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In order to expedite posting the worship services here on our website, we are reducing the transcript to just the scriptures used and the message. Union Grove UMC in partnership with Southland Books & Cafe, began holding Second Sunday Community Church in January 2023. Second Sunday Community Church takes place at 3 p.m. ET the second Sunday of every month, meets in-person at The Bird & The Book, and is also live-streamed on Facebook. Holy Communion is offered at every Second Sunday service. If you are worshipping on Second Sundays online whether during the live-cast or through on-demand viewing, you are encouraged to have bread and juice or wine available as you watch the service and to participate in communion just as if you are present with us.
MESSAGE – Keep the Change
Rev. Val
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock, and my redeemer, and may you see fit to use me as a vessel from which you pour out your Divine Word.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
I don’t know what you folks do when you’re bored but the other night I was having trouble falling asleep. I figured some doom scrolling would tire me out as it usually does and for some weird reason, my doom scrolling led me to ChatGPT whom I had a rather lengthy conversation with … 25 pages of conversation as it turns out.
For those who haven’t ventured into the land of AI Text engines yet, you either tell it what you want it to do … write a story … or a sermon … or a liturgy … or you ask it a question … or a combination thereof. I was asking it questions, and its answer to one question stuck out to me.
The question was: What would it take to shift humanity to a more compassionate species?
Tall order, right? In my lifetime, humanity as a whole has not been very compassionate. In fact, in known history, compassion is something that seems to have been only randomly gifted out among God’s children.
ChatGPT, though, had an answer: Shifting humanity toward a more compassionate species is a complex and multifaceted challenge, involving individual and societal changes.
ChatGPT didn’t stop there, though: “Here are some considerations:” it scrolled across the screen.
Education: Incorporating programs that teach emotional intelligence, empathy, and conflict resolution in schools can help shape compassionate individuals. OK, I need to stop here and let you know that the kids are alright. Gen-Z is a powerhouse generation that actually gives a darn about their friends and families, pays attention to things that can adversely impact them, and finds ways to confront the problems and fight to correct them. We just need to do what we can to make sure Gen-Alpha has access to that kind of education and can learn without restriction.
Cultural and Social Influences: Things like encouraging media, arts, and cultural representations that promote compassion and understanding which can influence public attitudes.
Community Building: Establishing strong communities creates a sense of belonging and shared responsibility. Communities that support each other tend to foster compassion and empathy.
Global Perspective: By encouraging a global perspective … learning about people and issues around the globe, people better understand that we are all interconnected and recognize we share a common humanity.
Promoting Kindness: Small acts of compassion have a ripple effect, so encouraging and celebrating acts of kindness creates a positive social environment.
Other considerations it gave me were the importance of compassionate leaders at all levels who can influence policies that prioritize human well-being, social justice and environmental sustainability; mindfulness and well-being practices like meditation, yoga, tai chi, even journaling or just taking long walks out in nature; teaching and learning effective communication and conflict resolution skills; recognizing our interconnectedness with the environment and promoting sustainable practices; and encouraging philanthropy and volunteer work to encourage compassion and a sense of social responsibility.
The last thing it told me was: “It’s important to note that creating a more compassionate society requires a collective effort and a combination of individual, community, and systemic changes. It’s a gradual process that involves fostering empathy, understanding, and a commitment to shared values.”
Well … that should be easy-peasy, right? Provided we can stop all the silliness proposed in the legislatures for this session, undo all the past silliness they’ve done, and stop any future silliness they may have planned. I think that’s what ChatGTP meant when it suggested it requires a collective effort.
So, next I asked ChatGTP where a good place to start might be. For instance, I said, what about starting with a small group of people that gather together for fellowship. And ChatGTP seemed to think that was a good idea and gave me an outline for today’s message:
We’re all unique here, and according to my faith tradition (and despite what some folks in my particular faith tradition and a few other faith traditions might say), we’re unique and diverse by design. Genesis 1:26 says, “Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness …” Nothing singular there. God said our image. Plurality. Diversity. And take a look around you. This is a good-looking group of folks here. Clearly God does good work!
A good-looking group that has faced some extraordinary challenges whether you’re LGBTQ or someone who is leaving or has left traditional religion. With more challenges to come.
