Different Words, Same Tune

Heard a great sermon yesterday. As someone who sits in the pew every week-and as someone who writes, and occasionally preaches myself—I really love a good sermon. Now, some folks’ definition of a good sermon is tied primarily to its length, as in: “That was such a good sermon! Only lasted 7 minutes!” Other churchgoers rate the sermon by how completely it confirms their already held worldview (“Don’t challenge me, Pastor! I can’t cope!”) And a fair percentage just want the preacher to speak softly so as not to disturb their morning nap.

As for me, I want to leave worship a bit wiser, a bit more compassionate, a bit more aware of my fellow man, and of the love and grace of God. I have been very lucky over the years to be present for some fine preaching, both by the pastors at my Lutheran church, and at many other houses of worship I have visited. I recognize that no one faith community has the monopoly on insight—we all have something to bring to the table.

 There is no religious group quite like the Unitarian Universalists (or, as they are known casually, the UU’s). This community truly embraces all faith traditions, and honors every path to spiritual growth and enlightenment. I brought a group of youth and adults from Christ’s Lutheran to a UU church yesterday morning. Worship included the ringing of a Tibetan prayer bowl, slipping stones into a bowl of water to symbolize our joys and sorrows, and a reading from Ralph Waldo Emerson. The guest preacher was Mennonite, and Pastor Smith's preaching theme was a UU statement: “love is our law, service is our prayer.” She talked about the division, in many people’s minds, between spirituality and service. Her home church prepared a free turkey dinner open to her whole community Saturday afternoon, while she was sitting at home writing her sermon. For some reason, her spiritual message just was not coming together—until she put down her pen and went over to the church kitchen to volunteer. Service became her prayer, and in her message we were challenged to meditate on ways we all could do the same.

After church we went downstairs to check out their Social Justice Fair—a series of displays encouraging engagement in sensible gun regulation, in LGBTQ and civil rights. In interfaith peace marches and environmental initiatives. Our kids were impressed, and I gathered ideas about ways our church could be more a part of some of these social justice issues—even possibly partnering with the UU’s for some activities.

I’m not about to join another church, mind you; I am a very happy Lutheran. But I do believe in a God who transcends denominational labels. Yesterday, in harmony with our Unitarian friends, we sang different words to a familiar hymn tune, and I thought that summed up our experience perfectly: we may sing different words, but the basic tune—love— is the same for all of us.

Some of our crew at breakfast before church