It is the season of Recommitment, but we have not been talking about that much. Last week, Paul began his brief sermon with a reminder that our commitment statements as Seekers include a promise to “work for the ending of all war, public and private.” Today, I want to focus on another of our promises.…
This is the fourth Sunday of the Seekers recommitment season, a time when we intentionally re-explore our commitment to Christ and to Seekers Church. This morning and every Sunday, as an integral part of our worship, we recommitted ourselves to “work to end all war, violence and discord.” Today, we have a unique opportunity to further explore that commitment. We have an opportunity to ask ourselves: Do we take that commitment to heart? Do we take it seriously? Are we really “committed” to it? And if so, how do we live out that commitment in our individual and corporate lives?…
From time to time Seekers Church takes time out from its regular preaching schedule for a service of chant, prayer and reflection modeled on the worship of the Taizé Community in France. This Sunday was one such time. Repeating the chants together until they die away into the silence provides rest for our world-weary spirits as well as an opportunity for individual reflection on our faith journeys. As we joined in spirit with the monks at Taizé, we were nourished by their faithfulness as well as by their music. Our chants were accompanied and supported by Glen Yakushiji at the piano.…
At the June Women’s Breakfast, we got to talking about artificial intelligence and I shared that I was using an artificial intelligence program, ChatGPT, to provide some ideas for parts of a mystery novel I was writing. In the process, I have become quite enamored of the app. Later someone at the breakfast mentioned that it was about time for me to give a sermon. Someone, I don’t remember who (maybe me?) put the two together and said, “What about using Chat GPT to write a sermon.” So, I thought I would, just for fun, try doing just that.…
I am Open, I am Opened
It’s September, and we can feel the coolness of the coming Autumn season in the air this morning. I love the promise of change that I always sense as Autumn approaches. From Jeanne Marcus I understand you all are entering into a season of recommitment at Seekers, in a year with the theme of Being Opened.
I take note that the phrase is “Being Opened” (not “Being Open). However, I would like to add my perspective, which is that to really be opened and to take in that experience, consent is required. …