This your sermon touched me so deeply to tears. Thank you, Nadia.
There is such a deep and tender revelation in your words:
“…the Gospel will be preached and the sacraments will be offered for as long as this world breaks our hearts. For as long as there is sin, there will be forgiveness of sin. For as long as there is hunger, there will be the bread of life. Because this is who it is for.”
Thank you once again for pointing out that we are enough, because we have Him- the Bread.
Oh, I love this message!!! I never before considered that me acting like I can handle everything on my own was a form of denying God. I never before considered that God sees me because of my need and my hunger!
BTW, when I got to the "balm of Gilead" part I started singing the Sweet Honey in the Rock setting of that verse. -*-*- Wonderful! -*-*-
My first cry of the day… perhaps not my last. Today I am 14 months into the process of discernment for the priesthood in the Episcopal church. I’ve done the work asked of me faithfully, completed the psychologicals, articulated my call as I understand it over and over and over to what feels like hundreds of people, navigated some significant bumps in the road and now I am waiting. I’m waiting for a call from my Bishop that will either be a yes we affirm your call or no we don’t think this is your path. Honestly, I have begun to doubt ordination is going to happen for me. To be clear, I don’t doubt my call, but weariness of waiting is wearing on me. And it is all out of my control. I’m powerless, desperate in my desiring, and in a state of constantly re-surrendering ( that’s 1,2, and 3 for those in the know). I am one of those having the difficulty you speak of.
There was such hope and reassurance in your words for me today. I am reminded that I will be perfectly cared for in ways I still can’t imagine at the most unexpected times. Like today when my friend texted me and said “Loved Nadia’s Substack today.” There IS balm in Gilead.
Thank you, thank you for these profound thoughts, Nadia. I plan to re-read this many times.
You mention that the lakeside conversation with Peter may have been the first ordination.
In my mind, it is the second ordination. The first one is recorded in John 20:17 in the garden when Jesus ordains Mary to be the first preacher of the good news of the resurrection. "Go...and tell them."
Wonderful, Nadia. I have to admit that lately, I'm thinking about what the church would be like if all we had was the Gospels to go on and go by. Don't get me wrong, I love the Psalms, Isaiah, and many of the Epistles. But... Less Leviticus, more Prodigal Son. Less Revelations (especially all that blood to the horses' bridles), more Sermon on the Mount. That's one nice thing about prison ministries (I worked for years as an Alternatives to Violence facilitator in the local prison) is that no crap is allowed - you cut to the chase, and let Grace happen, because it's needed, like dew in Hermon, rain upon mown grass, balm in Gilead. Thanks!
During my "Quest" to become a Congregational Deacon of the UNY Synod. I had finished my core courses, but HM Conference being what it is, I still had a few "ABC Courses", before I could consider myself a newly minted, anointed, Deacon.
In one of them, curiously also a "Prince of Peace", but up north of here, we were told by the current Pastor/Instructor/Conference Dean; that you don't have church for the people who populate the pews, Sunday after Sunday after Sunday, to the point where the wooden pew has their imprint. You have "church", for the person that is walking in the door on any given Sunday, and knows nothing about being a Lutheran, except they have "banger" church suppers.
This is also why there is no game except the "A" game, 6, or 6 thousand, you put out the literary equivalent of "the good china", because....<insert unearthly pause here>...you may never see that individual again. God may be the God of second chances (or thirds); but the average Believer is not that forgiving.
Like the song from "Hamilton", "My Shot"...you get dressed up in that "funny" clothing every week, for the people that not only don't have a shiny new bible, or an incredibly worn one, but for the individual who doesn't even know what a "bible" is.
Oh GOD, Pastor Nadia, how I needed to read these words today after another night of me failing to live by my own relatively low standards let alone by those of our Holy, Holy, HOLY LORD! As I arose this morning, I also sighed, "This IS the day that the LORD has made, and I WILL rejoice and be glad in it," but I lied about that last part . . . until I read this! God bless you, Sister! God bless Brother Chu! And God bless us all EVERYONE in our messes from which He saves us!
"In him there is not one category of people who teach and one who need to learn. There is not one category of people who heal and one who need wholeness. There is not one category of people who minister and one who need care. There is just one category: hungry sinners in need of a savior."
Amen to that.
There are some sadly misinformed and torqued up pastors, priests and ministers out there who need to be reminded of this.
This your sermon touched me so deeply to tears. Thank you, Nadia.
There is such a deep and tender revelation in your words:
“…the Gospel will be preached and the sacraments will be offered for as long as this world breaks our hearts. For as long as there is sin, there will be forgiveness of sin. For as long as there is hunger, there will be the bread of life. Because this is who it is for.”
Thank you once again for pointing out that we are enough, because we have Him- the Bread.
