Last week Crystal led us through a vocation exercise to find what who you are as your “sainted self”. As a second step to that, I felt the stories and answers were a beautiful tapestry of who we are as individuals and as a community. The three questions she asked to help connect us to our sainted self were: What is your first memory of pain, What “injustice “would you end if you could, name that injustice, and What quote embodies you – your favorite quote. It’s interesting placing these questions together because what ends up coming out is a very special part of who you are within. For some reason, we leverage that young memory of pain to propel us into becoming better people. Usually this difficulty flavors our passion for changing the very things we were hurt by, and results into the things we gravitate toward. It’s very Good how God creates beauty from ashes, strength from tears, and life from a cross. So I thought to maintain the theme, today would be a celebration of exactly that. Creation.

The creation story has been packed with meaning since its telling. Ages ago, it was used to show the Egyptian educated Hebrews that God created all the rest of the “gods” sun and moon, the animals, etc. For some, it has been an inspiration for their own scientific theory. Today, I would like us to hear the creation story anew. I would like us to experience it in movement, and personality.

As you see, we have drums and we have a circle. Those of you who are beat inclined, we need your steady beat (start a tribal beat). And I would like us to simply walk, dance, march, wiggle, pretend at a slow pace around the circle. This will be our “day cycle”. If you are unable or it is just too uncomfortable for you, you don’t need to participate. Please be respectful of people’s space. There is no need for touching unless you are giving someone a welcomed hug. Also, I think in this exercise, it is good to encourage children. If we are on the fourth day and the sun and moon are created, encourage your kids to do a sun and moon dance. You are allowed to be as silly and as serious as you wish. I just ask that you don’t put down anyone else’s march, walk, or if they do this (do something).

Between our day cycles I will pick up the mic and you can take your seats. We will hear about what was created, and we will get to hear a quick story of how God created passionate purpose out of pain. After each listening, we will drum and do our next day cycle.

When we see the people around us and their gifts, we have a choice to move in jealousy or celebration. Today we worship the God who brought about these beautiful gifts.

Day One -
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and (the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.) Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light day, and the darkness God called night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.

Do you know anyone in our community who is a creation of the first day? They are the ones who see God’s purposes when there are none to be seen. They are the ones who call out in the chaos and void purpose and light. They are the idea person. The prophet, speaking light into the darkness. Do you know anybody like this?

Dave Ewing Spoke
(Day Cycle)

When we see the people around us and their gifts, we have a choice to move in jealousy or celebration. Today we worship the God who brought about these beautiful gifts.

Day Two -
Then God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” God made the expanse, and separated the waters which were below the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so. God called the expanse heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.

Do you know anyone in our community who is a creation of the second day? They are the foundational atmosphere. They are the ones who allow others to flourish. They are of the utmost importance because if it weren’t for them we wouldn’t be able to breathe. They are there, moving in the background, the oxygen. They are the ones who create space for others to build on, the silent wind that cools you on a warm day. Do you know anybody like this? Someone who, if they weren’t there, you wouldn’t be able to breathe?

When we see the people around us and their gifts, we have a choice to move in jealousy or celebration. Today we worship the God who brought about these beautiful gifts.

Michelle Burns

My first memory of pain was when I was five years old. My parents divorced when I was still an infant. Both remarried. My father’s new wife was not a nice woman, at least not to me most of the time. I would spend every other weekend and a month in the summer with them. In short it was an abusive household. My mother knew this, and in an attempt to get full custody of me, sent me to a therapist in hopes of gathering my accounts of what would happen on the weekends.

One weekend I woke up in the morning, walked out of my bedroom, and encountered a very quiet house. Which was not normal. There was almost always music playing, my father making a fire or something. I walked down the hallway, and looked into the living room where my dad would normally be sitting. This morning he wasn’t sitting in his black leather recliner, painting, reading or smoking a pipe. So I walked to the kitchen where I found my step mother. There was no warm good morning from her, and she didn’t acknowledge my presence until I spoke. I asked where my dad was. She responded coldly, and curtly that he was outside. Silence followed. Then she started to scream at me. She called me a lair, an ungrateful child that didn’t deserve to be loved. Tears welled up in my eyes. I had no idea what I had done. I wanted to run away to my bedroom, but couldn’t. I was frozen to the kitchen floor. My insides made there way to my throat and my body shook with fear, with pain that I had caused this outburst. As I would learn soon after my dad returned from outside, the therapist my mom had sent me to had written a letter detailing the accounts that I had reported to him about my weekends and time with my dad and step mother. He sent that letter to my father and step mother the weekend I was there.

