Worship - August 20, 2006

Aloha is a Hawaiian word that is used as a greeting when people arrive and when they leave. It means "peace," is spoken to help a guest feel welcome. When we meet face-to- face with an Aloha, barriers that may separate us are broken down, and the ground we stand upon becomes a safe and healing place.

Long ago, God visited Abraham and Sarah "by the oaks of Mamre." Hearing that story we remember that we may be welcoming angels without knowing it when we show hospitality to strangers. Aloha is thus not just a greeting we speak to each other. We are inviting the Lord to come by here. Please stand and let�s sing "kum bah jah" - the new version.

Opening Prayer

Yes, Lord, come by here. Aloha! We welcome you. Help us to worship you today. Speak to us through the Bible verses we read, the songs we sing, and the things we share in Jesus� name. Amen.

Summer Summary

Have you heard the story of six visually impaired men who went to "see" an elephant? Each one approached the creature from a different direction. Making their astute observations, they each claimed the truth about the beast. Their conclusions were quite varied, including a wall (side), a spear (tusk), a snake (trunk), a tree (leg), a fan (ear), and a rope (tail). The part of the elephant they each happened to touch determined their perspective.

This may happen to us when we consider the word peace. There are at least as many ways to define peace as there are to describe an elephant: the absence of war, mental calm, a state of harmony, law and order. In the Christian community, we often find different meanings when we use that special word. And like those blind men, we see different parts of this profound concept.

The curriculum at camp this summer explored these many ways of talking about peace. In each of six daily discoveries, a scripture opened a door to a different way of understanding peace. Some of these doors are very personal; others emphasize the community. Some talk about our inner life; others focus on the world. Rather than just opening one �favorite� door, by opening several, campers and counselors tried to see the bigger picture of God�s desire for humankind, to behold the whole "elephant," if you will. The One who created and sustains us wants us to live together in unity and harmony�spiritually, emotionally, socially, and politically.

Combined with each scripture lesson were words for peace from around the world. You�ve already heard one of them, "Aloha." These words were chosen because they help to describe these various aspects of peace, focusing on one aspect each day. Our worship service this morning revolves around these six camp discoveries, listening to scriptures and hearing the variety of words for "peace" from around the world. As we talk about God�s peace today, may the peace of the Lord talk to us.

"Shalom"

Shalom is a Hebrew word that means peace. Like aloha, it also is a word used in greeting and saying good-bye. But shalom is a much bigger word. It also means harmony, completeness, wholeness, well-being, even salvation. It describes the world as God intends it to be. When we offer shalom to others, we bless them with God�s blessing. Those who receive this blessing of shalom enjoy God�s wholeness and salvation

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." At the end of each day�s creation work, "God saw everything he had made, and indeed, it was very good." That�s what it says in the first chapter of the Bible. Everything and everyone had a place, and it was good. That�s what God wants. Shalom... A song some of us sang at camp talks about this. "All God�s critters."

"Be Still"

During a storm on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus called out to the raging wind and the churning sea with a command, not a request. Back on land in the very next chapter, he called out in a similar way to a man with an unclean spirit who lived alone because of his inner violence. Both the sea and this man then became still at Jesus� word of peace.

The call of "Peace, be still!" is for us a call to quiet and listening, so we can hear God speak to us. In Psalm 46 it says, "Be still, and know that I am God." These words form a prayer that what God intends - Shalom - will happen, that God�s ways will prevail.

In worship here two weeks ago, we sang the song that was the theme song for camp this summer. We also sang this song at National Youth Conference. The tune was written by the guy who led singing at NYC. He�s also music director at the LaVerne, California Church of the Brethren. The words were made popular by a woman who walked on a solitary pilgrimage for peace around the United States from 1953-1981. She used these words as a meditation as she walked. She simply called herself, "Peace Pilgrim." Let�s sing "Peace Pilgrim�s Prayer."

Pastoral Prayer

written closer to the time (if not at the moment)

"Agape"

Agape is one of the words for love in Greek, the language in which the New Testament was written. It describes God�s love for us in Jesus Christ. It is a love that accepts and loves us just as we are. While agape is not exactly a word for peace, without it we can�t understand God�s desire for all to live in peace.

