I went to seminary in the very early 80s.  There were different things the seminary (G-ETS) focused on: The church and the black experience, peace with justice, women's issues each had their own organizations within the organization of the seminary.  Two of the women who were prominent in helping us understand both theology from a women's/feminist viewpoint and the issues women encountered were Rosemary Radford Reuther, and Emma Justes.  Rosemary has been teaching at Claremont recently, and Emma has been at United.  The guiding force with the Peace with Justice Institute was Jim Will.  He has been retired and preaching in the Chicago area. Emma is facing pancreatic cancer, Rosemary just had a massive stroke, and Saturday Jim was killed in a car wreck.  It's not that I grieve the loss of their voices so much (although I do), my question is where are the voices coming up behind them?  
Jesus called his disciples to go into the world.  To preach, teach, make new disciples.  Part of that preaching, teaching, and making of disciples must include speaking for those who have no voice, or whose voice has been silenced or cannot be heard.  It must include speaking truth to power to end oppression and help to bring God's reign here on earth.  It must include training the upcoming generations to not only find their passion in helping others, but also to be able to speak and act within that passion.  Who are the upcoming new voices?  How are we training and encouraging them?  How are we assisting them?  How are we being them?


Loving God, there are so many people around us who are in need.  There are so many issues that need to be addressed.  There is so much pain and suffering calling to us that sometimes we feel paralyzed.  We pray that you will help us to sort out all the cries, to be able to hear and listen to those you need us to hear.  We ask that you stir within us a passion for a few of those issues, and then that you grant us the strength and courage to begin to address the issues.  Or, to pick up where those who've gone before us have left off.  And allow us the great gift of being able to bring along those who will come after us, and continue your good work........Amen.

Yesterday I went to Baskin-Robbins.  On the 31st of each month they offer ice cream scoops for $1.31 each.  I got two scoops for less than $3.00, when normally they would be almost $4.  I went because I happened to be in the town (1 hour south of me), I happened to remember the deal, and I love ice cream!  What surprised me was that the place was packed!  And I was the youngest person in the room by at least 10 years.  Three couples were easily late 80s or early 90s.  A gift for those on fixed incomes.  The ability to treat themselves, and to feel like kids again, choosing from the multiple options available.  There was laughter, giggling, and the sharing of bites from one person to another.

Jesus said that unless we become as little children we will never grasp what the Kingdom of Heaven is all about. I think I got a glimpse of that yesterday in that room.  Joy, laughter, sharing, just being together in one space and celebrating that ability.  Under the best of circumstances that is how children behave in groups.  They aren't looking at how they are different, they are just looking at what they can accomplish together.  Can they create a new world in the mud puddle?  Can they climb that tree?  Can they ford that stream?  Can they curl their tongues or trill their Rs? They aren't interested in politics or ethnicity, although they might ask about differences in hair or clothing, or in most of the other things we adults use to separate and categorize.  Jesus was right.  We could learn a lot from kids.



Things get in the way, O God.  Life becomes a series of requests, demands, questions, schedules.  We judge one another by a myriad of visual and auditory cues.  We are so weighed down by the seriousness of life that we often fail to see or experience the joy.  Let us learn from the children around us how to live our lives in joy and celebration.  Let us look to today and everyday with hope, and to rejoice in the little things.....Amen