ࡱ > H J G 5@ - bjbj22 (B X X u% h h h h h h h | 8 $ , | T# 2 8 " " " " " " " " $ R & " h " h h # h h " " = h h e , PQnfd & U " $# 0 T# ] b( b( e | | h h h h e b( h w" " " | | ` D l | | ` This scripture is traditionally read during Rosh Hasanah (the Jewish New Year)
Psalm 27:1-4
The Lord is my light and my salvation
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
When evildoers assail me
to devour my flesh
my adversaries and foes --
they shall stumble and fall.
Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war rise up against me,
yet I will be confident.
One thing I asked of the Lord
that I will seek after:
To live in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord
and to inquire in the Lords temple.
I believe that I shall see the
goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart
take courage;
wait for the Lord!
Ive chosen as our first reading today a scripture that is traditionally read at Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year celebration. Rosh Hashanah begins the Sacred 7th month of Tishri containing the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (which is on October 13). This year Tishri begins the evening of October 3rd. For the first time in 33 years, it coincides with the beginning of the Muslim Sacred 9th month of Ramadan the holiest month of their year. Both Ramadan and Tishri call for fasting and prayer. Both involve looking at ones relationship with God, and the ways that has been transgressed. Both involve strengthening that relationship --- fasting and prayer are important in this, and so is gathering with family and friends. And in what has been called Gods October Surprise, October 4th (the first full day of Ramadan and Tishrei), is the Feast Day of St. Francis.
But wait, theres even a little bit more. Today, October 2nd, is Mahatma Gandhis birthday, and in many churches, today is celebrated as World Wide Communion Sunday. And theres even more! October 4 to 12 are for Hindus Navarathri (nine nights of spiritual struggle), followed on October 13 by Vijayadashami, the tenth day of spiritual victory. - And for some Buddhists, Vassa (rainy season of spiritual reflection) ends on Oct. 18 with the full moon day, Pavarana.
So were in a powerhouse time for Spiritual Reflection. It seems that this can be a time for many different religious groups to focus on healing and peace.
A group of 15 Jews, Muslims, and Christians who have come to call themselves HYPERLINK "http://www.beliefnet.com/frame_offsite.asp?pageLoc=http://shalomctr.org/index.cfm/action/read/section/iraq/article/article637.html" \t "_blank" The Tent of Abraham, Hagar, and Sarah have an invitation for us....but first let me read you a little bit about them: meeting in a retreat setting for four days each time, the Tent has gone beyond intellectual "interfaith dialogue" to the spaces of heart and soul.
Participants began by sharing with each other some important parts of their spiritual journeys. They worked out ways of sharing prayer that respected the boundaries of certain prayers within each of the three communities, while creating authentic prayer forms open to all the participants though clearly rooted in each one of the traditions. Not till then did they explore what common action they might take in the world. As a result of these meetings, the Tent reached out to persuade a broad religious spectrum to call for all Americans to set aside the time from sunrise to sunset on Oct. 13--which for Muslims is one of the Ramadan fast days and for Jews is the fast day of Yom Kippur--as a nationwide fast for Reflection, Repentance (which by the way means a turning of the mind...not beating oneself up for wrongdoing) Reconciliation and Renewal. HYPERLINK "http://www.beliefnet.com/frame_offsite.asp?pageLoc=http://www.ncccusa.org/" \t "_blank" The National Council of Churches; the HYPERLINK "http://www.beliefnet.com/frame_offsite.asp?pageLoc=http://www.isna.net/" \t "_blank" Islamic Society of North America; HYPERLINK "http://www.beliefnet.com/frame_offsite.asp?pageLoc=http://www.paxchristiusa.org/" \t "_blank" Pax Christi; HYPERLINK "http://www.beliefnet.com/frame_offsite.asp?pageLoc=http://www.aleph.org/" \t "_blank" ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal and its rabbinical affiliate HYPERLINK "http://www.beliefnet.com/frame_offsite.asp?pageLoc=http://www.ohalah.org/" \t "_blank" Ohalah; and the HYPERLINK "http://www.beliefnet.com/frame_offsite.asp?pageLoc=http://www.shalomctr.org/index.cfm/action/read/section/tent/article/article878.html" \t "_blank" Jewish Committee for Isaiah's Vision (more than 100 rabbis and other Jewish leaders from all religious branches) have joined in this call.
