I turned around and saw a rainbow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The artist Michael Lipsey says that \u201cif you\u2019re not amazed most of the time you aren\u2019t paying attention.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because the truth is, you don\u2019t have to go to Hawaii to catch a rainbow or a spectacular sunset or a glorious flower bursting forth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have the opportunity to get outside of our own selves and hook into something greater every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is the touch of your partner\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or the way the sunlight filters through the leaves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is the frosting covered face of our children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or the swell of the organ in a hymn. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The other day, I came into this sanctuary all by myself and sat on these steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And I was overwhelmed by it all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nine years of memories flooded my soul\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the nervous excitement of that first Sunday and hearing your gasps as I threw seeds all over the church\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Playing and building with scaffolding and bricks during a stewardship drive\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The babies I baptized\u2026 and the grown-ups, too! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The little ones who are now taller than I am\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Playing bass\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Singing with the choir\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The many, many goodbyes as we celebrated the promise of resurrection\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The meals we shared\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The singing and music and laughter\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We don\u2019t always take the time to appreciate and celebrate each of those moments when they happen, but\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WOW.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was all alone that morning\u2026 but not really. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because I was connected to something bigger than myself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And friends\u2026 I know that this is a big morning with lots of emotions that just fill this space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Missy and I talked about it\u2026 we might have to do some liturgical weeping today\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But I also want and need you to know that this room\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

this sanctuary\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

this world is always filled with wonder and power and awesome things\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If we are willing to pay attention. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In our scripture from Isaiah this morning, he sees the Lord sitting on a throne, with the hem of God\u2019s robe filling the temple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And you know what, I can imagine that Isaiah\u2019s day actually started off pretty normal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He might have gone to the temple that morning for prayer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or maybe he was bringing an offering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But something happened to him in that space. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He hooked into something greater than himself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He could see beyond the veil of his own limited experience of reality to catch a glimpse of the divine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And God\u2019s glory filled the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seraphs\u2026 angels\u2026 flew around crying, \u201cHoly, Holy, Holy!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe whole earth is full of his glory!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everything around him shook and Isaiah falls to is knees\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Woe is me!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Woah!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WOW!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(it might all be the same prayer\u2026)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Psalmist is moved in the same way, hooking into the power of God in all of the earth<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 as they listen to the rolling thunder,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

or the roar of the ocean,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

or the creaking trees of the forest\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

they see the mountains tremble and the fire of God flash forth\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the Message translation puts it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Bravo, God, Bravo!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Gods and all angels shout, \u201cEncore!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            In awe before the glory,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            In awe before God\u2019s visible power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Stand at attention!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Dress your best to honor him!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026We fall to our knees \u2013 we cry out, \u201cGlory!\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And friends\u2026 I have to wonder how often we, too, might cry out in wonder and awe at God\u2019s glory\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If only WE were paying attention?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anne Lamott writes that \u201castonishing material and revelation appear in our lives all the time.  Let it be. Unto us, so much is given.  We just have to be open for business.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next week, you will welcome a new pastor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As part of that time, you will also hear from a guest, Josh Smouse, who is bringing to this church a word and some encouragement and direction from the CAT survey that you all took.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But before you dive into some of those ways that the church can continue to grow and thrive, I want to invite you to take a step back and ask a different kind of question:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Am I paying attention?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Am I spiritually \u201copen for business\u201d?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have I been willing to allow myself to get hooked into something greater than myself?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A colleague posted on facebook this week a word about how we can change our experience of worship\u2026 and I want to share a few of their thoughts with you <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

• Pray before you get there.<\/strong>  Friends, you don\u2019t have to raise your hands, but how many of you prayed before you came to worship this morning?  How many of you asked God to speak to you during this time?  What might be different if you opened yourself up to encounter God before you ever walked into this room?<\/li>
• Listen to worship music on the way.<\/strong>  What are some songs that speak to you?  What helps you to connect with God not just in your head, but in your soul?  How might that change what you are able to see and hear in this space?<\/li>
• Sing loudly and focus on God.<\/strong>  John Wesley talks about this in his directions for singing! \u2026 sing lustily and with good courage!  Have an eye to God in every word you sing.  Aim more at pleasing him more than yourself, or any other creature.  And to do this, he encourages people to attend strictly to the sense of what you are singing\u2026 what are the words?  What do they ask of you?  What are they inviting you to pay attention to?<\/li>
• Don\u2019t run late.<\/strong>  We are all going to be late at some point\u2026 but the truth is that when we arrive harried and discombobulated, it is going to be harder to let go of those distractions.  Try to arrive and give yourself enough time to center and truly be present in this space.  After all, you don\u2019t have a week to get present so you can see the rainbows!<\/li>
• Expect God to move.<\/strong> Oh friends\u2026 do you actually expect God to show up in worship? Are you ready for God to speak? Do you want to see the hem of God\u2019s robe filling this space and God\u2019s glory over all the earth? <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

