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Rock of Ages – a Sermon for Oct 18 2020 – Pastor Patricia Hughes

 

Exodus 33:12-33

Moses’ Intercession

Moses said to the Lord, ‘See, you have said to me, “Bring up this people”; but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, “I know you by name, and you have also found favour in my sight.” Now if I have found favour in your sight, show me your ways, so that I may know you and find favour in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.’ He said, ‘My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’ And he said to him, ‘If your presence will not go, do not carry us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favour in your sight, I and youhttps://youtu.be/X0es53ZaPucr people, unless you go with us? In this way, we shall be distinct, I and your people, from every people on the face of the earth.’

The Lord said to Moses, ‘I will do the very thing that you have asked; for you have found favour in my sight, and I know you by name.’ Moses said, ‘Show me your glory, I pray.’ And he said, ‘I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you the name, “The Lord”; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But’, he said, ‘you cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live.’ And the Lord continued, ‘See, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock; and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen.’

Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1998 Lansing Ave NE, Salem, OR 97301

www.holycrosslutheran-salem.org

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Grieving today – in the midst of love and light

I’m sad today, having read the news of a young woman killed while bicycling in Salem. It’s just a no that comes out of my mouth as I think of that senseless loss, that life cut short, that empty space in the hearts of so many. And I hear today of the death of the spouse of a pastor I know, newly retired. Its not fair. They worked hard, and planned for days when they might simply be together, and now it is not to be. And I grieve today as I do so often for the enmity I see between people – between opinions. It sucks the life out of me.

And yet, I’m home today, communing with 60+ pastors of  my denomination as we meet in convocation online. I am grateful for them. I am fed by them, as we put one foot in front of the other, imagining how to worship in the seasons upcoming. Advent is at the doorstep. And I yearn to be busy with scheduling times to share special hymns and special decorations. And yet. There is no release in sight from the spectre of the pandemic.

And yet, this weekend, I watched congregation members give and pray, and speak passionately about helping wildfire refugees who have come our way. They impress me so much.

I often find myself like the disciples, “How can we sing, sing the Lord’s song, in a foreign land?” (Okay, I’m a Godspell groupie, you’re not suprised, right?).

And so I grieve. In light. In love. and God will find a way to lift us all up. With joy. And Advent will come whether we can sing together or not.

Just breathe, my friends. God is big enough for your grief and mine. God is comforting enough for a pandemic. Comforting enough for loss that ought never have been. God is enough.

Amen.

This picture is from Jared Lyman from the Mt Hood Territory website.