Service for March 16 Second Sunday of Lent
Sermon of March 16, 2025 Second Sunday of Lent
Who saw the lunar eclipse on Thursday? What was it like? I like some of you went out of my house, and to be honest, the promise of seeing something new and wonderful took me out not only of my house and my usual bedtime routine, but especially out of some of my own worries about jobs, housing, family, the political situation. And what did I see? The bright, silvery full moon, with a little brush of shadow, them a greater patch growing darker, a field of shadow creeping across those great basins on the moons surface. The shadow increased and the light sliver of moon grew more intense, like a glowing burst of light, then even that was gone, and through binoculars it was dark and glowing.
And God speaks in such sights, and the wonder of such a moment expands into our being. When you and I are afraid, anxious, apprehensive about what is to come next in our lives, our work, our families, our church, God takes us out to see with new eyes, new heart, new hope. God can give us a wondrous sight of what is already right there-moon, stars, salamanders, the face of a neighbor, a human struggling to get by like you do.
In such a moment of fear, God speaks to Abram that constant message of scripture ‘be not afraid.’ How does God say it? God has been listening to Abram’s anxious complaints, hears his griefs about life and fears about what is to come. God doesn’t tell him ‘stop complaining,’ or ‘think positive.’ No, God takes him out to look up at the night sky.
God takes Abram out, out of the whirring fears of his heart, to a place where he can see things-himself, others, the world, God,-anew. “Look toward heaven, look at the stars, can you even count them?” God takes Abram out of one land, to lead him to a new land. God takes the children of israel out of slavery in Egypt into freedom and living as a community trusting in God day by day. In Jesus Christ God takes us out of all athat binds us with fear, resentment, harm to self and others, and lets us see and live from the truth that God is for us, God’s compassion upon us, God’s light glowing to guide our hearts.
In this time of changes for your church, God will take you out, and give you some new and renewed ways of seeing yourselves and others, of what is to come, and how God is already here at work in Centralia and beyond.
And I would encourage you to pay attention to three things in the coming weeks and days.
First, pay attention to when you feel afraid or anxious. Notice it, don’t ignore it or hide it. Noticing how you are feeling during times of change can help you take good care, and not make decisions solely out of fear.. Slow down, try to give yourselves the time and room you need to feel and think clearly, and to speak and act as ones Jesus Christ has freed to live with compassion.
Second, pay attention to the signs and nudges that show up. This might be in your personal prayer time, in conversations on council or other ministry teams, the things you know and notice about the wider Centralia community and its needs and gifts, or the people and other gifts of God who show up unbidden.
Third, pay attention to what you and your community just spontaneously give, including the gift of weekly worship. What do you just love to do, such that it spills over in generosity and joyful welcome or sharing? What about worship together gives you joy, delight, or stirs your heart with compassion?
And, of course, you might just look up at the sky, or down at the ground, across the street, right there, stars, planets, birds, rainbows, a neighbor across the street, blooming camas lilies, countless sights to renew us and draw us nearer to God.
If you look to these things in your lives and among you, God will speak in a vision, and take you out to see anew, and lead you toward what is coming, and even already among you.
Immanuel Lutheran, Centralia, WA
2nd Sunday of Lent, RCL C, 3/16/25
The Rev. Evan G. Clendenin