Voices of the Modern Church, Part III

“Voices of the Modern Church, Part III” was preached at Sunnyside Presbyterian Church on Sunday, April 5, 2018. This sermon included the words, phrases, and questions of Sunnyside members who participated in an online opportunity to lift their voice.  Inspirations for this sermon include Scripture, creative preaching, the people of Sunnyside Presbyterian Church, human experience, The Rev. Dr. Nancy Lammers Gross, and the workings of the Holy Spirit. You can listen to an audio recording of this sermon here.

--

Our scripture reading, Psalm 51, will be read as part of the sermon today.

--

We approach the end of our mini-sermon series: “Voices of the Modern Church.” Over the past three Sundays including today, we walked a journey together. We approached the Word of God, which is the Word read in scripture and the Word interpreted by preaching, through the abstract.

We challenged ourselves. We listened for the voices around us as a part of God’s voice, and we listened intensely, we listened intentionally, and we listened intimately.

Now I’m going to give a brief summary of each sermon as a refresher for those who were here and as an introduction for those who were not. Regardless, as a friendly reminder, all sermons are posted on our website, so I invite you all to take a listen if the Spirit moves you to do so.

Our first sermon featured a “What If…” question and answer activity. Our own Sunnysiders wrote a “What if…” question on one side of a notecard and then they answered their own question with a “Then…” answer on the other side of someone’s else notecard without knowing the “What if…” question that was actually on that card. As we went through each question and answer pairing—there were 24 total—we made the claim that the Word of God is given, established, promised, and kept forever.

Our second sermon featured seven our own Sunnysiders as they preached in six different languages. During the sermon, their voices were lifted, and we made the understanding that even if we didn’t understand every word in that moment, we understood praise was happening, and therefore we understood that God understood on our behalf. Now I hope you had a chance to read the translations of each sermon on the sheet of paper that was distributed after worship because their reflections were sacred, they were powerful… they were a gift. Each of them praised God by saying who God is, which brings us to our second claim: The Word of God comes to us when we acknowledge who God is to us, which is praise and worship.

Each sermon approached a different way the Word of God is lifted through our own voices. Once again, we do that today. Over the last several weeks, I invited all Sunnysiders to participate in an online opportunity for their voice to be lifted. Those who participated were asked to read Psalm 51 and allow themselves to be brought into its poetic words. They would read a section of the psalm, and then they would respond with their own interpretation by considering their own experiences, feelings, memories, and emotions. What I didn’t tell them is Psalm 51 is not an easy psalm to understand; it’s about a plea to God, sinfulness, sacrifice—just to name a few themes.

We received thirty responses, and based on those who told me that they had filled it out, the age range of those who responded was from 13 to 80. After reading their responses, I brought these 30 reflections together into one cohesive, poetic, modern retelling of Psalm 51. And I have to say, through their interpretations, a greater understanding of the Word of God came to me. Through their voices, a greater understanding of the Word of God comes to all of us. And so that’s our claim for today: We receive a greater understanding of the Word of God when we listen to the voices of the modern church.

Hear now Psalm 51 as told by the voices of the modern church:

--

1 Have mercy on me, O God,

    according to your steadfast love;

according to your abundant mercy

    blot out my transgressions.

Forgiveness. A plea for forgiveness. Help me ask for forgiveness. I pray to God for forgiveness. Forgive me. Forgive me. Forgive me! Wash the sin away.

This reminds me of the time in 4th grade when I got in real trouble for the first time. All I did was sneak some soda into a water bottle when I was supposed to be drinking water, which doesn’t seem like a big deal now, considering my behavior throughout the more recent years. But I remember feeling so incredibly guilty and praying as hard as I could that God would forgive me. I think that is the most I’ve asked for his mercy still to this day.

I pray my failure will not hurt other people. I make so many mistakes. I have sinned. I am imperfect.

Steadfast and abundant, you are bigger than my transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

    and cleanse me from my sin.

I cannot do it alone. I need your help, O God.

Let me be enveloped in your grace. Wash me white as snow.

I imagine it’s like when I have an ink pen stain on a white shirt, and I have to blot it out continuously with alcohol and then I have to wash it. It's time consuming and requires patience.

Water. Wash me with your healing waters.

There is hope here… God I need you. Always. I need you.

3 For I know my transgressions,

    and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against you, you alone, have I sinned,

    and done what is evil in your sight,

so that you are justified in your sentence

    and blameless when you pass judgment.

5 Indeed, I was born guilty,

    a sinner when my mother conceived me.

No one is perfect. I was born a sinner and I sin daily. My sin separates me from you. My actions have not lived up to what is expected of me. I will always fall short. I will make mistakes and must suffer the consequences.

I am left with so many questions.

Why do I sin? Why am I compelled to sin? By becoming flesh, I embody sin? Am I broken, God? If we were all counted for our transgressions, who would stand?

I feel guilty. I feel like dirt. I was born with strengths, and I have used these strengths to do wrong. I was also born with weaknesses. I am not good enough for you. I don’t deserve to be saved.

Yet you save me anyway. In your love, I am accepted as I am.  I am yours, O God, and you will lift me up from the quagmire. Whatever judgement you pass is right and justifiable. Thank you for making me pay you back in kind. Thank you for even more forgiveness.

Forgiveness lessens the darkness of these words.

6 You desire truth in the inward being;

    therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.

God, I ask for your assistance in my prayers. This is me trying to draw closer to you. All truth and wisdom come from you. Let me be truthful and raw.

I am asking for forgiveness for everything I have done wrong. Be my light. Guide me away from darkness. Bring me into a world of joy and happiness. Change my heart, O God; make me into who you want me to be. I want to be a better person.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

    wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Let me hear joy and gladness;

    let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.

