Hi Fam!
I just recorded my sermon for the 11:45a worship on Sunday morning. It’s Homecoming Sunday, so of course, I am thinking of home. I’m thinking of what it means to make a loving, safe, and brave home, to be a home to each other, in the context of all around us that is disturbing.
We can’t help but, on these blue-sky September days, think of 9/11, 2001 and all we lost. We can’t help but, on the back-end of the presidential debate, wonder what kind of nation we are going to be. We can’t help but mourn the erosion of human rights here in this nation and around the globe. We can’t help but, eleven months into the Israel/Gaza horror, feel helpless, angry, and sad about hostages still in bondage and the catastrophic loss of innocent lives. We look around our global neighborhood, and think of Sudan, and Congo, and Haiti, and Afghanistan; and we grieve that guns kill our children more than anything else.
There is so much pain, the pain is in our “house,” in the container that is our nation. It is in our “economy” which comes from the Greek word for household—oikos, which means both “family” and “the family’s house.” Yes, there is pain in our household, family, but there is something more. There is our faith—faith in un pobrecito—a poor one—who came to teach us how to be family. Faith in an outsider who fought hate with love. There is love in our household, family, love that welcomes new New Yorkers, that raises our children and teaches them they are justice warriors. Love that offers song and love that ushers folks to their seats. Love that marches for gender liberation. Love that organizes for a just world. Love that YOU bring, when you come just as you are to our physical and digital church.
This Sunday, if you follow us on socials and are curious about Middle Church OR if you think of Middle as your home—whether you are in Bendigo or BedStuy, come! Come home to love. Come to our digital worship at 11:45aET and to our hybrid worship at Judson Memorial Church and online at 3:00pET. The music is all about home, and I am preaching both times. There is a Resource Fair before worship at 2:00p about ways to connect to Middle and get involved. And there is a Community Huddle at 4:00p, in which we will be showing and telling details about the rebuilding of 50 E 7th Street. Honey, we have pictures and videos, OK? You can attend the meeting online at 4:00p. Refreshments for you and yours will follow.
Sending love, from my household to yours. I hope to see you Sunday!
Jacqui