Our Long Range Planning committee is endeavoring to clearly discern the mission to which our congregation is being called by the Spirit. All of us at St. David’s are invited to participate in this process. Discerning doesn’t mean jumping right in and saying what you think St. David’s should be, or even what you’ve always hoped St. David’s could be. Discerning means learning to listen for what God wants St. David’s to be.

Today’s psalm celebrates the many mysterious ways God speaks: “The heavens declare the glory of God, * and the firmament shows [God’s] handiwork. / One day tells its tale to another, * and one night imparts knowledge to another. / Although they have no words or language, * and their voices are not heard, / Their sound has gone out into all lands, * and their message to the ends of the world.”

It is possible to learn to listen for that Divine Voice which is not audible and has no words yet permeates all creation with its message. Much as we say we would rather God communicated in more obvious ways (although I’m not sure how I would respond if those giant flaming letters written across the sky that I keep asking for actually appeared), God’s preference is to speak more subtly. God seems to want us to – in the immortal words of Elmer Fudd – “be vewy vewy quiet”. And so, to listen to God’s still small voice we have to clear away the almost constant chatter which normally clutters our awareness.

Some people are able to do this by prayerfully sitting still. But, that’s not the only way. I know many for whom walking, knitting, horseback riding, sewing, running, woodworking, cooking, gardening, fill in the blank are contemplative activities. A practice is contemplative if it reduces the mind’s babble to background noise and creates a still space within where awareness of God’s presence can begin to take root and grow.

This Hour
This hour is mine, this hour I commune with my Lord.
My heart becomes radiant and my mind is full of peace, full of peace.
Life may seem dark and no way out do I see.
But the Lord gave me a sacred hour, an hour to commune with my Lord, with my Lord.
This hour is like a jewel in the day of my life.
This hour is like a jewel in the day of my life.

This hour is mine. This hour is thine.
When all burdens fall away in the presence of my radiant Lord, my radiant Lord.
This is my eternal treasure that no one else can steal.
A jewel within my heart, within my heart, within my heart.
This hour is like a jewel in the day of my life.
This hour is like a jewel in the day of my life.

When we slow down and inhabit that still space we begin to notice the tones of God’s voiceless voice. Images that capture our imaginations may come unbidden, and then refuse to go away. A certain idea may turn up repeatedly in conversations we have and books we read and movies we watch. We may respond to something with surprising tears, like the people of Israel in our first lesson who weep at the reading of the Law of Moses.

Recognizing these signs of God’s interior language is the first step. Trusting them and entrusting our choosing, our decision making, to the far-seeing and whole vision of God is the next and more challenging step.

Help Me To Trust
[Chorus] Help me to trust in your wisdom, O Spirit.

Teach me to follow your light every step of the way.
And remind me to always give thanks
for every moment of every day.

What are you teaching me, how are you reaching me now?
When I can let you in then does my life begin;
glowing with purpose and faith that I’ll make it somehow. [Chorus]

What can this single man mean to your holy plan?
Tell me what I can do. I’ll try to see it through
greeting each day with all of the love that I can. [Chorus]

I’m ready to move beyond all my fear and doubt.
Touch me this very hour with your life-changing power.
Christ in me. Christ in you. Christ’s love we can’t live without. [Chorus]

We have to learn to discern, not because it’s a new skill, but because the world’s ways interfere with what is, I believe, our inborn capacity to attend to the mysterious speech of the Holy. Discerning is partnering with God in God’s ongoing work of creation. When we reclaim the gift of hearing God’s voice, God becomes a constant communicative presence and we become more able to act with confidence as God’s active ministering body in the world.

Nothing Separates Us
[Chorus] For I am sure, I do believe, in present time or things to come,
in heights or depths, in death or life, nothing separates from the love of God.

In this world it’s never easy to work for justice, freedom and peace.
But we have power through the one who love us.
And nothing separates us from the love of God. [Chorus]

In all things God works for good for those who love and follow the plan.
If God is for us who can be against us.
And nothing separates us from the love of God. [Chorus]
Nothing separates us, nothing separates, nothing separates us from the love of God.

When I’m afraid, when I’m alone, when life is cold and darkness falls,
I need to know someone is there.
And nothing separates me from the love of God. [Chorus]
Nothing separates us, nothing separates, nothing separates us from the love of God.

AMEN.