Reflections

Reflections I am home now for a while and look forward to seeing you on Sunday. Thanks to Tina and Ann for their Sunday work as liturgists, preachers and teachers in my absence! In recent months I have been thinking a lot about the division and trauma that our brothers and sisters in the United Methodist Church have been going through over the past year. The decision a couple of weeks ago by the state’s largest Methodist congregation to “disassociate” from the United Methodist Church immediately preceded my monthly trip to South Carolina where I am working with clergy and congregations that have undergone similar splintering. As I have shared before, it took more than a decade of civil litigation for most of the secessionist congregations and the church buildings to be returned by the courts to the Episcopal Church in South Carolina. In my own prayers I increasingly find myself in deep lament over the spirit of division that is now the dominate spirit of our culture. It is a spirit that has taught us that all of life is binary. There are only winners and losers. Any concession to the other, or ( heaven forbid!) compromise, only paves the way to my defeat. Such a spirit not only dominates the halls of Congress and church denominations, but most of our personal lives as well. Dare we admit our own reluctance to engage, socially or otherwise, with those with whom we disagree politically? Why is it that we are so much more comfortable circling our own cultural wagons to confirm our own personal preferences and attack the other, than to ask the question, “Is there truth in his/ her perspective that I am unable to see?” St. Paul was very clear that there is an absolute Truth found in Jesus. But he was also certain that none of us see that Truth with absolute clarity. “For [now] we know in part…For now we see in a mirror dimly, then [in the fullness of the Kingdom of God] we shall see face to face. Now I know in part, then I shall know fully…”. ( I Corinthians 13:9-12) Those words of warning about our own imperfect perspectives are the prelude to his more famous proclamation: “ So faith, hope and love abide, these three. But the greatest of these is love.” (I Corinthians 13:13). Love requires vulnerability, a very precious rare commodity in our day and time. We would much prefer to take our institutions, our churches, our friendships to safer and more secure ground, demonize those with whom I disagree, and assume I/ we are pure and righteous. And the distance between us grows. Loneliness in this same culture is at an epidemic level. I think there is a connection. Our former Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold was famously fond of saying, “Not only do we need each other. We were made for each other’s salvation.” I believe Bishop Griswold’s words from the depth of my soul. It often makes me very uncomfortable to try to live that way. I prefer the safer, more protective, route. But something keeps turning me away from that safety. Is it God? I sure hope so…or else, I am being terribly foolish and naive. Other Matters of Interest Salt and Light Improvements-Much has been done to the Salt and Light Building in my absence (Is there a connection?): New tile has been laid in the back room, a new sink installed and the loading dock in the back has been transformed into a lovely entrance porch. Thank you, Joe York! This space is fast becoming what we had first dreamed about: a place of hospitality to meet the needs of our Water Valley/ Yalobusha County community and the means to deepen our relationships at Nativity. It is all very exciting! I All Saints Sunday-November 5 We will celebrate All Saints Day, a major feast day of the church, on Sunday, November 5 at the 10:30 am worship service. During the Feast of All Saints we remember, and pray especially for those people of faith on whose shoulders we stand as we seek to be faithful in our day. If you would like to include someone to be remembered in prayer on that day please write his/her name on the All Saints prayer list in the rear of the church, or communicate your prayer request to James McCormick or me this week. We’ll have special music on All Saints Sunday to help us sing an old favorite hymn-“I Sing a Song of the Saints of God”. Our acolyte team returns, as well. It will be a very special day! See you Sunday! Blessings and Peace, Duncan (601)260-1937 Dmgrayiii@gmail.com