Seventh Sunday of Pentecost
Reverend Jimmy Moore, preaching
Joshua 4:1-7; 19-24
What Do These Stones Mean?: Holy Markers in the Life of the Beloved Community
What are those places and times that have served as holy moments and sacred space for you? We all have them. They are the stories to which we return to help define our lives, to understand who we are as the children of God in the Beloved Community. Anniversaries and birthdays are intended to serve as sacred reminders that we are loved and gifted, and they help sustain and orient us. When we are discouraged and disoriented, perhaps as many of us are in these challenging days, literally or spiritually we return to these storied experiences to see what grace they still possess for us.
In the Hebrew Scriptures, there are multiple stories of the People of God setting up stones as markers of times and places where the Divine had been powerfully experienced. One of these is found in Joshua 4, when the Israelites were crossing the Jordan, Joshua told them to choose twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan and to take them where they were camping. These stones were to become a sign, so that future generations would see them and ask, “What do these stones mean?” The question was to evoke a story of God’s presence in their life together.
This Sunday, we’re suggesting that you gather a few stones to have on a table nearby as you stream the worship service. See if these stones can help you think concretely about those times and places where your life, or the life of the community, has been graced. The sermon Sunday is titled, “What Do These Stones Mean?: Holy Markers in the Life of the Beloved Community” arising from Joshua 4: 1-7; 19-24. In addition to prayers and a moment for children, our singers will help guide our worship, and will be joined by oboist Rebecca McGuire.
We look forward to your joining us on the livestream at www.smumc.church at 10:30 on Sunday morning. And remember, if you cannot make that time, the service is recorded and available to watch at a time more convenient for you.