Early each morning, while it is still quite dark at this time of year, I walk our dogs. There is a quiet stillness, occasionally punctuated by the sounds of birds I cannot identify calling from the nearby woods. And of course, there is wildlife: creatures who have become accustomed to humans settling in their terrain…rabbits, deer, sometimes coyotes and occasionally, a fox. When I see a fox, I am reminded of a poem from Mary Oliver, who writes about walking on the dunes when she came across a red fox sleeping under a pine tree. She concludes that poem with these words:
So I stood on the pale, peach-colored sand, watching the fox as it opened like a flower, and I began softly, to pick among the vast assortment of words that it should run again and again across the page that you again and again should shiver with praise.
“Shiver with praise.” For people of faith, praise is at the core of who we are. God “inhabits our praises,” says the psalmist. Praise, rightly practiced, takes us from places of boredom and discontent, and helps construct a world in which we live in love and wonder. Praise takes our breath away as we sense the deep goodness, the captivating beauty and the graceful truth of the Divine Love. Praise helps us trust the goodness of life.
But what happens when we misplace our praise? What can we do when we cannot find that part of us which easily welcomes wonder when she presents herself? The hymn writer says, “Let the Amen sounds from God’s people again.” But how can the Amen be readily spoken or sung when other realities are making themselves known: discord, despair, hate and injustice? How can we praise then?
We’ll talk about this on Sunday in worship. The sermon is titled “Finding Our Amen,” arising from Psalm 146, which will be read by Jeff Fender. Patrick Conklin, accompanied by Matthew Wachtman, will sing a solo. We’ll sing hymns, have a moment for children, and pray together. We’ll also celebrate Levi Fender’s accomplishment in becoming an Eagle Scout, and receive him as a church member.
If you have been part of the St. Mark’s community for decades, or will be joining us for the first time, we look forward to connecting with those of you here or on the live stream at www.smumc.church at 10:30am this Sunday!