Community Church Sermons

Year A

March 16, 2014

The Second Sunday in Lent

Windows of Love: Beginnings

Genesis 1:1-5, John 1:1-5, Revelation 22:1-5

Rev. Martin C. Singley, III

Senior Pastor

I so wish I could have been there when it happened. I would love to have seen it with my own eyes. What must it have looked and sounded like when God spoke the Word – and creation exploded into being?!

Science tells us our universe was born some 13.798 billion years ago – give or take .037 billion years. Oh, I wish I could have been there to see it – the Big Bang.

Now there is a lot of controversy between science and religion on the subject of beginnings. Many religious people hold firmly to the creation accounts of Genesis and vigorously defend literal interpretations of those stories. Some even go so far as to support the assertion made in the mid-1600’s by Bishop James Ussher. Usherr made some calculations based upon the genealogies in the Bible and concluded that the world was only some five to six thousand years old. In fact, Bishop Usherr even went so far as to say that the exact date of the birth of the universe was the night before October 23, 4004 BC. Bishop Usherr was an Irishman and tomorrow being St. Patrick’s Day we should at least offer a tip of the Tellico hat whether we swallow his findings or not. This “young earth” theory of Biship Ussher’s – that the earth is only about 6,000 years old now - is part of what drives the creationist movement to this very day. Creationism has many devout followers.

Other people – both religious and non-religious – are content to accept the theories offered by science, most notably the Big Bang theory.

And sitting in-between the two – the religiously-minded people who defend a literal interpretation of Genesis 1 and the scientifically-minded people who advocate the Big Bang Theory – are millions of others who either don’t care or are simply confused by all the debate.

It is reported that, In an Epiphany sermon delivered at the Vatican a few years ago, then-Pope Benedict commented on the Big Bang Theory. According to a news report, this is what Pope Benedict said:

“Do any of you watch The Big Bang Theory? It's a really good show. Very funny. It's about two nerdy physicist guys who hang out with a blond woman named Penny, who lives across the hall. The main guy with the glasses, Leonard, is in love with her, while his roommate, Sheldon, is extremely annoying and anal retentive. There's also two ethnic nerds, Howard and Raj, who drop by. They usually all talk about science and comic books and play video games and eat Chinese food. Sweet Queen of Heaven, I love that show!”

That’s from an internet news source called UNNEWS.COM and I suspect it’s a parody and not real news. But even so, the question of beginnings is a confusing one – and an important one.

And that’s why we have this stained glass window in our chancel.

Whenever we gather in this sanctuary and look up at this marvelous window we are invited to travel back to the beginning. The window – given to us by Jon and Jan Martin in honor of their family members – isn’t so much interested in describing the HOW of life’s beginnings as it is in reminding us of WHAT happened and WHY.

God spoke. “Let there be light!”

And the universe exploded into being.

Can you see the explosion of light from the very center of the window?

What do you suppose you’d discover if you could travel back inside that explosion – to the very source of it? I believe you would find yourself in the very heart of God. And in the very heart of God you would be swallowed up in Pure, Life-Giving, Love.

Science describes all that emanated from the explosive birth of our universe in terms of energy, but faith helps us understand that the name of that energy is Love. Both creationists and scientists often miss that one critical observation. What exploded from the Word – or from the Bang – was Love.

And I want you to notice what that explosive Love created. See the light blue colored pieces of glass? Do they remind you of the sky? And the dark blues, they represent the seas. And the greens, the fertile earth emerging when the waters receded as both science and Genesis tell us.

And do you notice how – in each panel where we see sky and earth and sea – there is one piece of red glass? That’s God’s Pure Love, still streaking outward from the center in exactly the same way quantum physicists and astronomers tell us the energy of the universe is still expanding out toward infinity.

You may have noticed that around the outer edges of the window are pieces of glass of many different sizes, shapes and colors. That’s us. You. Me. And them. People of every color, language, and culture. These are all the nations, all the peoples of the world. We are all the product of God’s Pure Love. We all come from the heart of God.

But look at this: even though the reds representing Love extend far beyond the center of the window – the Big Bang of God’s Love, if you will – out around the edges of the window, there IS no red. Why do you suppose that is?

Could it be sin? Could it be that what is expressed in a very famous Prayer of Confession is true? Perhaps you remember the prayer and can even recite it with me:

ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father; we have erred, and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against thy holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; and we have done those things which we ought not to have done. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. Spare thou those, O God, who confess their faults. Restore thou those who are penitent; according to thy promises declared unto mankind In Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake; that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of thy holy Name. Amen.

Could it be that sin covers up and diminishes God’s love?

No.

Sin can cover up and diminish our EXPERIENCE of God’s Love, our ability to see and feel God’s Love, but God’s Love – the Bible says - is patient and kind, it is not jealous or boastful, it is not arrogant or rude; it does not insist on its own way…God’s love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. God’s love NEVER ENDS!

And so even in a world gripped by sin, on a cold dark night long ago, a baby cried. And a child was born.

Silent night, holy night, Son of God, Love’s pure light

Radiant beams from Thy holy face, with the dawn of redeeming grace

Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth, Jesus, Lord at Thy birth.

Don’t you just love those words, “Son of God, Love’s pure light radiant beams from thy holy face…?” God’s Pure Love has never been stopped or overcome by humanity’s sin. And so, at the very center of the window, we see a cross representing Jesus.

Notice that Its upright and crossbar intersect right in the heart of God’s explosive Love. And emanating from that glorious hub of God’s Pure Love reflected in Jesus are twelve radials – twelve spokes, if you will.

Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James the Less, Jude, Simon, and – Judas Iscariot.

These are the twelve – the first disciples – entrusted with the ministry of bringing God’s message of Love to the world. You’ll notice that each radial in the chancel window begins in God’s Love and then extends outward, across sky and sea and earth, representing the travels of the apostles reaching out to every nation, every tribe, every people. And as these apostolic ministries of God’s Love extend outward, do you see how they grow wider in dimension as others join the procession? And although we will talk about these twelve in the next few weeks, today it’s important for you to notice something wonderful about yourself as you sit here in the congregation.

These rays of God’s love not only reach out to the twelve, but they also encompass US sitting right here – today, March 16^th, 2014 – in this sanctuary – in this community – in this nation – in this world.

So whenever you walk into this sanctuary and see this window, I hope you will visually be encountered by God’s Pure Love reaching out to embrace you and give you life. And whenever you leave this sanctuary, that you will leave with the power to share God’s Love with the whole wide world.

The love that exploded into being at the beginning, continues to expand today – through YOU – and ME.

And I hope you will remember three things whenever you see this window:

First, you don’t have to go back to the beginning to experience the Big Bang of God’s Love because you were THERE! You were THERE at the beginning when God’s great Love exploded into life and that means you are genetically encoded to Love. Love is at the core of your being and the way you will discover the richness of life and true joy is as you unwrap that Love and let it radiate from you to others. This window is not only a picture of God at work. It is a portrait of YOU and the life God has given you.

Second, don’t ever give up on God’s Love for you – for others – for the world. This window represents God’s Love at work through all the ages – across sky and land and sea – reaching out to everyone everywhere – even despite the attempt of sin to stop it. God will never give up on you. This window tells us so.

And finally, God’s Love is a sacred partnership – between God, all creation, and YOU! The stars in the sky above sparkle with Love, the mountains rise up in praise, the branches of the trees clap their hands, and the wind whispers “Hallelujah!” All creation plays a part in expressing the Love of God.

And so do we.