What an honour to be the interim pastor of the oldest Lutheran congregation in the country, a place where the gospel has been preached for over two centuries. But perhaps that gospel doesn’t feel relevant to you. And I understand! It seems so out of step with the modern world.
I certainly found that in my 25 years as a chaplain with cancer and palliative care. Most people did not identify a religious affiliation, and those that did held to a very traditional understanding of a God somewhere “out there.” How odd, as Jesus emphasized that God is within. You’re already plugged into the Sacred Presence.
How does one experience this? By simply being. Consider that God is a name we use for the underlying consciousness from which reality emanates. God is the infinite, indivisible foundation of reality. Which means there are no separate objects, no separate persons, no separation possible in any way. All is a veiled form of the Divine Presence. Or, as St. Paul said in Acts 17:28, “In Him we live and move and have our being.”
Consider God is the “I am” beneath body, thoughts, words, perceptions, experience and attachments. God is not an object of thought or belief but the very subject of experience. It is the awareness that cannot be seen or known as an object. It is the knowing in every experience.
Consider Jesus knowing God in this way. Consider that Jesus knew himself in this way. Consider that your assignment as well. Consider church as a spiritual training centre where you hear the gospel that has been preached here for over two centuries… but in a completely new way.
Consider coming to church this Sunday. We’ll be exploring this experience of God through the traditional service, but augmented by guided meditation, conversation, and even improvisation! I’d love to meet you, and hear of your insights on this puzzling but profound understanding of what God is, and therefore what you are.
Shine,
P.D.
Zion Lutheran Church, Lunenburg 