Thursday, 27 June, 2002

The lead piece is from "Amazing Grace by Kathleen Norris. In this book she takes many of the words and images of the faith and attempts to put some reality and life to them.



CREEDS

I came to consider that the creeds are a form of speaking in tongues. And in that sense they are a relief from the technological jargon that we hear on a daily basis. Now, when I'm preaching and remember to include a creed in the worship service, I usually select the Nicene Creed, because then no one can pretend to know exactly what it is they're saying: "God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God." It gives me great pleasure to hear a church full of respectable people suddenly start to talk like William Blake. Only the true literalists are left out, refusing to play the game.



I was particularly grabbed by these comments. The last time we shared the Nicene Creed in worship I was caught up in the immensity of the imagery. Corporate worship is the time in our week when we step beyond the boundaries of the day...the worldly ways. I'm not always thrilled with the creed as we share it. I am most caught up with the faithful image of a gathering of people who are trying to bring some boundaries into the church that will allow for vision beyond our expectations but will also make a strong witness against the notion that "anything goes" among us. When I had the last Confirmation class come up with their design for a creed one of the lines about God was: "God sees what we see not." What a great way to take vision out of our hands and give it back to God who bestows such a gift upon God's people. There are many ways we can "put together" creeds...and yet, I find it interesting that we, at times, have allowed ourselves to let go of the mystery of a small document that has been used for centuries to help Christians take a holistic look at the adventure of faithfulness we are called to enter.



Connection: Sometimes the creeds that run through our day are the stories we tell one another. They are stories that keep us connected to the past and yet define where we will attempt to walk today. We all have them as individuals and households. Now - in the middle of all the stuff that goes on today - how do the Creeds of the Church speak to you this day.



Breath of Life and Creator of all that is, in our Lord, Jesus, you present us with the way to walk through the days of our lives as people who trust in you alone. Fill us with the vision of your holy reign and the grand banquet that is set before all of your beloved. Amen.