LIBERATION LECTIONARY ~ NATIVE HERITAGE MONTH

In the Beginning, God With Us

“This morning we gather in gratitude for all aspects of sacredness: the air, the warmth of fire, bodies of water, plants, the land, and all animals and humankind.” -Luci Tapahanso

Poem: “Remember” by Joy Harjo

Remember the sky that you were born under, know each of the star's stories. Remember the moon, know who she is. Remember the sun's birth at dawn, that is the strongest point of time. Remember sundown and the giving away to night. Remember your birth, how your mother struggled to give you form and breath. You are evidence of her life, and her mother's, and hers.

Remember your father. He is your life, also. Remember the earth whose skin you are: red earth, black earth, yellow earth, white earth brown earth, we are earth.

Remember the plants, trees, animal life who all have their tribes, their families, their histories, too. Talk to them, listen to them. They are alive poems. Remember the wind. Remember her voice. She knows the origin of this universe.

Remember you are all people and all people are you. Remember you are this universe and this universe is you. Remember all is in motion, is growing, is you. Remember language comes from this. Remember the dance language is, that life is. Remember.

Reflection and Discussion: Remember to Rejoice

In the beginning, God stretched out Their sovereign will over the waters of creation with a command: Light. Soon there were animals and humans filling the space where history began.  When we look at the biblical story in a course of seasons, we hold space for ourselves and our loved ones to remember, reflect and renew. We remember the events and the people that make up the stories in the Bible. We reflect on the nature of God; Their relationship with creation, Their special blessing of stewardship and dominion for humanity. And we commit to spiritual health habits - like remembrance and thanksgiving - in order to renew our minds. 

We intentionally start the church year ahead of the calendar year. We take this time each year, before we start a new year, to reflect on the time when years were few. When the earth was new. Now our home is languishing, and it is humanity that has caused grave harm.

A Bolivian lake, vital to the areas it supplies, has dried up. This loss leaves the indigenous Uru people “orphaned” as they describe it in their own words; as if they must live without the resources of their mother, their Creator. Our world needs remembrance, our future requires present action. The Uru people now join everyone who has a memory of water loss. They are partnered with others in lament.* 

But memory also helps us to partner with each other in hope, determination, and joy. Rejoicing is resistance to pessimism. Joy is a boundary that protects us from bitterness. This week we are reading from Philippians 4:  “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

What is the habit we build in remembrance of God’s creative purposes? We might get mad at God for casting the vision in the first place. We might remember in order to grow through grief, that the God of life has not yet made a total end to suffering, pain and death. Sometimes remembrance reminds us that the weight of this world is on the Creator’s shoulders, not yours alone. The act of remembrance is a practice of humility, and humility guides our goodwill. Both are aspects of the nature and person of the Triune God. In this season of starting at the beginning, may we know the all surpassing beauty of being created by a God whose personalities we inherited.

That’s right, the creation story reminds us of a profound gift from God: Themselves. God gave us their self - Their image - that we might access all of their habits, their pathways to hope, their humble approach to building power, and their uncanny ability to introduce joy and light amidst the most chaotic, gloomy formlessness.

Look at the directions for living that God gives us in the creation story. In the beginning, God brings light to a space that had need of it. The world needed something that didn’t exist yet. Where is that world in your life?

God named the day and the night. They called the night necessary and sacred. They modeled fearlessness, authority and dominion. Now we might name the places in ourselves and our lives which cast shadows, remembering God’s primary, perfect, original example: work and rest. Call creation good. 

When we call creation good, we remember its beauty and long to protect it. We have memory of this goodness; snow capped mountain peaks, salty waters where flamingos and elephants dance. We remember the river that mothers us. This too is the power of our inheritance from God; that we humble ourselves, show honor to our Creator, and grow in the co-creating work of stewardship. We were made to care for creation. We must always remember this, and rejoice.  ~

*Watch a clip about the Uru people’s river loss.

Song: Everyday is a Thanksgiving

There are many different layers to the song as the performance moves on. Notice the energy of the choir in different sections. Notice the instrumentalists. What are they communicating through their solos? How is the theme of gratitude present in your life? What activities or cultural assumptions can we reclaim into a social spiritual tradition over an American holiday? Watch this thowback choral performance of a longtime gospel classic song. “Everyday is a Day of Thanksgiving”

Discussion

“Remember the sky that you were born under…remember your birth.” Remembering one’s birth is a recurring line in Joy Harjo’s poem “Remember.” Do you know your birth story? Have you heard someone else’s birth or birthing story that has stayed with you?
How is remembering (or knowing) your own birth story helpful in connecting you to the Creation story?
How has your perception or understanding of the Creation story developed or changed as you’ve moved from childhood to adulthood?
In what ways does remembering the Creation story move you to connect with or care for the earth and its creatures?

Daily Readings from Philippians

Sunday Philippians 4.1-3 Therefore, my family, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends! I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Monday Philippians 4.4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Tuesday Philippians 4.8-9 Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Wednesday Philippians 4.10-11 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

Thursday Philippians 4.12-13 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through The One who gives me strength.

Friday Philippians 4.14-18 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.

Saturday Philippians 4.19-23 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of Their glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Creator be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Greet all God’s people in Christ Jesus. The siblings who are with me send greetings. All God’s people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.