What I would end if I could: Worry, and replace it with prayer

My life Quote: Don’t sweat the petty things, and don’t pet the sweaty things.

My life’s vocation: To be a mother. Not only to my own child, but to people in general. A mother to me is a person who wipes away tears. Absorbs pain so that others will not feel it anymore. Takes away worry so others do not have to carry the burden of that worry anymore. Provides laughter, and smiles, where needed, and instills confidence, and faith where it has been lost.

I am good. (ALL – YOU ARE GOOD)

(Day Cycle)

Day Three -
Then God said, “Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so. God called the dry land earth, and the gathering of the waters He called seas; and God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit after their kind with seed in them”; and it was so. The earth brought forth [n]vegetation, plants yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit with seed in them, after their kind; and God saw that it was good. There was evening and there was morning, a third day.

Do you know anyone in our community who is a creation of the third day? Soil is something we don’t pay much attention to, but it is the very catalyst that can support all life. These people are the translators, translating our inert seeds into living breathing plants. They allow us to grow. To reach for the light. They provide the nutrients for us to thrive. They are the teachers, growth agents, people who give us truth. Do you know anybody like this? Someone who transforms potential into lush greenery?

Abraham Burns

When I was young I had an affliction…the disease to please. By default my only friends in the summer where my cousins because I lived way out in the country. I was always so excited to hang out with them, but he problem was that I wanted to please and honor my parents and grandparents. I never broke the rules. My cousins however, loved breaking the rules and raising hell. I can remember several times when they would take off without me and once heard them say, “Don’t let Abe know where we are going because he’ll tell on us”. That broke my heart because I wanted so badly to hang out with them and be accepted by them.

My Mission: I want everyone to feel included, to feel valued. No one should have to change who they are to feel included.

My montra: Let us not sow enemy seeds, but let us sow friendship seeds.

I am good.  (ALL – YOU ARE GOOD)

(Day Cycle)

When we see the people around us and their gifts, we have a choice to move in jealousy or celebration. Today we worship the God who brought about these beautiful gifts.

Day Four -
Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so. God made the two great lights, the greater light to govern the day, and the lesser light to govern the night; He made the stars also. God placed them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to govern the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness; and God saw that it was good. There was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.

Do you know anyone in our community who is a creation of the fourth day? They are the governors of time. They give light, and allow those around them to see and act. They are the planners, the calendar makers. Do you know anybody like this? Someone who Brings light and order to the days and activities of community?

When we see the people around us and their gifts, we have a choice to move in jealousy or celebration. Today we worship the God who brought about these beautiful gifts.

Mary Doyle Spoke
(Day Cycle)

Day Five -
Then God said, “Let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens.” God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind; and God saw that it was good. God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” There was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.

Do you know anyone in our community who is a creation of the fifth day? They are the nurturers. Birds and fish are in every environment. Whether it is lush or barren. They are the voices of nurture. The developers of family. The people who can bring everyone together under one roof when times get tough. They build everywhere places of togetherness. Do you know anybody like this? Someone who can make a home out of sticks and twigs.

When we see the people around us and their gifts, we have a choice to move in jealousy or celebration. Today we worship the God who brought about these beautiful gifts.

Kelly Peterson’s Letter was read
(Day Cycle)

Day Six -
Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind: cattle and creeping things and beasts of the earth after their kind”; and it was so. God made the beasts of the earth after their kind, and the cattle after their kind, and everything that creeps on the ground after its kind; and God saw that it was good.
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you; and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food”; and it was so. God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Do you know anyone in our community who is a creation of the sixth day? They are the sacrificers. The ones who take responsibility for those around them. They are the leaders. The workers of the land. The ones who we look to for wisdom. Do you know anybody like this? Someone who takes responsibility and protects us because of their sacrifice?

Jesse Gardner Spoke
(Day Cycle)

and on the Seventh day God Rested and it was good!