October 13 is a Thursday, and I will have a time of meditation and/or prayer in our small chapel for anyone who wishes to begin the day in that way.
As I have been pondering this amazing conjunction of Spiritual observances, I am aware that both the Jewish and the Muslim time of prayer is the call to deepen ones relationship with God. And St. Francis spent a good portion of his life doing that as well. It was that opening to the peace of God that gave Francis the strength to maintain his commitment to live in poverty and teach peace against great odds.
The call to Reflection, Repentance, Reconciliation and Renewal is a call to a Spiritual practice --- because deepening a relationship to God takes intention and effort. The form of the practice of course varies between and within each tradition. One of the core practices in each tradition is reflection through Scripture, prayer or other Sacred writings. These writings help us open our hearts to the touch of the Holy. However the Sacred is envisioned, all these traditions celebrate the transformation and healing that can happen through its touch.
The scripture that Lili read for us today is important in the Jewish tradition because it is a reminder of the ever-present nature of God. Jews, Muslims and Christians share the need to be reminded of Gods closeness to us...however it is that one thinks of God, we need to be reminded that this Holy presence is not in some far away place, but is in fact as close as our own hearts. All three traditions agree that we need to take part in opening our hearts to feel the Sacred presence...and we need reminders to do that, too. We are fortunate that there are poets and mystics in each tradition who have put the reminders we need into beautiful poetry and simple words of prayer.
The simple definition of mystic is: Inspiring a sense of mystery and wonder. I want to share with you something from the mystical branch of each tradition. After I have read them all, I will tell you which tradition they come from.
1.
Don't worry about saving these songs!
And if one of our instruments breaks,
it doesn't matter.
We have fallen into the place
where everything is music.
The strumming and the flute notes
rise into the atmosphere,
and even if the whole world's harp
should burn up, there will still be
hidden instruments playing.
So the candle flickers and goes out.
We have a piece of flint, and a spark.
This singing art is sea foam.
The graceful movements come from a pearl
somewhere on the ocean floor.
Poems reach up like spindrift and the edge
of driftwood along the beach, wanting!
They derive
from a slow and powerful root
that we can't see.
Stop the words now.
Open the window in the centre of your chest,
and let the spirits fly in and out.
2.
How wonderful it would be if one could only be worthy of hearing the song of the grass. Each blade of grass sings out to God without any ulterior motive and without expecting any reward. It is most wonderful to hear its song and worship God in its midst.
The best place to meditate is in a field where things grow. There one can truly express his thoughts before God.....
The best place is to meditate is in the meadows outside the city. One should meditate in grassy field, for grass will awaken the heart
3.
My Beloved is in the mountains,
And lonely wooded valleys,
Strange islands,
And resounding rivers,
The whistling of love-stirring breezes,
The tranquil night
At the time of rising dawn,
Silent music,
Sounding solitude,
The supper that refreshes and deepens love.
The first poem is 'Where Everything Is Music' by Rumi, the Sufi Poet.
The second is by Jewish Mystical poet Nachman of Bratzlav (Jewish Mystic) Trans. Aryeh Kaplan
And the third is by Christian Mystic John of the Cross.
As we seek to understand other Religious traditions, we need to learn as much as we can about their practices. This years convergence of spiritual observances gives us an invitation to do that. Pay attention to the newspapers and TV this coming week --- this convergence has not gone unnoticed! It will be explored in many ways. But in addition to learning more about the traditional practices, I also invite you to commit to exploring how you might deepen your connection to God, the Sacred, the Holy. I would be delighted to talk with you individually about this if you like. Find books to read that inspire you. Take time in prayer. Intend to open your heart to the touch of God. Listen to the call to join with others in a time of Reflection, Repentance, Reconciliation and Renewal. Fast if you can. Dedicate yourself anew to the integration of the Spiritual dimension with the rest of your life. May the Blessings of God rest upon you. May Gods peace abide with you. May Gods presence illuminate your heart, now and forever more. AMEN.
