Dear Members, Friends, Siblings, All,

Why do you imagine the theme “Disruptive Blessings” so appeals to me? This is the theme given to us for Lent TWO in our resource from Illustrated Ministry. – If you have not claimed The Work of Imagination devotional booklet, it’s not too late. Look for it online and for printed copies at the back of the sanctuary. —

Where was I? Oh, yes. What do you suppose makes the notion of “disruptive blessings” so attractive to me? Because I was a contrary child and still bear the vestiges? Because I like to work in change spaces, especially congregations that are in transition?  Probably all those things and a few others.

I often wonder why “reversals” make me almost giddy. Reversals are what we called them in the Judeo-Christian Tradition (JCT) class I taught to ninth- and tenth-graders that was not (could not be) a Sunday School class. As we did our survey of the writings of the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, we looked for patterns and themes, one of which was reversals. You know, where the narratives “flip the script” so that mothers of great men are of questionable repute, a warrior king is discovered keeping sheep, and barren and/or virgin women bear children. My favorite, of course, is Eve who has the imagination to push the envelope that sets us all free to make choices (in the image of God).

If you have ever taken a good look at me, you will notice that I am an African-American, clergy woman of a certain age and very little height, at least two diagnosed disabilities, a couple of personality flaws (that need not be mentioned), who struggles with discipline of every kind, and has an unnatural love of shoes (contemporary art; I am a collector). My favorite numbers are the odd ones. I often feel like I am looking at the world from someplace just outside the circle.

Why do I like disruptive blessings? Because in the “upside down way of love” Jesus invites us to imagine in Luke 6:17-29, the Sermon on Plain, I might find a place that includes me fully, just as I am. Because when we let our imaginations loose to practice mercy and generosity and welcome without condition, the kin-dom of God comes near. If God and those who follow in the way of Jesus work to flip the dehumanizing script we somehow cling to, there’s hope for me and others like me. Hope is born of imagination. And, to quote Toni Morrison again, “if you cannot imagine it, you cannot have it.”

Our text for Sunday finds Jesus early in his ministry and teaching. The crowd that gathers includes the disciples who will carry on the ministry, as well as others who want to hear more about this healer/teacher. In my JCT class, we called this the “Jesus Playbook” brought out at the beginning of the season so the team can begin to memorize and practice how they’re going to do this new thing. New team, new season, new playing rules.

Note, also, that his preaching is sub-versive. Walter Brueggemann* posits that “preaching is sub-version…never dominant version, never has been. It is always a sub-version, always a version, a rendering of reality that lives under [below] the dominant version…a sub-version of dominant imagination.” As one who has not been well served by that dominant version, this sounds like Good News.

The question for Sunday—my question for Sunday—is how to preach sub-version in Central Church. Rev. Thomas reminded us that we take part in the power of empire. Do we have a taste for disruption?

Join us for worship on Sunday “online or in the house” and we will explore this sub-version a bit more. We also will gather at the Communion Table, so please ready your elements (bread and beverage). And I am looking forward to Sunday afternoon’s Concert of Music by Howard Niblock beginning at 2:00 pm, and I know just the place to grab a bite between worship and the musical. Howard is one of Central’s newest members and is kind enough to share this gift with us.

Love and hugs,

Rev. Liz 

*Walter Brueggemann was a member of Central UCC up until his death last year. Many of you knew him years ago and went through a painful time with him and Mary B. That was a very difficult time for me as her friend. For years, I struggled to forgive the man whose genius is so important to me. I still struggle, but grace and mercy follow me—they chase me!