From Diversity We Praise

Last Sunday, Laura Lee and I reflected on the prayer of Jesus in John 17 and also the motto of the United Church of Christ: "that they may all be one." We posited that unity is not the same thing as uniformity. Our church did some dreaming together, coming up with all kinds of reflections and ideas that demonstrate that we are certainly not uniform in our thinking!

What a great time to be approaching Pentecost - which we often call the Birthday of the Church. God's church is born out of diversity - and that diversity is not a problem to be solved, but rather a gift to be celebrated. The chorus of one of my favorite hymns begins, "Many gifts, one Spirit, one love known in many ways. In our difference is blessing, from diversity we praise."

This Monday, Americans will observe Memorial Day. Our nation is not perfect, but it is incredibly diverse and varied in culture and race. But I am dismayed at the ways that difference and diversity are often disparaged in public discourse. I consider it a precious gift to be in relationship with a Muslim man who was born in Pakistan, for our varying experiences bring us to a deeper understanding of one another and, by extension, of our faith communities.


The Rev. Dr. Eric D. Barreto, in his reflection on the Pentecost text in Acts 2, writes, "Notice what happens at Pentecost. God, through the Spirit, chooses to meet us where we are: in the midst of a multitude of languages and experiences....At Pentecost, God makes God's choice clear. God joins us in the midst of the messiness and the difficulties of speaking different languages, eating different foods and living in different cultures. That is good news indeed." (Click here to read his full reflection)

This Pentecost Sunday, I hope that you will bring yourself, in your uniqueness, and perhaps invite someone who is unique in their own right, maybe even very different from you. I look forward to celebrating with you that no matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here, and your difference is a gift of God.

Blessings this holiday weekend,
Manda

Texts for this Sunday:
Psalm 104:24-35
Acts 2:1-21