Dear Ones,
Football season has begun! Yes! The Premier League kicked off Friday, August 21, with the Premier League CHAMPION lads, Arsenal, at home, facing Coventry! Arsenal was victorious! 3-0 to the Arsenal! King Kai Havertz was assisted brilliantly by Myles Lewis-Skelley and scored our first goal of the match! That was followed by Star Boy, Bukayo Saka, tapping it in to bring us 2- nil at the half. Right after the restart, our Captain, Martin Ødegaard, back in terrific form after a great World Cup showing for the Netherlands, gave us the third! David Raya had NOTHING to do in the match, as our Arsenal defenders were amazing, even without William Saliba, who is recovering from a back injury after giving his all for France this summer! It was a grey day for the newly promoted Sky Blues.
I know many of you are thinking, “Football? You mean soccer. Who is Star Boy? Nil? David Raya-Who?”
It is irritating when someone rattles off unusual vocabulary like this, isn’t it? Sometimes it seems a little braggy…sometimes it is just because the person talking is SO excited about the subject, they can’t even fathom that someone wouldn’t know that Havertz is Arsenal’s striker (or even what a striker in football – sorry, soccer- is.)
It can be the same way with “church” language. Advent starts next week! Receive the “Words of Assurance.” Are you going to the Tenebrae service? We have a Session meeting after church. What is that green thing with the googly eyes in the narthex?
Unique vocabulary is part and parcel of our sacred traditions. It is important, but sometimes it can be a barrier, but it does not have to be! If you aren’t sure exactly what the Apostles’ Creed is, why some churches celebrate the Lord’s Supper, and others celebrate Communion, what “per capita” means when it is mentioned alongside Pittsburgh Presbytery– or even what a “presbytery” is!- you are not alone! Please know that Pastor Tom and I are always open to questions! Not just about “church language,” but also about why we felt led to say what we did in our sermon on Sunday, what books might be beneficial for questions you have, and football– sorry, soccer commentary!
Beginning Sunday, September 13, right after church, we invite you to stay awhile and “talk-back” to the sermon, or just talk about anything on your heart. We will meet for about forty-five minutes in the back of the sanctuary. Feel free to bring a bagged lunch if you think your tummy might be hungry.
One word common to people in all churches (in all faiths) and the most important word of all is Love. And that will always remain. Times are hard; perhaps they have always been. As I tell myself, turn off the news (so often it only reports the worst of the worst) and look at the people, the animals, the life, filled with sacred love all around.
Remember that YOU are part of that holy, mysterious Love, my dear ones. Even if you are not (yet) an Arsenal FC fan!
Love,
Pastor Ing
