroundtheSun,ordoestheSungoaroundtheearth?” 26percentofthosesurveyedansweredincorrectly,muchtothedismayoftheirelementaryschoolscienceteachers. IoncesharedinaFourthofJulysermonaverymovingpiecesomeonehadforwardedtomebyemail,aboutthesacrificesournation’sfoundershadmade,onlytoreadthenextweekthatmostofitwasnottrue.Ihadtopublishameaculpainthenextchurchnewsletter!I’vereadotherstoriesattributedtothisfamouspersonorthatpolitician,onlytodoabitofdiggingandfindthatthewholethingisalie.IfIamtobetrueinmyCommunalCommitments,Ineedtoknow,“Whyareyoutellingmethis?”“Wheredidyougetyourinformation?”and“Haveyoucheckedthefacts?” IappreciatedthepassageStanKerrexploredinLectioDivinaacoupleweeksago,fromPaul’sfirstlettertoTimothy:“TheSpiritmakesitclearthatastimegoeson,somearegoingtogiveuponthefaithandchaseafterdemonicillusionsputforthbyprofessionalliars.Theseliarshaveliedsowellandforsolongthatthey’velosttheircapacityfortruth”(4:1-2). Therealityiswe’reupagainstsomeveryskilledprofessionalliars,aswellaspeoplewhohavesimplylosttheircapacityfortruth,whoaredoingeverythingtheycantothrowusoffthetruth,whowanttoharmusanddivideus.AsPauladvisesinITimothy4:7,“Stayclear!” Iwanttotouchonafinalcategoryofcommitments:KingdomCommitments.Alotofusmakesuchcommitmentswhensomeonejoinsthechurch.Werenewourkingdomcommitmentsbysayingwiththosejoining,“IacceptJesusastheSavior,theonewhoforgivesmysins.IaccepthimasmyLord,whomIfollowasleaderofmylife.”That’saKingdomCommitment.It’saKingdomCommitmentwhenweanswerthequestionthepastorsasknewmembers,“Willyouupholdthischurchbyyourprayers,yourpresence,yourgifts,yourservice,andyourwitness?” ButdoyouknowthegreatestKingdomCommitmentofall?It’snotthecommitmentswemake;it’sthecommitmentGodhasmadetous.Goddoesn’tjustgiveusdisembodiedtruth;hegivesusJesus,whoisthetruth.“Iam,”saysJesus,“theWay,theTruth,andtheLife.” MaythelifeofJesusshapeourcommitmentstooneanother…ourCasualCommitments…ourCorporate,CommunalandKingdomCommitments,asour“yes”is“yes,”andour“no”is“no,”aswelivelivesofintegrityandtellthetruth.

Endnotes:Thissermonisbased,inpart,uponmaterialfromthefollowingsources:1. LeithAnderson,WinningtheValuesWar2. WilliamBarclay,DailyBibleStudy(Matthew),Vol13. MaxLucado,ControllingYourTongue4. JamesPatterson,PeterKim,TheDayAmericaToldtheTruth5. LeeStrobel,SimpleTruthTelling6. ScottNeuman,1in4AmericansThinkstheSunGoesAroundtheEarth,SurveySays.NPR,February14,

2014.

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HymnofResponse

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PastoralPrayerforPeace&theLord’sPrayer EternalGod,whosemessagetoushasalwaysbeenthatourrelationshiptoyouisinextricably

relatedtohowwetreatoursistersandbrothers,cometousthisdayandtouchuswithyourpower.• Weanusfromourtendencytonurtureperceivedslightsandtoputhotcoalstoouranger.• Weanusfromalltendenciestotakeadvantageofothersforpersonalgain.• Weanusfromnegativityandfrombecomingbitterwhetherornotwethinkwearejustifiedin

ourfeelings.• Weanusfromthealltoohumanandcommontendencytogossipaboutothersandtoslander

theminanyway.• Weanusfromcarryingmaliceinourheartsandfromgivingintoanythingthatwouldpoison

relationshipswithothers.Grantusaconsistentkindnessandcompassionforothers.Maywealwaysbetenderheartedeven

whentheworlddeliverstousdifficultblowsandsetbacks.Teachusagainaboutyourredeeminggraceinorderthatwemaylearn,howeverslowlyandtentatively,howtoforgiveothers.Teachushowtoliveintothefutureasvictoriousandexpectantpeople,greetingeachnewdaywitheagernessandexcitement.Andindeliblyremindusthatweareamongyourforgivenandbelovedcommunity.

Wepraytodayforallwhohavespecialneedofyourgrace.Keeptheminyourgraciouscareandinsofarasweareableuseustomaketheirburdenslighter.Bewiththosewhowarandwhoarevictimsofwarandgranttousapeacefulworld. God,weofferalltheseprayers,joiningourvoicestogethertopraytheprayeryourSontaughtus:

OurFather,whoartinheaven,hallowedbethyname.Thykingdomcome,thywillbedone,onearthasitisinheaven.Giveusthisdayourdailybread,andforgiveourtrespasses, asweforgivethosewhotrespassagainstus.Andleadusnotintotemptation,butdeliverusfromevil, forthineisthekingdom,thepowerandthegloryforever.Amen.

ClosingHymn “TogetherWeServe”-TFWS#2175

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Benediction GooutandimitateGod,livinginlove.PutyourhopeinGod’sWord

andletyourownwordsbetruthfulandconstructive.Maysinrouseyouranger,butneverletangercauseyoutosin.

