Forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who tresspass against us

What does it mean to forgive?

Last Sunday we discussed the story of the unmerciful servant. As a reminder, this is the parable about the guy who had a huge debt and begged for forgiveness. But then, turned around and didn't show mercy to a friend of his who owed him a small amount of money. The story was brought to life by the drama group that performed a modern interpretation.

In the conversation, we talked about how forgiveness is like removing the bullet after a gunshot wound. The bullet needs to come out before healing can begin... and sometimes.... the bullet finds itself lodged in very delicate places and there is not always a simple answer to what it means to forgive.

What about in situations where people will still harm us? what does forgiveness look like then?

We talked about giving up the right to revenge. When people do bad things to us we are totally justified in reactions of vengeance. To forgive is to name those things which we have right to do and then to let go of them.

And so even though it can be complicated, forgiveness can be very cleansing and healing. What would it look like if you woke up one morning and the world was completely fresh. There was no bad air between you or anybody else? What would it look like if everyday you had a clean slate with the people you love?

God teaches us forgiveness because we have to live with each other's brokenness.

Grace through Faith - a bit of theological bantering

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast."

Tonight was our first bible study -- or perhaps more accurately described as theological bantering over beer and pizza.

The theme: How does grace work through faith?

If grace is a gift and we can't do anything for it, what is faith, is it not an action on our part - to believe? We went a bit around and around on this, as you can imagine. What is grace? What is faith? what are works? What is salvation? What is God? What's the point?!?!?

We went all over the place, so it is difficult to summerize, but the pizza was good and I learned a lot. And oh ya, check out the bobble head Jesus -- he was the life of the party!

The dance of Creation

This Sunday we celebrated creation as a whole congregation, bringing together the Crossings folks and the traditional service worshipers. The music and worship styles were blended. To me, it felt like true celebration of what it means to be a community that reflects God's creation through our own creativity.

The service began with a call and response song "Come let us worship God" which we have traditionally done with the piano. For this service, Mary led the call, I led the response and Don and Jerry play African rhythms on the Djembe.

We then sat down to listen to Leanne lead us through a "Godly Play" creation story. Godly play is our new Sunday school curriculum which is Montessori based and allows children to explore faith through stories and questions.

After our Godly play, we all got up and danced and clapped our hands, as Jerry led us on "Wake up my soul." My seat was in front with the musicians and from that vantage point I could see a see of smiles as people let the music move them.

We then read the creation story one day at a time. Between each of the readings I sang a calypso song to which the congregation responded "It was good, it was good, it was real good.

"In the beginning.. God said let there be light" with this, the alter guild brought forth a lit candle.

"And God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water." God called the expanse "sky."" The alter guild brought forth blue banners representing the sky.

"And God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." Jeff placed small cups of water and the congregation brought the water forward and filled the baptismal font.

"Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." The alter guild brought forth potted plants.

"And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, " Around the outside of the room were several tables with candles on them. Each person got to go light a candle.



" And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky."" Under many of the chairs were placed stuffed animals which people brought forward and placed around the alter.

"Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."" We joined hands and sang together.

"By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work." Perhaps the most touching of them all. On this day, we raised our hands and sang in celebration of creation... imagine a bunch of Lutherans raising their hands and dancing in church. One Sunday, in Davis California, it really happened.