On Diversity
Today marks the annual pulpit exchange in Scarborough presbytery. While Gretta is off to Glen Ayr United Church, we have the pleasure of worship leadership from Darren Liepold from Knob Hill United Church. Darren speaks to the issue of diversity, acknowledging that even within the presbytery there are widely different voices. Diversity doesn’t have to be a point of division; it can be an opportunity for enrichment. Darren offers a couple examples from the movies, first from the Wizard of Oz, and then from Pleasantville, showing how the enrichment from diversity lends colour to life.
Reading: 1 Corinthian 13
January 14, 2007
This morning’s meditation continues in the series about the Song of Faith, the new statement of faith from the United Church of Canada. We focus attention on the passage beginning with “God is Holy Mystery …” Over time, our conceptions of God have transformed, from an all-powerful Other who dwelt beyond us and ruled over us, to something softer. Gretta offers her own conception of God which she introduces through the philosophical opposition of “realism” and “non-realism.” She concludes by making slight alterations to the Song of Faith:
“With our ideals set before us
we can direct our lives toward right relationship
with each other and and ourselves.
We can discover our place as one strand in the web of life.
We can grow in wisdom and compassion.
We can recognize all life as kin.
We can accept our mortality and finitude, not as a curse,
but as a challenge to make our lives and choices matter.”
January 7th, 2007
Over the next few weeks, we will be considering the Song of Faith, the new statement of faith which the United Church of Canada adopted at its General Council last August. This week, we consider the portion that speaks to (sings of?) the nature of God – “Holy Mystery.” We do this in light of the earlier statement of faith which the UCC adopted in 1940. The language we use has come a long way! This morning’s meditation precedes the sacrament of baptism. How does our conception of God fit with the symbolism we use to bring people into our “family” of believing?