The 22nd Sunday after Pentecost
October 25, 2026
May the love between us be strong.
May the trust between us be whole,
And may the words between us be true
May our eyes see one another,
May our ears hear one another,
May our hearts touch one another’s,
And may our souls hold one anotherFrom The Anasazi Book of Chants
So, what brought me to Seekers and when? It is the founding pastor of Covenant Christian Community, Rev Lola Johnson Singletary. She is responsible for introducing several of Covenant members to the Church of the Savior where I heard Gordon Cosby preach, but I got to know him better through Elizabeth O’Connor ‘s writings. This was followed by a visit to Seekers Church on Carroll Avenue. I think she had the foresight to know that one day I might have to make a choice.
What prepared me for Seekers was my Catholicism, and after coming to the States, I was exposed to other religions. In Philadelphia, I learnt, lived and worked with Quakers whose practice of non violence in pursuit of social justice greatly appealed to me. I lived in an activist community and had ample opportunity to learn new ways of being. While still in Philadelphia, my late husband and I attended a Covenant Christian Community sponsored retreat through the friendship of Ed and Wilhelmina Cook. I consider these my stepping stones to life at Seekers.
Later, I am going to take a different slant to my sharing by explaining about Seekers with the help of the Velveteen Rabbit. A few months after worshiping here, I was seen as ready to sign the membership book, but I did not feel ready because merely attending worship regularly does not warrant membership, it is more than attendance.. An equally important question is, What have I given to the Seekers Community? I would feel better if I could match the grace and blessings that I received. So what keeps me coming to Seekers? 1) It is the lay-led sermons, heartfelt, with interpretation, 2) the Commitment statement which is most meaningful to me because it includes my relationship with God, in all its manifestations, that I want to stand up and recite it and lastly the choice of hymns. What continues to amaze me is how spirituality, community and social justice are all intertwined in practice depicted by a do-it-yourself church.
I lack the expertise to expound on today’s scriptures (only to ask why type of questions), even though I re-read 3 different bibles several times, and checked out the Commentaries. However, I choose Matthew where he tells us that Jesus not only wants us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, and with all our soul and with all our mind; the second is to love our neighbor as yourself. If it was only this community, and my family and friends to love in that way, I could work on it. In my involvement with Quakers, I had learnt that there is that of God in each person, similar to Catholics that we are created in the image and likeness of God. Nixon was a Quaker, and as such I wondered where was that of God in him? And if I am to love my neighbor, the White House is so close to us but this is a major challenge. Is Jesus expecting that of me, of us? Killian Noe in her Inward/Outward message gives us the following tips:
1. Stay conscious of and close to the suffering; within ourselves and our community.
2. Maintain proximity to pain.
3. Allow ourselves to be deeply known and loved, just as we are, with all our complexities and contradictions, and intentionally seek to know and love others in that same way.
4. Remember we were created for joy.
Yes to all of the above, and in addition I must add that regular silent meditation and developing a closeness with the Holy One without asking for anything or telling one’s sorrows is a good practice which I try to work on.
Back to Seekers, Bill had not joined me at Seekers when I had started worship at Carroll Avenue., but he was curious about this church.
“What is spiritual growth in Seekers Really like?” asked Bill one day, when we were lying side by side.
“Well, some people are open, not shy about sharing personal stories about their lives, and many of them even write spiritual reports and get feedback from their director.”
“Director? like a person in charge? Does this make them spiritual?”
“Seekers type of spiritual growth isn’t how you become or are made,” said Linda. “It’s a thing that happens to you.”
“Does it depend on particular prayers, confession of the so-called sins, expressions of gratitude, and then they ask for a lot of favors?”
“Bill, remember when you were a baby how your mother loved you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loved you, you became Real to her”.
“Does being Real hurt?” asked Bill.
“Sometimes, said Linda, for she was always truthful. “When you are Real you don’t mind being hurt.”
“Does being Real happen all at once or is it bit by bit?
Well, it is like being noticed, affirmed, showing up on Sundays and attending Christian growth classes; and bit by bit like reading scripture, bringing the peace and justice message, and hosting coffee hour with cookies.”
“It doesn’t happen all at once,” Linda replied, It took me years and years and I am still waiting for the Light, like hearing God’s voice. You become. It takes some of us a long time.
“That’s why it doesn’t often happen to people who break easily, or don’t think they are good enough”, (“you mean the over-sensitive ones, or who have sharp edges, like running away from conflict or who have to be carefully kept for they will find other places to go.”?
“Generally, by the time you become Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.”
Later, Bill joined Linda regularly and even became a member of a mission group. Linda grew very old, needed a cane, and new medicines, but the Seekers community loved her so much that it did not matter whether she became a Steward, a member of a mission group or just a member of the community. She no longer looked like when she first arrived here, but to Seekers, she was always beautiful, and that was all that Linda cared about. It did not matter that she was not white, she once had a Portuguese passport, is brown-skinned, was born in Dar-Es Salaam, East Africa, yet not black, that her parents and great-grand parents were Catholic Indians, that at 21 she chose to became a Tanzania citizen, no change in color, and finally an American citizen. She married two white men, one a Quaker, after having said that she would never need to marry. She realizes that it was her soul at work that became Real, and that to become Real, it takes freeing oneself of labels, the Holy One, the support of her super spouse, this spiritual community, my accountability Senior Pioneers, and friends and associations outside of Seekers. I want to end with favorite prayer given to Rev. Lola
Alone, I could succumb to the Challenges of This World,
Alone, I Could Despair, I Am Not Alone.
Great is the Power Delegated To Me,
Great is the Authority Entrusted To Me:
Great Is the Power Surrounding Me:
I Accept the Power, I Claim The Authority, I Receive The Love;
O Lord, My God, My Sword, My Shield, My Rock, My Redeemer