I reflect on my own life. I have had more bad things than good things happen to me. It is hard to move away from the past and be a different person than I was the day before. It is hard to be able to be joyful when I have more reason to feel bitter and down.

God, you can fill me with sorrow, but you can also bring me joy and gladness. You free me from my sin and guilt. By your power, bring my own thoughts from bad to good.

Bring hope into my despair, and bring light into my darkness. Let me hear joy and gladness… don’t we all want that?

Let me rejoice so that as even as low as I can find myself in the gutter of my life, I have hope that you, God, will make me better. Jesus, you save me.

Nothing is possible without God; with her everything is possible!

9 Hide your face from my sins,

    and blot out all my iniquities.

Forgiveness isn’t easy. Forgiveness can hurt. Yet you forgive me over and over again. I’m sorry that I hurt you over and over again. Life is painful. Our bones are broken. We crave joy and gladness. May I always learn from my mistakes.

I am so thankful for your forgiveness and wisdom. I am reborn.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,

    and put a new and right spirit within me.

I want to have a good life; I know you want me to have a good life. 

Make me fresh. Give me a new opportunity; I look to your guidance. Guide me to live a life like Jesus. Guide me and lead me. Renew my faith. This may be a large task, but I know you are up for it.

Creation of a clean heart is not a one-time act – it’s a lifelong journey.

11 Do not cast me away from your presence,

    and do not take your holy spirit from me.

To be with you, God, is the goal. Why is this so hard?  How do I see joy in the darkest of times and places? Help me find this joy. Sustain me; do not abandon me!! Even in the darkest times, I trust that God will bring me to the light and will shape me as a beacon of hope for others.

I feel like I have prayed for forgiveness of my sins in this way in my recent and most mature years. I’ve not only prayed for God to forgive me, but prayed for God to stay with me, because God is all I really need.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,

    and sustain in me a willing spirit.

Sustain. Sustain in me a willing spirit. Sustain me with the long-standing strength and support of the Spirit; of your Spirit.  

I feel new. I feel fresh confessing my sins.

I remember the first time I felt your love. It was like a warm light over my entire body. I was alone, but I wasn’t lonely.

It makes me think of my mom.

I am restored in the joy of your salvation; restored like making an old building beautiful and useful again. It is better than a Disney ride; it is better than the birth of a child. Your salvation is the greatest thing; offered free, no charge—just God’s great grace.

I know you are always there, God. I turn my eyes to you. The Holy Spirit is with me. It makes me smile. Hallelujah.

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,

    and sinners will return to you.

14 Deliver me from bloodshed, O God,

    O God of my salvation,

    and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance.

Help me to love those who hurt me. Let only kindness and compassion leave my mouth. Help me not be afraid to share your love. Help me step into uncomfortable places so others can know you too. Help me move away from sin and be cleansed by the Holy Spirit. Help me to live in the name of the Lord.  Help me bear witness to you.

I get this help from you through my community of faith: Sunnyside.

God, I praise you for your grace and mercy. I praise the Lord in thanksgiving! You have saved me from my sin; therefore, I offer myself to you. I am so grateful that I will do your biddings.

Hear my promises:

I will confess my sins. I will share your love forever. I will share God’s word to all of those around me. I will teach others about God. I will teach others in Sunday School about God. I will teach them how they can be reformed. I will pray for others who wish to be heard by the Lord. I will help others fulfill God’s work. I will let my actions show others the love you offer. I will spread my understanding of the benefits of doing good works.

Great or small, I will sing loudly enough for everyone to hear the Good News. I will tell everyone about you, O God!

Thank you! You changed my life.

15 O Lord, open my lips,

    and my mouth will declare your praise.

Let the words I say reflect who you are. Let my voice only speaks words that glorify you.

In everything I do, I will glorify you. I promise this. The person I am—the person you made me—will always sing praise for you. Thank you for loving me and allowing me to love myself.

These are my words of praise:

I praise the Lord when I speak. I know you are there when I pray for others who are hurt or when the world is suffering. I will use my voice to serve you and to lift up others. You are a forgiving God, and so I praise you. I praise you, O God! You hear my troubles. You turn to me when I need help. You teach me to do your work. You show me the ways I have to go. And so I praise you. In the darkest times of my life, I learned that you were there beside me. No matter how many times I turned away, you always showed me you were there. Thank you, O God, for your love and for never giving up on me.

16 For you have no delight in sacrifice;

    if I were to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased.

17 The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit;

    a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

When I sin, I feel hurt inside. If I put myself first, my life and the lives of others unravel. I know it’s very difficult to correct a mistake in life. Yet you love me in every situation I get myself into. I have been broken. I have cursed your name by not understanding. But my heart is beginning to heal because you comfort and support me. You see my repentant heart. You see my broken spirit. My spirit longs for you.

So I will be a sacrifice for you. Offering myself is the most acceptable sacrifice. Today—today!—I become the hands and feet of Christ. 

18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;

    rebuild the walls of Jerusalem,

19 then you will delight in right sacrifices,

    in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;

    then bulls will be offered on your altar.

I want to praise you, God. I want us all to praise you. Thank you, God, I praise you! And so we offer everything we have to you. We give you all we have. Let our lives be worthy of your sacrifice.

Asking for help no matter the circumstance never gets old with you, faithful God. Your steadfast love endures. You spread your love.

Since your love has taught me to love myself, let your love help me teach others to love themselves. We are all fearfully and wonderfully made in your image. I ask that you help me remember that; I ask that you help others remember that.

Make this your promised land. Construct. Rebuild. Repair. Restore. Our community can bring us even closer to God. A better society is built through protest, advocacy, aid, and justice. Your good works inspire my good works.

Let us all go out in peace. We will walk the walk of Jesus. I see a future full with love and laughter.

I have been blessed.

--

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Amen.

--