The Future for the UCC: SCC Conference Opening Ceremony

I've been asked by a few people to share the short meditation I gave at the UCC's South Central Conference Annual Meeting last weekend.  Warning: my sermons are somewhat strange to read on paper because I don't read them word for word, but this is an approximation... So here it is!

Now I could be biased –
seeing that I’m 7 months pregnant –
I could be biased,
but when I think of someone embracing God’s dream with a big bear hug –
When I imagine someone who exemplifies fearlessly stepping out into God’s future chapters,
(regardless of the challenges God may have written in)...
When I think of someone
who has the vision of God’s tomorrow sparkling in her eyes,
I think of Mary.

Mary,
that pregnant teenage girl
who was told she carried the future of Creation inside her,
and instead of running for the hills to hide in fear-
(as any reasonable girl would have)
Mary actually rejoiced,
she actually said,
“let it be so!” 
Mary fully embraced God’s dream for humanity,
though she didn’t know where it was leading her,
Or exactly what it all meant.

Now you and I too have been visited by angels,
angels sending us visions
telling us that the Body of Christ is being called to new kinds of ministries, 
new testimonies, 
new acts of service, 
and new ways of being 
in this rapidly changing world.
And for most of us Christians,
Our first reaction is not to rejoice at the news—
Not to to say “let it be so,”
But to run for the hills!
To seek the sweet, safe shelter of the past.
Because that’s what reasonable folk do, isn’t it?

But the reason that I was drawn to the United Church of Christ,
The reason I love this denomination today with all my heart,
And the reason I believe we are especially poised to minister to up-and-coming generations,
like my own,
and like the generation I’m carrying,
Is because we are not reasonable folk.

No, the radical inclusion we strive to extend to all people –
No matter who they are or where they are on life’s journey –
That isn’t reasonable!
It causes a lot of problems!

The way we fearlessly ask hard questions,
And the way we encourage a diversity of views within one body,
That isn’t reasonable either!
It spurs a lot of difficult conversations!

And the way we proclaim that being a Christian isn’t just about your love affair with Jesus saving you from the pain of punishment,
It’s about the salvation of the whole world 
Which is tied up in the way you act,
the way you serve,
the way you spend your money,
and the way you fulfill your obligations to the causes of peace and justice,
That isn’t reasonable either!
It just demands too much of people!

But we’re not reasonable folk in the United Church of Christ,
Because embracing God’s dream for tomorrow isn’t about reason,
It’s about love.

And embracing God’s dream
Isn’t about the easy escape to the hills.
No, in the days ahead,
The dream is going to require a lot of what we have known for decades in the church ---
And yes, even some of what we love --
To go through a painful process of death
and resurrection...

But in the face of such exciting -- and scary news,
the Mary inside of me,
And the distinctively Marian nature of the United Church of Christ --
Rises up,
Rejoicing,
Embracing God’s dream
And saying, “Let it be so.”
Let it be so.
Amen.