Perhaps you find yourself a bit discouraged these days. If so, or even if not, it is worth asking if there was a time when a powerful memory, whether a personal one, the story of another, or one from our story of faith, helped you find hope for your present and future? In Psalm 126, we read a song of pilgrims who are leaning into their sacred memory. They recall the joy they felt when they were released from exile in Babylon. “The LORD has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.” But their exhilaration turned to near despair when upon arriving back “home” in Zion, they discovered their country is in a state of disrepair. In these moments of despair, they lean into sacred memory, and affirm that the God who delivered them before can bless them in the future. “Those who go out with weeping…shall come home with shouts of joy.” To enter into hope, one must recall both the struggle and delight of one’s story.
David Whyte says that the capacity to be vulnerable, to know what it is like to live in exile, is one of our core competencies. It is, then, this capacity to turn our faces toward home, even while in exile, that is one of the great human actions. We can see, for example, that the ancient people of faith, when celebrating the Passover meal, would have a child ask for the sacred story to be told. The child would ask, “Why is this night different from all other nights?” Jesus, celebrating Last Supper with his disciples, encouraged them to “Do this in remembrance of me.” Sacred memory makes hope come alive, and today, we all need hope.
We’ll talk about this in the service on Sunday, as the sermon is titled, “Stories of Exile, Songs of Hope.” The sermon arises from Psalm 126, which will be read by Annette Lemond, and Mark 10: 46-52, which will be read by Kristen Hess. We will be led musically by members of the Bloomington Chamber Singers, who will sing under the direction of Dr. Betsy Burleigh. Lois Leong is the organist for this Sunday’s service, and Director of Children’s Ministries, Madison Sinan, and Blake White will also accompany with trumpets for the opening hymn, “God of the Ages.” We’ll have a moment for children, sing, and pray together.
If this is your first time at St. Marks, or whether you have long been a part of our church community, we look forward to connecting with you this Sunday. Join us at 10:30 in the sanctuary, or if you are connecting online, visit www.smumc.church, and click the live stream banner.