The Reading: Ephesians 3: 17b-21
May Christ dwell in your hearts through faith, so that you, being rooted and grounded in love, will be able to grasp fully the breadth, length, height and depth of Christ’s love and, with all God’s holy ones, experience this love that surpasses all understanding, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. To God—whose power now at work in us can do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine—to God be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus through all generations, world with end! Amen.
The Gospel: Matthew 16: 13-18
When Jesus came to the neighborhood of Caesarea Philippi, he asked the disciples this question: “What do people say about who the Chosen One is?” They replied, some say John the Baptizer, others say Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “And you”, he said, “who do you say that I am?” “You are the Messiah,” Simon Peter answered, “the Firstborn of the Living God!” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon ben-Jonah! No mere mortal has revealed this to you, but my Abba God in heaven. I also tell you this: your name now is ‘Rock’, and on bedrock like this I will build my community, and the jaws of death will not prevail against it.”
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Creating and loving God, You’ve brought us this far by faith and we sing the rest of the old song as a prayer—no, no, no we won’t turn back, we’ve come this far by faith. May all of our thoughts this day bring glory to You and fill our hearts with hope. Amen
What a delightful past few weeks I have had receiving almost daily from one or more of you your thoughts about Open Circle. As I suspected, your thoughts generated some wonderful themes for our remembering and rejoicing—the ideas of home, family, and acceptance and the spiritual nature of our journeys together. I couldn’t be happier or prouder then to be able to share with you a sermon that you wrote with me with the blessing of God’s Holy Spirit. Please know though, in some cases, I had to do some editing so all could be included.
Our reading from Ephesians has a similar pattern of themes. First, St. Paul talks of experiencing our faith with others—“May Christ dwell in your hearts through faith, so that you, being rooted and grounded in love, will be able to grasp fully the breadth, length, height and depth of Christ’s love and, with all God’s holy ones…” From a fairly new member: “Although I am relatively new to Open Circle, I will ALWAYS remember the feeling of being home when I attended services for the first time.” And from two long time members—“We are Home!” Home—that place in our hearts that almost all of us long for, a place where we can sit and breathe deeply. Some of you helped me with my definition of home—“[Open Circle] means ‘home’ a place I can fit in and not be uncomfortable or have others judge me for who they think I am, a place where me, the person, is more important than outer physical appearances or who I choose to live my life with…” You spoke often of the “others” who live here with you—“Open Circle is my spiritual home. When I attend services, I look around at the congregation and know that I’m right where I belong.”
One of our regular visitors says this, “Open Circle is my home away from home; my constant that is always there with open arms for us anytime that we can get there to worship with my family.” Reflecting on the meaning of family, one of you said, “Open Circle means faith, home, family and hope to me. Having the church in my life has given purpose to my life. The church and its members have filled a void in my life that I had not realized was there.” Some of you talked about what makes this family so different for you—“Our church is a blessed family, within God’s total family. This wonderful Church is showing the pathway to a true personal relationship with Christ—one that we can enter into with the confidence of complete approval from our Lord and Savior.”
A few of you shared your deeply personal stories of entrance into this family. They touched my heart. “I was alone in my living room, after losing my partner of twenty years, feeling so lonely, and lost! I prayed for weeks, for God to open doors. Doors that only He knew existed! After an hour or so, …a voice in my head said.. You are going to church TODAY. God lifted me off my recliner, led me to the shower, I dressed and went to [the office] where the service was being held. Now I have family and friends…and my Faith is So much stronger than it’s ever been!”
Another one of you who battles daily with pain and physical challenges offered us this beautiful passage—“ The English language (probably no language) is equipped to enable me to verbalize the depth of spiritual growth that has opened up to me as a result of becoming a member of Open Circle. But then, the Spirit led me to find Open Circle through an unexpected circuitous route. Now I have a new family, a reason to live, a community in which to share my talents and skills, and also be the joyful receiver of others’ gifts. I understand the mysteries of life in Jesus to a depth I never have before, knowing there is much more growth yet to happen. And how exciting is that! My life has more meaning and makes more sense than ever. WHAT A JOY!...MOSTLY, I NOW BELIEVE IN MIRACLES.”
And one of you summed it up for all of us—“MCC is the best thing that ever happened to me. God and all of the people in the church are really all the family anyone could love and want.” St. Paul, in his description of the kind of church that he prays for the Ephesians, tells us that when we experience and grasp Christ’s love, with all God’s holy ones, we will experience this love that “surpasses all understanding, so that [we] may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
Many of you spoke of the acceptance and grace that you experienced here—perhaps, for the first time. For you, Open Circle is “a very warm and welcoming place to worship—a wonderful group of genuine, caring individuals.” And, from another one of you—“Open Circle is a place I can worship God as I am and not as what I am supposed to be. It radiates love, understanding and caring for me as a child of God. It is a family and not a bunch of parishioners.” And, finally—“ I have been blessed to have found this church and church family. They have taught me that no matter where I have come from or what I have been told in the past, that God loves me just as I am. I am loved and perfect in God’s eye, no matter what!” For some, this is a new journey after a faith journey somewhere else, “I was brought up Catholic, became an Epicopalian for 25 years with my beloved partner, and now I'm on a new journey. I found this wonderful church, and I need all these beautiful people in my life.”
