St. Paul’s United Church Sunday, June 21, 2009
“Our Song of Faith”
John 14:1-8; 14-20
A Dialogue Between David
Mundy and Cathy Russell
Confirmation Sunday
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DAVID
This morning we listened to a
well-known passage of scripture which comes from John’s version of the Last
Supper, the final meal Jesus shared with his disciples. We could also describe
it as the Last Confirmation Class because even in this setting Jesus is
instructing those who loved him and would be left behind after his death.
Of course, even though the
disciples revered Jesus as teacher and rabbi, we discover that there is
interaction between them in this poignant moment. At least two of the
disciples, Thomas and Philip, had very direct questions for Jesus about what it
will mean to follow him once he is no longer with them.
Those of us of a certain age
can remember confirmation as an experience where we gathered with young people
of them same age and listened to someone else telling us what we ought to
believe. Some of us were required to memorize the Apostle’s Creed, one of the
ancient statements of faith of the Christian church and we didn’t “pass”
confirmation unless we learned it by heart.
I remember that in my
confirmation program the emphasis was on listening and learning, not on
exploring faith or “heaven forbid” asking tough questions. It was odd, really,
because at a time of my life when I actually had many concerns and questions
about a loving God in a world of cruelty, the human nature of Jesus, as well as
the divine, and whether we really needed a community of believers called the
church, there wasn’t much opportunity for honest and open exploration of faith.
In some respects it didn’t matter what I thought, because it was just expected
that we would go through this process on our way to church membership.
CATHY
My experience of Confirmation
was both similar and different to what David has described. We too had to
memorise the Apostle’s Creed, although my recollection was that it was a group
endeavour rather than an individual test. But in my class, we were encouraged
to dialogue and question to a much greater extent. In fact my Dad who was the minister and
Confirmation leader, took care to say “And if you want to disagree with me
that’s fine too.” Since I could imagine
no other situation where I would be encouraged to disagree with my father in
public, in front of my friends and peers, I took full advantage. In fact, I remember my whole confirmation
class as one of lively question and discussion, even passionate argument from
time to time-I don’t remember so much what we discussed as I do the atmosphere
of open exploration and exchange.
Perhaps my own experience with that process is what has made me hang on
the belief that young people have many concerns about the big questions of
faith and life, and that all they need a safe place to explore those questions
with those whose wisdom and experience they trust. And this is an opportunity that can only be
provided by the community of faith, not only for young people, but for people
in any stage of life.
DAVID
Through the years I have been
involved in different formats for confirmation, including one congregation that
had a two-year program held Sunday mornings at 8:30, so our group can count
themselves lucky! There have certainly
been changes to our approach. For one thing, confirmation is no longer just for
teens, although they are still important! People of all ages participate, including
those who are there for a “refresher course.” There is a strong emphasis on
discussion, along with instruction. I
have really enjoyed the interaction between generations.
One aspect of our preparation
has been discussion of one of our statements of faith, which is often called
the New Creed. In the late 1960's the United Church developed a succinct
faith statement, only half a page long in our hymn book. While there have been
a couple of minor revisions and additions, it is much-loved because it is so
straightforward and “user-friendly.” Some denominations in the U.S. have
included it in their worship books, and it has even been set to music.
The New Creed, which is now
middle-aged rather than new, is one of several faith statements for our United
Church, beginning in 1925, and it is the exception rather than the rule. The
others have been much lengthier reflections on what it means to be a Christian
in our Protestant context. Nearly forty years later our denomination has
developed what is entitled The Song of Faith, which is lengthier in the
fashion of our first faith statements, but contemporary in its language and expression
of Christianity.
CATHY
The Song of Faith is written in poetic language.
The authors felt this would make the statement evocative rather than
definitive as they hoped the Song of
Faith would be a conversation starter rather than a conversation ender.
So much of what Jesus says in
the gospels, particularly in John could be classified as evocative rather than
definitive. Jesus’ statement “I am the
Way, the Truth and The Life”, for example is perhaps the classic example of a
conversation starter- evoking (provoking?) a conversation, at times a heated
one, that shows no sign of slowing down after 2000 years or more. And it is Thomas’ question, his desire to
dialogue, his engagement with his faith that leads to a fuller revelation from
Jesus, and a deepened sense of relationship to the God who is Holy mystery for
the disciples and for us.