When Jesus calls us to love, he moves us beyond just loving those who love us. It�s not easy to love someone who doesn�t love you, but that�s what God did when he sent his only Son to save the world. Receiving this love, and trusting in Jesus, we are invited - no, we are commanded to start living in the same way, to love even our enemies. That�s where peace between people begins.

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

"Bless those who curse you; pray for those who abuse you; offer the other cheek to those who strike you; share your shirt when someone takes your coat; don�t demand back what others have taken from you." These are not easy words to live by. If not for the love of God in Christ, would we really be able to "do to others as you would have them do to you" in the way Jesus says? Think about this as you return your offering just now. Allow love to create in you a sanctuary - a "pure and holy, tried and true" space, that may live - on the outside (loving even enemies) - the peaceful presence that God is growing within you. ... Ushers?

Sanctuary
by John Thompson & Randy Scruggs, adapted
�1982, Full Armor Music; Whole Armor Music

                       D                     A
Lord, please make me a sanctuary,
               G                    D ... A
pure and holy, tried and true;
                         D                   A
and with thanksgiving, I'll be a living
         G    A    D
sanctuary for you.

to hear the music on a midi file, click here

Dedication

Bless these offerings, O Lord. And help us to love like you love, the way that you have showed us in your Son, Jesus. Amen.

"Ubuntu"

         Ubuntu is a South African word for peace that has its setting in "community." It means "I cannot be who I am unless you can be who you are." We are connected to each other. I need you to be whole, and you need me, even if you are white and I am black. Archbishop Desmond Tutu introduced Ubuntu to the rest of the world. Moving beyond apartheid (pronounced "a-part-hate"), a terrible form of racism now ended in South African, has meant:
                  - telling the truth about what has been done wrong,
                  - showing remorse and repenting,
                  - asking for and giving forgiveness, and
                  - doing what needs to be done to make things right.
That�s Ubuntu. It is also the way Jesus taught.

At camp we learned about ways to resolve conflict. We did our learning together. For six days we were a "community" - living together in cabins, eating together in the lodge, working together on projects, playing together at the pool, singing together around the campfire, praying together in quiet times. We needed each other, just like the very first believers in Jesus long ago needed each other. In South Africa it is called Ubuntu. Here we call it "fellowship." Like the very first church, we need the living presence of God, the Holy Spirit, to help Ubuntu to happen. Let�s sing a peaceful song about the Spirit that we sang at camp.

"Heiwa"

Heiwa is a Japanese word for peace. The word describes a sense of peace�justice with compassion, gentle equality, and harmony. It is a peace of heart, not a peace gained by the sword. When Jesus read from the prophet Isaiah in his hometown synagogue, he proclaimed that this message of peace and justice was fulfilled in his life�s work. Of course, as it says in Luke�s gospel, this message wasn�t very well received by these people who were his neighbors, friends, and fellow Jewish believers when he was a growing boy. Is a prophet accepted in his own hometown?

We come back from camp changed. Maybe not in big ways. Then, again, maybe something very profound happened in the woods, or out in the field, or at the pool, or on a hike, or in the cabin, or at any number of different places and times throughout a week of camp. We may just have a hard time putting it into words. We talk about all the fun stuff, and camp certainly is full of fun. But, as we return to our hometown synagogue, this congregation, are you listening to God speak peace through us? Will you accept us and the words we have shared this morning? Will they find fulfilment in your hearing? Please repeat each word for peace that we discovered this summer, after we speak it one more time.

- Aloha
- Shalom
- Be Still
- Agape
- Unbuntu
- Heiwa

Camp Snapshots
(open sharing about "my" week)

[Those who went to church camp this summer are invited to sit up front and share personal experiences from their week, passing the microphone around the group. Half-way through, we'll pause to sing a plain-old fun camp song, led by some campers (the "Beaver Song"), then continue on with the sharing until all who wish to have had an opportunity to speak.]

Much of the above is adapted from
"Peace Talks"
New Earth: Christian Resources for the Outdoors
Outdoor Ministry Resources for 2006
�2005.
Produced for the Cooperative Publication Assoc. by
the Christian Board of Publication and
the United Methodist Publishing House

Note: 2 of the curriculum writers on the team this year are Church of the Brethren members from our district - Ed Poling (Biblical & Theological Reflections) and Jan Gilbert Hurst (Daily Discoveries for Older Children, & More Activities: Creative Arts).