Challenges for being out, loud, and proud are pretty much public knowledge. What isn’t so publicly known may be the challenges one faced in coming out. Rejection by family, friends, coworkers, employers … rejection that, in some cases, may have led to ejection from home, social groups, and even jobs. In far too many cases, rejection, ejection, and condemnation by the traditional place of worship that may have been one’s faith home since birth. I would add that particular rejection is completely anti-Christ who rejected exactly no one.
The current penchant conservative state lawmakers and certain US elected officials have for writing and passing or at least attempting to pass legislation that goes so far as to criminalize and, at minimum eliminates the LGBTQ is at an all-time high and coming close to equaling and possibly surpassing the rush to pass Jim Crow laws after the civil war.
And the culture wars and very public rhetoric coming from the bully pulpits our pundits, politicians, and celebrity religious leaders brings on, agitates, and even emboldens some people to take hateful and even sometimes violent actions against anyone they perceive to be “other.”
Another group that is beginning to face more public challenges are those who have, for very good reasons, left traditional religion. Reasons varying from actual abuse whether mental, physical, or sexual, to disappointment caused by religious leaders and/or fellow church members that say one thing Sunday morning, but don’t walk that talk Monday through Saturday … often doing the exact opposite … a disappointment that can and often causes complete disillusionment because the god they were taught to expect doesn’t show up in the ways they were assured God would.
This group has often faced a lot of the same rejection and ejection experiences of the LGBTQ when it comes to family, friends, and their traditional church homes. What’s beginning to happen though, is those same conservative state lawmakers and US elected officials are beginning to take actions that would, if successful, indoctrinate younger generations into the same type of disappointing faith through public and private education systems … a faith that ensures the perpetuation of the patriarchy, racism, and all the othering phobias known to man.
Racism, xenophobia … these things have existed since before the Civil War and in this country seem to be once again growing wings, talons, and sharp beaks that do their best to rip and shred at the very fabric of what should be the most diverse society in the world.
Sadly, none of what’s happening in today’s world of culture wars and uber level phobias is of the One I call God, especially when looked at through the lens of Jesus. And whether you are a Christian or not, The Way Jesus taught us to live in the world … if we were to actually follow his teachings … is profound and, if applied across the board, would literally and effectively change society in the way ChatGTP suggested if we want to shift to a more compassionate society.
Jesus was a rejector of none and acceptor of all … Love, as Rev. David Hayward puts it, with no fine print.
As some here may know, I’m a TikTok fan and I’ve spent the last year watching numerous videos or sitting in live sessions listening to the stories of the LGBTQ community there as well as numerous people who’ve walked away from organized religion and from the Christian faith – two worlds I knew very little about and understood even less about. I’ve spent time listening to people of color, people from other faith traditions, people who are subjected to forms of oppression I can’t even imagine because I come from a place of privilege by simply being straight and white.
While a lot of what I’ve heard is frustration, pain, anger, and in some cases outright and just rage, what I’ve heard and seen is also a resilience that is indescribable, and a desire for change that defies measure.
If you could weave all those I’ve listened to together into one giant tapestry, 16 million colors would not be enough. The richness and honestly the righteousness I’ve witnessed in the cyber diaspora of TikTok is breathtaking. It’s encouraged me to pay more attention in other forums both online and offline as well.
The lessons all this has taught me are that there is no one on this planet from whom I can’t learn something valuable and that … sometimes … I can make modestly valuable contributions as well. It’s taught me that the stories we each have to share about how we’ve come to be who we are in our authentic soul-selves are priceless and we need to share them with one another and with each other whether its what we glean from our faith traditions or why we’ve walked away from religion. Regardless of racial, ethnic, or sexual identities. Regardless of what the folks screaming slurs through bullhorns and microphones say. These are stories that are worthy of sharing, stories that have valuable merit.
I hope that what I’m learning is making me a better person, a better pastor, and most of all, a better follower of the One I call God and the One I call Christ.
What I know is that there is also no one on this planet who was not created in the image of the One I Call God, that we are all beloved Children of God, that God has claimed us as his own beloved children, and that God is well pleased with us.