Taking our cue from Thomas, throughout
our weekly meetings, we have read through and responded verbally and in writing
to a different section of the Song of Faith together. Each has evoked conversation, questions, and
I believe true insights into our shared faith.
Those insights have been gifts to me and to John, as co-leaders, and it
seems only right to re-gift a few of those moments to you now.
Song of Faith
We sing of God the Creator, Maker and Source of all
that is
“God is revealed in a unique
way through every part of creation... everything is interconnected under the
eyes of God” Christopher Aiello
Every day we hear from many
experts about what is happening to our earth, and what we must do to avoid
global environmental catastrophe. And
yet though science can tell us many things, it is the eyes of faith- eyes like
Christopher’s that apprehend the sacredness and given-ness
of life all around us. If we are to
restore some kind of balance to our planet, we will need not only scientific know-how,
but this same sense of reverence and gratitude for what God has made.
Song of
Faith
We offer worship
as an outpouring of gratitude and awe
and a practice of opening ourselves
to {God}
“Through every way imaginable God changes our lives, our
relationships and the world. We sing
because we trust in him.”
Josh Armstrong
You cannot come close to God and be the same. When we open ourselves to God in worship, we
are opening ourselves to the ways in which God may change us. Josh was particularly interested in where the
rubber hits the road-how does God changes us and our relationships. A question both keen and practical- one that
is probably easier to answer after the changes have
taken place. But to trust in God is to
know that those changes when they come will be for the better, and help us to
be the best versions of ourselves.
Song of
Faith
Scripture is our song for the journey, the
living word
passed on from
generation to generation
to guide and inspire
“I found the fact that we don’t have to take the bible
literally really comforting”
Jonathan Marsellus
Often Christian fundamentalists, who believe in God,
and atheist fundamentalists who don’t, claim that being a Christian means
taking every word in the bible as historically and scientifically
accurate. Jonathan spoke of wondering
how he could be a critical thinker and a Christian after a school mate told him
that if he didn’t believe the Biblical accounts word for word, he was going to
hell. To hear that one could be faithful
Christian, and use the mental faculties God gave you was a source not only of
relief, for Jonathan but of renewed commitment to a faith that allowed him that
freedom.
Song of Faith
We are called together by Christ, as a community of
broken but hopeful believers.
“My church is like my second
family”
Kathryn Lang
The Song of Faith does not
pretend that the church is perfect, and reminds us that we are dependent always
on the Spirit to live out our faith in a way that makes us a blessing and not a
curse. We are all aware of the many
sins, real and imagined with which the church stands accused. And yet it seems to me that if the church can
hold a position of such regard and affection in the heart of a young person,
then with God’s grace, we must be doing something right.
Song of Faith
We sing of God’s good news lived out, a church with a
purpose.
“I grew up. I realised there were other reasons to come
to church than just friends.”
The first thing Jesus does
after his baptism and wilderness experience is to call together a
community. But the purpose of that community
is to proclaim and serve the kingdom of God.
Like many young adults, Krysta found that many
of her peers were not part of a church, and at first, this reality kept her at
a distance as well. This insight she
shared, however, shows how the seeds of faith have matured in her heart, and
serves as a reminder to us all- that to be friends in Christ is to be friends
for Christ.
Christopher, Josh, Jonathan,
Kathryn and Krysta: Over a period of seven weeks, you have been
introduced to and responded to the United Church’s Song of Faith, as Christ’s
friends. Your voices have taken up that
song in a way that shows your true desire to confirm the promises of faith your
parents made at your baptism. John and
I, Heather, Debbie and Laina have been privileged to
accompany your voices and to add some parts that we have learned along the way. Faith is a song we share together, but it is
also song each one of us must sing for ourselves- no one else can do it for us.
We pray that it will be a song that you will sing your whole life long,
wherever you may go, and whatever life may have in store for you. May it be a song of gratitude, and joy, may
it be a song of justice and peace, may it be a song full of harmony, and may
you share it with others a sign of our Faith in God, our Hope in Christ Jesus,
and our Reliance on the Holy Spirit.
Thanks be to God, AMEN.