June 5, 2016 - Third Sunday after Pentecost - Pity and Compassion

This is the 40th post of this Personal Responses to Worship and I am confident now that one phase of posting to this blog is over.  Writing with the subjective, individual viewpoint when called for in the posts is very comfortable.

Engaging on a different level to write about worship feels like a commitment I need to make. Describing what might change in future posts is difficult, however  the new possibilities appear numerous and exciting.

Today's service inspired many meditations on commitment, which fit in nicely with this new level of writing that feels possible.

Photos by Ron Houser

Today's service introduced Marty Haugen's Beneath the Tree of Life liturgy at Creator.  Creator's newly elected council was installed and there was an appreciation of Jon's gifts to the community in leading choir. 

Appropriate to our theme of the day he was given a tree.

In the Children's Time Pastor Michelle described how pity and compassion are different and the difference was in a person's commitment.  She told the children someone can feel sorry for another person's circumstances when there is something that has gone wrong but compassion was when a person feels an ache within themselves to do something about those circumstances.

In the finest moments of our life Christianity is love in action, inspiring hope and healing.  Compassion is a springboard for that action . The Gospel, Luke 7:11-17 and the 1 Kings 17:17-24 lesson both detail the life that comes from living into compassion.  Your compassion will throw you into a situation and, because of that, the situation changes.

Commitment can and will hurt at times.  The ache Pastor Michelle taked about with the children is often the first feeling.  Compassion can feel foolish.  You may have to explain why you care so much about something that is happening. You may have to stand up to indifference.  Even harder you may have to stand up against what another person cares deeply about to open a new way to perceive the kingdom of God.  The difficulty of doing that often keeps us from living into our finest moments.

The Sending Song was I'm So Glad Jesus Lifted Me.  Jon, Shirley, Craig, Janice and I had run through the song before the service.  We quickly reached agreement on how to perform the piece.  We were not prepared for how it took off during the service. With a build up of energy and with the congregation feeling inspired, this song ended up encapsulating the joy and promise of commitment.

Normally, when the service is over, Matt plays music on the piano while the congregation talks and leaves the sanctuary.  Today, because we all sensed the special moment, the singers sang the Sending Song completely through again, capturing another special feeling.