Thinking back to what my conversation with ChatGPT revealed about shifting humanity, I can say I’ve witnessed that shift in many of the videos I’ve watched, live sessions I’ve sat in, and even in many of those I’ve interacted with who’ve come to the realization that, while much of my faith tradition are still very ignorant about the beautiful diversity of creation and humanity, are still worshiping some tiny little god they’ve invented that hates everyone they think they have to hate, have discovered that there are, indeed, some of us out here who are working hard to do our best to follow the teachings of the One I Call Christ.
That’s in large part what we hope to accomplish here with Second Sunday Community of Faith … to create a space where no matter who you are or what you do or don’t believe, you can come together here for fellowship, for conversation, for sharing the stories of your authentic selves, and for building on and expanding a more loving, more compassionate way to be human in this species called humanity.
That takes more than me, though, more than me and those members of Union Grove who help me with this gathering. It takes you, too. It takes you risking yourself to trust that we are indeed your allies. It takes you trusting us enough to encourage your friends to come with you. And, at some point, it will take you finding the inner courage and strength to share your stories.
Everyone here, everyone listening to the live-cast of this gathering … we’ve all gone through countless changes throughout our lives, searching for the most authentic version of ourselves … versions we can live with, versions that allow us to be happy with who we are … our soul-selves. Those periods of change have often been fraught with pain, with grief, with loneliness, and even with self-doubt, but we’ve survived all that and come through the other side to continue our quest to be our most authentic selves, and that is to be celebrated. That is to be honored. That is to be cherished. That is to be applauded. And most importantly? That is to be respected.
So, to get to the point, what I’m trying to tell you is to “Keep the Change.” Keep it all. Keep everything you’ve gone through to get to where you are today and keep it knowing that you are exactly who the One I Call God has designed you to be. You are beautiful. You are beloved. And in you the One I call God is well-pleased.
Let’s pray:
Holy One of Blessing, eternally we co-create ourselves in your love.
All companionship orientations, all gender identities and expressions, all ways of having family. We celebrate LGBTQ+ peoples everywhere knowing that many are still not safe to come out; To be free; To live life abundantly.
Divine Mystery, eternally we co-create ourselves in your love.
All races, all cultures, all ethnicities, all beliefs and unbelief. All ages and abilities, all economic and social statuses, citizens and strangers alike. We celebrate all your children everywhere knowing that all are created in your image and are beloved by you.
Heal all who are ill in body, mind, heart, or spirit. Bind up all wounds and provide adequate care. Extinguish any stigma people are enduring.
We celebrate because everyone should be celebrated. We are your body on earth. May our love and hope be sent on the wings of this prayer to all who need refreshing, affirmation, and love’s embrace.
All: May it be so. Amen.
We are a gathering of diverse people, woven rainbow threads
drawn together as if a single prayer shawl, laying upon the shoulders of those who have been rejected, or harmed, broken by the world and how the world and Christians have treated their LGBTQIA+ children, siblings, parents, family friends.
We are a gathering of diverse people, woven rainbow threads
drawn together as if a single prayer shawl, laying upon the shoulders of those who have stood up and who stand with us as LGBTQIA+ people.
We are a gathering of diverse people, woven rainbow threads drawn together as if a single prayer shawl, laying upon the shoulders of those who have been rejected or harmed, broken by the world and how the world and Christians have treated their children, siblings, parents, and family friends of other skin colors, other faith traditions, other cultures.
We do not have to speak the same languages. We can witness different sacred truth. We can love differently, yet recognizing that love is the same, no matter the gender of the person who shares it. We can coexist, recognizing that you are the same, no matter the manner in which you are worshipped or the name by which you are called. For God created us for incorruption, made in the image of immortality.
We do not have to look the same, love the same, pray the same, or even believe the same. Blue uses red to shine. Yellow reflects next to green.
Orange and purple. Black and white. Brown and pink. Homegenia … sameness … should never be the goal. Our diversity is holy diversity.
We come together committing to deeper connection, to listen more, to see and witness, seeking compassion over conflict, hope over hate, joyful in intent and dismissing the false unity of sameness, woven in the unity of love. For God created us for incorruption, made in the image of love. We belong. We are the colors of love.
Amen.
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