Seed and Yeast

Welcome to my blog as DS of the Columbia District of the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. I will post here mostly reflections that I have concerning ministry, the present situation we find ourselves in as a church, as an area and as a society. Leave your comments or just read and reflect.

Today’s post is more reflection then statement. To begin, I invite you to breathe. Breathe…in and out… breathe slowly and deeply…breathe…allow yourself to let go of whatever has your attention…breathe…

Dear Lord God,

We thank you for mustard seed and for the wonders of yeast

and for how these things teach us about your love.

Lord, plant your seed into our lives,

help us work your yeast into our hearts that wonderful things may happen.

We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.

~ written by Rev. Richard J. Fairchild, and posted on Kir-shalom. http://www.rockies.net/~spirit/sermons/a-or17cs.php

Matthew 13: 31-33 (CEB) - Jesus told another parable to crowds: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and planted in a field. It's the smallest of all seeds. But when it's grown, it's the largest of all vegetable plants. It becomes a tree so that the birds in the sky come and nest in its branches." Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast, which a woman took and hid in a bushel of wheat flour until the yeast had worked its way through all the dough."

At the beginning and end of each section pause. Use that space to mediate on the section, the words, your life, your call to ministry. Allow yourself to go deep and yet to be free enough to go where the Spirit might lead. Settle in, relax your body, breathe… [Pause]

 

LIGHT – [Pause]

Beloved Jesus, you have said that your followers must be light to the world. Light propagates itself, dispels darkness. It sows rays of joy and hope. It is life-giving. Help us, Lord, to be a light to this world, so that our lives radiate your message of love, hope, and joy. May we be the beacon leading to You those who seek truth. 

[Pause and reflect]

 

SALT – [Pause]

You also said, loving Christ, that your followers must be salt to this earth. Salt gives taste to food. It retards spoilage. It is helps to heal. Lord, may we be the salt that takes away the blandness in the routine of living, that prevents the rottenness of hatred and greed from expanding around us, that brings compassionate healing to the anguished souls we encounter. Lord, help us to be "worth our salt." And infuse your "saltiness" in us, so that we do not become "flat" and useless. 

[Pause and reflect]

 

YEAST – [Pause]

"Be the leaven to the world," You said to your friends. Bread, a staple of life, and cakes - always present at celebrations - would be dull and lifeless without the tiny bit of yeast. Without it, the dough remains inert, hard. You also told us to multiply our talents. You expect that we use the talents you gave us as the leaven to this world. Teach us, Jesus, that we cannot do it all on our own, but mixed with the talents of our siblings, we can lift this world out of its malaise. May we be a bit of leaven in the Bread of Life, and a sign of Your celebration in this life and any life to come. 

[Pause and reflect]

 

COMMITMENT  - [Pause]

Lord, on this common yet holy day, let there be a new beginning for our lives and the life of our communities. In the days of darkness, be our Light, so that in turn we can radiate your truth and your message of love, hope, and joy. In the days of blandness and of blahs, Lord, be our Salt, so that in turn we can fend off the corruption, the staleness, the malaise around us. In the days when we are flat on our backs or fall flat on our faces, Lord, be our Yeast, so that not only can we rise again, but also raise the downhearted to the joys of your Love. Amen.

~Adapted from a prayer posted on the Catholic Online website. http://www.catholic.org/

 

Beloved of God and partners in ministry with one another and with Christ go now in peace and may God the Creator bring you to new life, and may Christ the Redeemer bring you to a new awareness of loving community and may the Spirit infuse you with a desire to create new communities of justice, service and love. Go in peace and go with God. Amen.