PAGE
PAGE 5
P \ ] " ) @ A ]
e
# $ 3 @ G f h l
[ ] s * 4 w x ȹععث )j h L h*t CJ OJ QJ U^J aJ h L h*t CJ OJ QJ ^J aJ h*t CJ OJ QJ ^J aJ hhS hhS hhS hhS H*hhS h/| h/| H*h/| h*t h>8 h>8 H*hR h>8 h5N h\ h7 h,3 h< / O P ] ^ # A B d }
)
J
p
q
r
u- -
! " # $ % * R S gd*t gd*t : ; ^ { | j k k l # $ P S 9 I ; ʹ h h\ h*t hFv h*t 5hR h L h*t 0J j h L h*t UhFv h L h*t h L h*t CJ OJ QJ ^J aJ hR CJ OJ QJ ^J aJ )j h L h*t CJ OJ QJ U^J aJ $h L h*t 0J CJ OJ QJ ^J aJ 1 l! m! [" \" ]" b" " " " " " " " # :# ]# # # # # # # $ 4$ gdN gd~ gd*t ; 5 7 E @ ! ! k! l! m! !
" Z" [" \" ]" a" b" P% R% S% T% %' D' Q' S' T' Y' `( s( t( ŷ||ti hlJ 5CJ \aJ h~ hq 5 hE hE hq 0J 5CJ \aJ h~ hQ 0J CJ \aJ h~ hq 0J CJ \aJ hN hN CJ aJ h~ hN 5CJ \aJ hq 5CJ \aJ h< hlJ hN hR h\ >*h*t hq h hE hFv h\ h/ (4$ R$ T$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ (% L% N% P% S% T% S& & O' Q' R' S' T' Y' y' ' ' ' gdE gdN ' ' ' ( !( 4( `( a( b( ( ( ) ) J) K) t- u- ~- - - - - - - - h]hgdmD &`#$gdmD gdlJ gdE t( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ) , m, , , s- t- u- v- |- }- ~- - - - - - - - - - - ¸ hR hR 0J mH nH uhmD
hmD 0J j hmD 0J U hb h/ h,3 hXc h/ h~ hFv hE hlJ hq hlJ h~ hlJ h~ hlJ CJ \aJ & 1h:pb / =!"#$% L @ L N o r m a l $ CJ OJ QJ ^J _HaJ mH sH tH D A@ D D e f a u l t P a r a g r a p h F o n t R i R T a b l e N o r m a l 4
l 4 a ( k ( N o L i s t 4 @ 4 mD F o o t e r
! . )@ . mD P a g e N u m b e r * W@ * Q S t r o n g 5\` ^@ "` *t N o r m a l ( W e b ) d d [$\$ B*CJ OJ QJ ^J aJ ph 4 U@ 14 *t H y p e r l i n k >*ph % B O P ] ^ # A B d } ) J p q r ! " # $ % * R S l m [ \ ] b : ] 4 R T ( L N P S T S O Q R S T Y y ! 4 ` a b ! ! J! K! t% u% ~% % % % % % % 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 p 0 0 p 0 0 p 0 p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 p 0 p 0 0 0 0 0 p 0 0 p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 p 0 0 0 p @ 0 @ 0 My00 @ 0 @ 0 My0 0 0 ӯ ! " # $ % * ! ! J! K! % O90
YO90 O90 O90 O90 O90 O90 O90 O90 Oy0 Oy0 0 M90 t'M90 M90 Oy0 0 O90 M90 'O90 M90 O900 (M90 M90 M90 0 M90 0 O90 0 ; t( -
4$ ' - - w
:
{ j k # % XXXXXXX ! ! 1 8 ) . ~ ! ! u% % %
$ ( I W d f } ) + K N
d j O Y k q $ : = ] c 4 = ( + 4 _ .! :! ~! ! " " $ % $% (% Q% W% u% % % 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 @ G U
^ P S 6 7 a a S S ! t% u% % % u% % %
S a r a V u r e k V|L(n ^`CJ OJ QJ o( ^`CJ OJ QJ o( o p p^p`CJ OJ QJ o( @ @ ^@ `CJ OJ QJ o( ^`CJ OJ QJ o( ^`CJ OJ QJ o( ^`CJ OJ QJ o( ^`CJ OJ QJ o( P P^P`CJ OJ QJ o( V , -[= AD @ d d ]AD **_ dx @+/ d d m6w m
b d d 5Lbl .Ra AD'H ck7Y d d 'H(X;. p( c7 (G m
b d d B ^Me d d bl >))A(> Z) &s^ d d Z* (X;. +/ Z) c7)^ A(>m l~?@ (D TdKFc7 6J !K\mV d d \mV 6J d d k7Ym
b d d )^Z* &s^dx d d **_l~?@ m
