Two years ago, on the Sunday after Election Day 2024, I stood in this pulpit and said that we would have to learn from our collective stories and drink deeply at the well of our shared wisdom: creating community, building coalitions, working together for the common good.

Church, we have been busy doing just that. Amen?

Today we celebrate All Saints Sunday and Día de los Muertos. We remember those who have gone before us—our ancestors in faith, our families, our loved ones. Those whose lives, sacrifices, and stories have made our lives possible. And our scripture takes us to a river.

Last Sunday over lunch with a church family, we briefly discussed the Netflix adaptation of John Steinbeck’s East of Eden. There is a word at the heart of the work around which much circles. And I think that it’s important for this season. The word as Steinbeck calls it is timshel.

Good morning Beloved! 

Recently, I had a couple of conversations about whether to include some particular pieces of music in our worship service. For one of those compositions it was pointed out to me that, although the composer was known to have written some beautiful and beloved hymns, the author had also credibly been accused of misdeeds and unethical behavior. And while I agreed with the decision to not use that music, it sparked some philosophical and theological reflection within me.

Fifteen years ago, during Eden Church’s Small Groups and Pilgrims Potluck, Eden did not set out to start programs. Eden listened.

Padres Unidos was already organizing in this community. Parents were already naming what their families needed. Eden took notice of what was already going on. Relationships formed. Leaders emerged. And out of that listening programs were co-created with the community, Comida Para Cherryland and Las Compañeras.

We met with Padres Unidos again this past Friday. The listening has not stopped. Needs have changed. Strengths have emerged.

This morning’s text from Revelation was likely the inspiration for a well-known painting by an artist named Werner Sallman. Now, you may not have heard of Werner Sallman, but I’d be willing to bet that many of you  are familiar with his work. I wouldn’t put his work in the category of “fine art,” that you might see in a museum, but his paintings are widely known and much beloved by many. 

Good morning Beloved! 

Although I have been playing guitar since I was in middle school, I had never tried to play a ukulele until about ten days ago. Although I certainly anticipated that learning to play it would require some adaptation, I largely assumed it would be more of a cerebral challenge that a physical one. You see, the ukulele is tuned differently from a guitar and while the chord shapes are similar to those for the guitar, the pitches are different. So the shape that produces a D chord on a guitar, produces a G chord on the Uke. And the shape that produces a G chord on a guitar, produces a C chord on the Uke. So I assumed learning to play the Ukulele would largely involve remapping my synapses so that my brain would transpose the pitches in my mind to a new set of shapes in my fingers.

No one carries the whole story of Eden. Some of us carry decades. Some carry a few months. Some know Eden through Sunday worship; others through our direct services. Different threads. One story.

Or, as Paul says: many members, one body. Muchos miembros, un solo cuerpo.

Church, this month, Christians around the world observe the Season of Creation, remembering God as Creator and Sustainer of all life. And as part of our Sacred Rest series we have ventured into Meditation, Camping, a Taizé worship service, participated in rituals, had a Nature Walk, and just yesterday morning, we had 24 church and community members as part of a Spanish language Emotional Wellness Healing Circle Workshop with Pastor Rhina Ramos from Ministerio Latino. And as Pastora Rhina is Salvadoreña, of course there were pupusas. We also had wonderful guitar music from the illustrious Peruvian singer, Rosa Los Santos. 

I first moved away from my home town in my early twenties. I had been a commuter student at college, and had lived in a few different student apartments, but was never more than a 20 minute drive from my family home.  So my first real encounter with homesickness, besides being away at summer camp as a kid, was when I moved half a state away to pursue a Master’s degree. 

Good morning beloved! 

Over the last month, we have been exploring the idea of sacred rest and considering some of the spiritual practices that people routinely engage in. Today, I would like to talk a little bit about the ancient practice of meditation. And then I will invite you to join me as I lead us through a guided meditation.

In the tradition of the contemplative community of Taizé, France, there is no written sermon for this service. We invite you to find sacred rest in the hearing of scripture and music.