Oh, I love this message!!! I never before considered that me acting like I can handle everything on my own was a form of denying God. I never before considered that God sees me because of my need and my hunger!
BTW, when I got to the "balm of Gilead" part I started singing the Sweet Honey in the Rock setting of that verse. -*-*- Wonderful! -*-*-
My first cry of the day… perhaps not my last. Today I am 14 months into the process of discernment for the priesthood in the Episcopal church. I’ve done the work asked of me faithfully, completed the psychologicals, articulated my call as I understand it over and over and over to what feels like hundreds of people, navigated some significant bumps in the road and now I am waiting. I’m waiting for a call from my Bishop that will either be a yes we affirm your call or no we don’t think this is your path. Honestly, I have begun to doubt ordination is going to happen for me. To be clear, I don’t doubt my call, but weariness of waiting is wearing on me. And it is all out of my control. I’m powerless, desperate in my desiring, and in a state of constantly re-surrendering ( that’s 1,2, and 3 for those in the know). I am one of those having the difficulty you speak of.
There was such hope and reassurance in your words for me today. I am reminded that I will be perfectly cared for in ways I still can’t imagine at the most unexpected times. Like today when my friend texted me and said “Loved Nadia’s Substack today.” There IS balm in Gilead.
Bless you Jeff and your new ministry.
Bless you Nadia and yours.
Working with a congregation selling their building right now. This was food for my soul, and a reminder why we do what we do. Thank you Nadia.
Thank you, thank you for these profound thoughts, Nadia. I plan to re-read this many times.
You mention that the lakeside conversation with Peter may have been the first ordination.
In my mind, it is the second ordination. The first one is recorded in John 20:17 in the garden when Jesus ordains Mary to be the first preacher of the good news of the resurrection. "Go...and tell them."
Just a thought...
Blessings to Jeff.
And you.
Wonderful, Nadia. I have to admit that lately, I'm thinking about what the church would be like if all we had was the Gospels to go on and go by. Don't get me wrong, I love the Psalms, Isaiah, and many of the Epistles. But... Less Leviticus, more Prodigal Son. Less Revelations (especially all that blood to the horses' bridles), more Sermon on the Mount. That's one nice thing about prison ministries (I worked for years as an Alternatives to Violence facilitator in the local prison) is that no crap is allowed - you cut to the chase, and let Grace happen, because it's needed, like dew in Hermon, rain upon mown grass, balm in Gilead. Thanks!
Congratulations, Jeff! I am glad there are still people answering the call to feed his sheep. ❤️🐑
Congratulations Jeff! You are a blessing.
"If you feel lost, he's a way maker."
I've never heard that song, but I'm going to carry that sentiment in my pocket for awhile. I'm lost. Your writing always provides light.
Glory to God! "But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong." 1 Cor. 1.27
Awesome! "an ordination sermon for the unordinary Jeff Chu":) Congratulations Jeff Chu!
Congratulations and Godspeed Jeff!
During my "Quest" to become a Congregational Deacon of the UNY Synod. I had finished my core courses, but HM Conference being what it is, I still had a few "ABC Courses", before I could consider myself a newly minted, anointed, Deacon.
In one of them, curiously also a "Prince of Peace", but up north of here, we were told by the current Pastor/Instructor/Conference Dean; that you don't have church for the people who populate the pews, Sunday after Sunday after Sunday, to the point where the wooden pew has their imprint. You have "church", for the person that is walking in the door on any given Sunday, and knows nothing about being a Lutheran, except they have "banger" church suppers.
This is also why there is no game except the "A" game, 6, or 6 thousand, you put out the literary equivalent of "the good china", because....<insert unearthly pause here>...you may never see that individual again. God may be the God of second chances (or thirds); but the average Believer is not that forgiving.
Like the song from "Hamilton", "My Shot"...you get dressed up in that "funny" clothing every week, for the people that not only don't have a shiny new bible, or an incredibly worn one, but for the individual who doesn't even know what a "bible" is.
Oh GOD, Pastor Nadia, how I needed to read these words today after another night of me failing to live by my own relatively low standards let alone by those of our Holy, Holy, HOLY LORD! As I arose this morning, I also sighed, "This IS the day that the LORD has made, and I WILL rejoice and be glad in it," but I lied about that last part . . . until I read this! God bless you, Sister! God bless Brother Chu! And God bless us all EVERYONE in our messes from which He saves us!
"In him there is not one category of people who teach and one who need to learn. There is not one category of people who heal and one who need wholeness. There is not one category of people who minister and one who need care. There is just one category: hungry sinners in need of a savior."
Amen to that.
There are some sadly misinformed and torqued up pastors, priests and ministers out there who need to be reminded of this.
Many blessings to Jeff! Thank you, Nadia, this really struck me to my core. Beautiful!