bBt d d NeC0z d d ^Me &s^ d d ;f\mV d d Bro@ d d Bt 6w.Ra C0z(D d d ;{C0z d d 3"@{ &s^ d d 5N 7 mD / >8 hS *t Fv /| \ q ; E ~ < Q b \ cC Xc lJ [U N R ,3 @ % p @ U n k n o w n G z T i m e s N e w R o m a n 5 S y m b o l 3& z A r i a l ?5 z C o u r i e r N e w ; W i n g d i n g s " q h O C C # 24 b% b% 3Q H ) ? ; N C : \ D o c u m e n t s a n d S e t t i n g s \ s a r a \ A p p l i c a t i o n D a t a \ M i c r o s o f t \ T e m p l a t e s \ S e r m o n . d o t N T h i s s c r i p t u r e i s t r a d i t i o n a l l y r e a d d u r i n g R o s h H a s a n a h ( t h e J e w i s h N e w Y e a r )
S a r a V u r e k
S a r a V u r e k Oh +'0 $ 0 D X d
O This scripture is traditionally read during Rosh Hasanah (the Jewish New Year) his Sara Vurek u ara ara Sermon.dot u Sara Vurek u 5 ra Microsoft Word 10.0 @ . @ x2d@
@ Ud ՜. +,D ՜. +,| 8 h p |
/ C b%
O This scripture is traditionally read during Rosh Hasanah (the Jewish New Year) Title 8 @ _PID_HLINKS A | * L q h t t p : / / w w w . b e l i e f n e t . c o m / f r a m e _ o f f s i t e . a s p ? p a g e L o c = h t t p : / / w w w . s h a l o m c t r . o r g / i n d e x . c f m / a c t i o n / r e a d / s e c t i o n / t e n t / a r t i c l e / a r t i c l e 8 7 8 . h t m l < J h t t p : / / w w w . b e l i e f n e t . c o m / f r a m e _ o f f s i t e . a s p ? p a g e L o c = h t t p : / / w w w . o h a l a h . o r g / k I h t t p : / / w w w . b e l i e f n e t . c o m / f r a m e _ o f f s i t e . a s p ? p a g e L o c = h t t p : / / w w w . a l e p h . o r g / n Q h t t p : / / w w w . b e l i e f n e t . c o m / f r a m e _ o f f s i t e . a s p ? p a g e L o c = h t t p : / / w w w . p a x c h r i s t i u s a . o r g / C b H h t t p : / / w w w . b e l i e f n e t . c o m / f r a m e _ o f f s i t e . a s p ? p a g e L o c = h t t p : / / w w w . i s n a . n e t / j K h t t p : / / w w w . b e l i e f n e t . c o m / f r a m e _ o f f s i t e . a s p ? p a g e L o c = h t t p : / / w w w . n c c c u s a . o r g / _ > h t t p : / / w w w . b e l i e f n e t . c o m / f r a m e _ o f f s i t e . a s p ? p a g e L o c = h t t p : / / s h a l o m c t r . o r g / i n d e x . c f m / a c t i o n / r e a d / s e c t i o n / i r a q / a r t i c l e / a r t i c l e 6 3 7 . h t m l
! # $ % & ' ( ) * + , - . / 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 9 : ; < = > @ A B C D E F I R o o t E n t r y F 0#fdK 1 T a b l e " r( W o r d D o c u m e n t (B S u m m a r y I n f o r m a t i o n ( 7 D o c u m e n t S u m m a r y I n f o r m a t i o n 8 ? C o m p O b j j
F Microsoft Word Document
MSWordDoc Word.Document.8 9q
Copyright © 2008, Fairfax Community Church, UCC - Contact: pastor@fairfaxcommunitychurch.net
This site powered by
ThisChurch.Org:
Church Websites and Web Hosting 