Some of you talked about the welcome you received on your first visit—“ As we walked in those large double doors, there was a lady smiling from ear to ear she greeted me saying welcome , get your name tag here fill out your information here and put your money in this envelope . (Just kidding about the envelope ). That was Laura , I now tell her she is my # one because she was the first to greet us. I then walked into the Sanctuary I heard beautiful sounds coming from the pianist , oh my, that put us in a reverent frame of mind .We knew right away this is the place we want to worship our Christ . Things started to happen in perfect order; the service was moving along with all focus on Christ .The choir sang, oh, so nice; then we heard a voice that stood out from all the rest it was as if a angel were in the back ground singing a higher part. Then the sermon started with the perfect message . All of a sudden we were in a circle singing the Lord’s Prayer. Wow, what a way to close . We looked at our watch and thought where has the worship hour gone . A couple of Sunday's later we attended the Annual Meeting . We were so impressed… We could tell everything was a team effort . To make a long story short , we are now members of Open Circle MCC.”
It might surprise you to discover that not all of you wanted to get acquainted with this family at all. One of you tells it like this—“ I came to Open Circle kicking, screaming, and resisting, while being drug by a friend of mine to come to church. I had not done “church” in a very long time and I liked it that way… But, my friend kept insisting that I go, so I went. What I found when I arrived at Open Circle MCC was a loving, supportive, friendly family that actually cared about me and cared about whether I came to church or not...The more I came, the more love I found. And, the more love I found, the more support and friendships I made. I feel I am at home. Open Circle has touched my life in a very profound way and has made me feel a part of a much larger family. I am forever grateful for this wonderful experience.”
Many of you wrote to me of profound spiritual insights and I am honored to share them with your family. Some of you were concise and to the point—“I have found a place where I do not have to choose between my heart and soul. A place where I feel one in the spirit of God.” Or, “Open Circle completes the space that was vacant in my circle of life.” Another one of you said, “Open Circle was the missing piece to my life’s puzzle. With that piece in place, I feel more fulfilled than ever in my lifetime.” Or, “Open Circle is the rose in the desert of my broken spirit. I love this church!”
One of our friends from another church, watching us become who we are, wrote us a brief poem:
I stand outside the gates of the temple
and cast my eye inward to see the soul
that for too long is as fire frozen -
bless the meltdown!
This friend from a distance concludes, “Every week I read your wonderful newsletter and am inspired by the commitment of the community to the true meaning of the Christ-Consciousness. [The poem] is a testimony to the richness of what happens when people accept their goodness and Light.”
Several of you spoke specifically of finding a way to return to a former place of faith here—“Open Circle MCC is my faith community where the Word speaks through scripture, sermon, and song, and where the human is invited to become united with the Divine in the breaking of the Bread and acceptance of the cup--Christ among us. In this community of faith I have returned to His call: loving, supporting, and journeying with each OC member in building the City of God until all are One.” Another one of you said, “Open Circle has helped me to find God again - I know He never left me, it was I who left Him. Being a member of OCMCC my heart …has been opened and I have come to the realization that God loves me and that he is always there for me.”
Two more of you reflected specifically on the difference this community has made in your life, “Open Circle has done exactly that for me ...opened my circle! It has given me the freedom and the strength to be who I am. God makes a difference in my life every day and in joining this faith community He has blessed me with so many loving, kind and God-Loving friends.” And then, “Open Circle has given me the peace, joy, happiness, love and friendship of a community that I have been searching for all my life. The closeness I have found with God has been enhanced by the love I have experience at OCMCC. I feel God has put His arms around me and has pulled me into His heart. I see OCMCC filling the hearts of many with our Creator's love, and that one day we will do so in our own church building.” Ah, bless you, hope springs eternal…
Some of you were extremely creative. I even received an email from one of your four-legged children who told me, “since my mom found Open Circle or Open Circle found her, she is much happier…I know because she talks to me all the time.” And, you will not be surprised to discover that one of you, quoted a Broadway show tune in your response—he says, “From my visits to Open Circle, reading your e-newsletter, discussions with friends who are church members…, there is an Open Circle “Excitement” and it reminds me of the song from West Side Story “Something’s Coming”
“I got a feeling there's a miracle due
Gonna come true
Coming to me
Could it be?
Yes it could
Something's coming
Something good
If I can wait
Something's coming I don't know what it is
But it is gonna be great”
And great it is!. Finally, some of you simply stated your gratitude—“We attempted to create a GLBT faith community several years ago but failed. Now with the proper planning and structure we are so grateful that Open Circle MCC has been born out of our community…” Or, “SPIRIT has given me the opportunity to sing once again, I have found my voice once more…” Perhaps, for some of you, Sunday has become a special day again—“I am deeply and spiritually moved as I enter the door; from the welcoming greeters to the tinkling of the piano keys and the beautiful voices of the Spirit Choir. Finalizing the circle of worshipers singing the Lord’s Prayer. Thank you Open Circle for starting out my Sunday’s with reverence.” And, finally, “Thank You Jesus for bringing us this house of worship.” And, “It is a privilege to be part of Open Circle and I feel this deeply in my heart.”
One of you wrote this beautiful description of Open Circle and I share it with you as we come to a close. “This is a safe place, where broken and bruised souls can come to be loved and healed. This is a learning place where we can glean understandable theological and philosophical explanations. This is the place where sharing the bread and wine is encouraged to feed our souls. This is the place for prayer, private and public. This is the place for fellowship where we can enjoy each other. This is the place where music becomes a living prayer. This is the place that the Lord has made. He sees that it is good and He is glad indeed.
My friends, what a year it has been—what a new year it will be. I am blessed to be your pastor and I take these thoughts and place them in my heart’s center. Thank you for being who you are. And so, “To God—whose power now at work in us can do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine—to God be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus through all generations, world with end!” Amen and Amen.
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