Don’tallowanyroomforevil,andmayGodalwayshearyourvoice.MayChristJesusraiseyoutonewlife;andmaytheHolySpiritnourishyouforthelifeoflove.

GoinpeacetoloveandservetheLord,Amen.LectioDivinaPracticefromStanKerr

Today’swelcomingwords: WelcomeHolySpirit.BreatheGod’spresenceintous. Greetings,CheneyUMCandfriends.MynameisStanKerrandIhavetheprivilegeofguidingustodayonaspiritualpracticeknownaslectiodivinaorsacredreadingofscripture.Today’sscriptureisfromthebookofSongofSolomon3:1-5(NRSV). Let’sseewhatGodhasinstoreforustodayasweopeninprayer:Godwhoisallseeing,beoureyestodaythatwemightseeyourwayforwardforyourpeople,yourchurchandyourworld.Whatweseechangesourperceptionanddrivesourdirection.Whatweseecolorsourcreativeandcollaborativespirit.Whatweseecallsthatwhichisshadowintothelight.WhatweseeisbornofGodasweseektheHolytogether.Blesstheeyesofourhearts,LivingLord,thatwemightseethroughthelensofyourHolySpirittheroadyouwouldhaveuswalk,thejourneyyouwouldinviteustoasweworkandpray.Withsingularfocusofloveandgrace,weyieldourselvesthisday!Amen.(greatplainsumc.org/prayervideos) Asyouprepareforthistimeofsacredreadingorlectiodivina,IencourageyoutoquietyourheartandmindforthistimewithGod.Lightacandleinyourcomfortableandquietplace.Takeamomenttoslowdownwithasimplebreathingexercise.Closeyoureyes,loweryourshouldersandrestyourhandscomfortablyinyourlaporonyourthighs.Breatheinoncethroughyournose,holdthebreath,andbreathinasecondtime(againthroughthenose)pushingthefirstbreathdeeperintoyourlungs.Releasethebreathslowlyoutyourmouth.Dothistwomoretime.Godspeakstousthroughthesacredscriptureslettingusknowthathehasunconditionalloveforus.Today’sscripturewillbereadforatotalofthreetimes.Listencloselyforawordorphraseorimageorfeelingthatspeaksorringsouttoyouasthescriptureisreadforthefirsttime.Slowlyrepeatthatwordorphrasetoyourselfacoupleoftimes.Thisisatimeofconversationandprayerbetweenyou&GodandGodhasgivenyouthiswordorphraseorfeelingorimagetoyouforthistimeofsacredreading.OpeningupyourfeelingsisencouragedforthisconversationwithGod…feelingsfromabundantlyjoyfultothosedesperatelydifficult.Aftereachreading,usethesilencethatfollowstoreflectonthatphraseorwordorimageorfeelingandconsideratasaspiritualgiftfromGodthathewantsyoutouse.AskingGodhowtousethisspiritualgift,ispartoftoday’sprayer. Ifnothingspeakstoyouoryou’reuncertainofwhatyou’redoing,prayboldyandwithouthesitationtoGodwithunbelievablefaith.Godwillansweryou.TrustthatGodunderstandsyou.Ifyourmindwanders,slowlybringitbacktoyourlisteningtothescriptureasyoureceivethegiftofscripturefromGod.

SongofSolomon3:1-5(NRSV)Love’sDream1 UponmybedatnightIsoughthimwhommysoulloves;Isoughthim,butfoundhimnot;Icalledhim,buthegavenoanswer.

2 “Iwillrisenowandgoaboutthecity,inthestreetsandinthesquares;Iwillseekhimwhommysoulloves.”Isoughthim,butfoundhimnot.

3 Thesentinelsfoundme,astheywentaboutinthecity.“Haveyouseenhimwhommysoulloves?”

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4 ScarcelyhadIpassedthem,whenIfoundhimwhommysoulloves.Iheldhim,andwouldnotlethimgountilIbroughthimintomymother’shouse,andintothechamberofherthatconceivedme.

5 Iadjureyou,OdaughtersofJerusalem,bythegazellesorthewilddoes:donotstiruporawakenloveuntilitisready!

(pauseforyourfirsttimeofreflection)Asyoureadthroughasecondtime,allowthewordorphraseorfeelingorimagethatcaughtyourattentiontostiryourthoughtsorfeelingstoadeeperlevelofreflection.Inyourmind’seye,considerwhatyouseewhenyouseethatwordorphrasesurroundedbyabright,whitelight.Goslowly,allowGodtimetosayallhewantstosaytoyoutoday.(whenyouareready,readthescriptureagain) NowtalkhonestlywithGodaboutwhateveryou’refeeling…listenforhisinvitationstoyou.HowareyoubeingcalledtorespondtoGod’sword?WhatdoyouneedfromGodrightnow?(whenyouareready,readthescriptureagain) RestnowinthepresenceofGodwhoknowsyoubetterthanyouknowyourself.Yourthoughtsandfeelingsrightnow,duringthistimeofsilenceandconversationwithGod,hasbeenhisgifttoyou.Forafewmoments,simplybe.AllowthesilenceandmessagefromGodtorestinyou.Whenyouareready,closewiththisprayer:"Lord,youhavebeenourhelpgenerationaftergeneration.Beforethemountainswereborn,beforeyoubirthedtheearthandtheinhabitedworld–fromforeverinthepasttoforeverinthefuture,youareGod.Teachustodowhatpleasesyou,becauseyouareourGod.Guideusbyyourgoodspiritintoagoodland."-FromPsalm90:1-2andPsalm143:10