  While trying to do a few of these things might truly change your experience of worship\u2026 they aren\u2019t just about what happens in this room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Because there are amazing, incredible things happening all throughout the ministries of this church\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Our little free pantry gets emptied nearly every day\u2026 and people show up to fill it again and again and again\u2026 WOW.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Our Immanuel Gospel Fellowship community continues to grow and their worship is so full of life and sound and chaos and joy\u2026 and you can come and experience it any Sunday at noon\u2026 and I encourage you to do so! You truly will cry out\u2026 WOW. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  People are going through really hard times in their lives\u2026 but you keep showing up with food and prayers and encouragement\u2026 you are present with one another\u2026 WOW. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  As she describes that third essential prayer, WOW, Anne Lamott writes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Love falls to the earth, rises from the ground, pools around the afflicted.  Love pulls people back to their feet.  Bodies and souls are fed. Bones and lives heal. New blades of grass grow from charred soil.  The sun rises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  And it is happening everywhere, all around us,  every moment of the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  This whole earth is full of God\u2019s glory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  It is not just the miracle of the rainbow\u2026 but also the loving embrace of a church for people of all gender identities and sexual orientations.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  It is not just the beauty of a sunset\u2026 but also the glorious diversity of our colors and cultures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  It is not just the rumble of thunder in the mountains\u2026 but also the roar of laughter as family and friends from many generations play together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  And if we prayerfully connect with God\u2026 open our spirits\u2026 pay attention to what is happening\u2026 I promise, you will be amazed by what you see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  I also know that there is a fine line between being amazed and being terrified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  In Isaiah, we discover there isn\u2019t much distance between WOW! \u2026 and Woah! \u2026 and Woe is me!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Sometimes we are overwhelmed by just how great of a struggle we face\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Or how far we have to go\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Or by how much has been lost\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  There is so much hate in this world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  So much violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  So much destruction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Sometimes the problems of the world make us say, WOW – how could that possibly be? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  There are so many people who are unwilling to get outside of their own selves and their own limited experiences to hook into something greater.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Yet even those poetic words of the psalmist, David… you know, the ones\u00a0that recall the violent destructive power of nature\u2026 earthquakes, floods, raging fires\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  They also name that above anything that has the power to destroy\u2026 is God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  The one who gives strength.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  The one who touches our lips with grace and mercy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  The one who brings peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  The one who has the power to heal\u2026 and forgive\u2026 and change\u2026 and transform\u2026 and create\u2026 and renew\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  The one who calls\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  The one who sends every day, ordinary people into the world\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  So that we can pay attention\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Pay attention to the hurt, and the joy, and the love, and the struggle\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  And with arms and hearts and lives wide open, can say, \u201cHere I am, Send me.\u201d  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Text: Isaiah 6:1-8;  Psalm 29 A few weeks ago, I was able to make a trip to Hawaii with my family. Twenty three of us\u2026 aunts, uncles, cousins, grandkids, siblings, parents, nieces, and nephews\u2026 in paradise. One of the things that I am always on the lookout for in Hawaii are rainbows. The mountains in…<\/span><\/p>\n

  Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4274,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3,5,6],"tags":[1892,1791,1893,476,533,635,1903,763,1902,1901,812,1104],"class_list":["post-4279","post","type-post","status-publish","format-image","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kenotic-words","category-ministry-in-heels","category-ordinary-time","tag-anne-lamott","tag-glory","tag-help-thanks-wow","tag-holy","tag-isaiah","tag-memories","tag-paying-attention","tag-prayer","tag-present","tag-psalm-29","tag-rainbow","tag-worship","post_format-post-format-image"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/salvagedfaith.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/custom-pentecost-power-9-still-hd.jpg?fit=1920%2C1080&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7cYpi-171","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/salvagedfaith.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4279","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/salvagedfaith.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/salvagedfaith.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/salvagedfaith.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/salvagedfaith.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4279"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/salvagedfaith.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4279\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4281,"href":"https:\/\/salvagedfaith.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4279\/revisions\/4281"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/salvagedfaith.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4274"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/salvagedfaith.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4279"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/salvagedfaith.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4279"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/salvagedfaith.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4279"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}