February 12, 2023
“When Lament Asks the Question, How Will You Answer?”
Ella Bryan-Indianola Presbyterian Church
Sermon 2.12.2023
I have a confession to make. What a way to start a sermon, with someone you’ve known for most of their life, Am I Right? But I do have a confession to make and it's a doozy; Are you ready? I LOVE General Assembly. In fact, I am what some might call a “GA Junkie” even. I have attended GA twice in official capacities, once as a Young Adult Advisory Delegate in Pittsburgh ten years ago, and again this year in Louisville as a Ruling Elder Commissioner. I have also attended as an observer once or twice as well. I don’t know what it is, but there is something about 400 Presbyterians, who all love and are devoted to their church, coming together, called together, to try and make the best decisions for our church and this world. The devotion and faith I witnessed at the General Assembly is unrivaled by anything else in this world, and I am proud to have served as a commissioner this year. SO, when Trip asked me to come talk about my experience, I was more than happy to come and share the faith, and undying devotion to God and to our Church that I had the pleasure to witness.
This year, like many other things, the General Assembly looked a bit different due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Instead of all of us packing up and traveling to Louisville for the 14-day Assembly, we were instead spread all over the USA. We each had the opportunity to come to Louisville for our Committee work, but it was spread out over a month, and all 400 of us were never in the same place at the same time. Plenaries, the big meetings where all the business and voting take place, were virtual and worship took place over a computer screen. We all had to learn how to adapt and be present when we simply were not able to be with each other. We had to learn to trust God and the Holy Spirit, and to trust each other and technology as well. Frustrations were many, and problems came up. But we survived. And we came together and persevered. And God was there, through every moment, and through all of our work.
When we arrived in Louisville, we were immediately greeted with our theme: “From Lament to Hope”. I remember receiving my packet and seeing the theme, and thinking, “Oh how appropriate, although I think we are still in the Lament phase”. But as the assembly continued, and I interacted with people from all walks of life, I became more aware of what Lament and Hope really meant.
The first scripture today, Psalm 42, is a familiar, yet somewhat challenging, Psalm. According to Eugene Peterson (the translator/author of the Message- an unique and contemporary translation of the Bible), this Psalm was a Lament Psalm written by a group of men who were formerly free to Worship God; somehow, along the way, they were removed from the religious life that they formerly enjoyed and through the Psalms’ text, it is very clear that they miss it dearly. This Lament is soul-filled and devastating, as the Psalms’ writer continuously cries out “Why are you cast down my Soul?”. Such statements continue as the writer expresses their deepest hurts and fears, “Why have you forgotten me?” or “Where is Your God?”. This language continues throughout almost the entirety of the Psalm, until the final verse, when the Psalmist exclaims almost suddenly: “Hope in God, for I shall praise Him again, my help and my God”. This Psalm presents us with a perfect example of A Journey from Lament to Hope.
One of the first days of the General Assembly Committee work in Louisville, I had the privilege to listen to the Rev. Carla Jones Brown from the Presbytery of Philadelphia give a meditation on the theme of Lament to Hope. And she said something that has stuck with me since then; in her meditation she spoke these words: “Lament is the Call and Hope is the response”. These words continued to resonate in my head as the week continued. Lament is the Call and Hope is the response. As it continued to rattle around in my head, it evolved, as these things do, into the following: “When Lament asks the question, Hope starts the conversation”. This became my mantra throughout the 225th General Assembly, as we faced difficult situations and questions, as we all embraced seeking Christ through our work, and as we all became frustrated and even disheartened at times when the work just became too much or too hard. When Lament asks the question, Hope starts the conversation.
This mantra became somewhat of a comfort to me. As the statement implies, you simply cannot have one without the other. If Lament is not present to ask the question, Hope does not have the opportunity to respond. If Lament is not present to challenge us and confront us, then Hope cannot come in to comfort and guide us. If we do not experience conflict, we do not appreciate the need for God’s mercy and Grace. This idea of the interconnection and conversation between Hope and Lament reminds us that life is full of ups and downs, and that without sorrow, true joy cannot exist. In our second reading, Matthew 25, Jesus confronts his followers and audience with the well-known statement: “Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me”. Before this, Jesus lists several situations and elements of Lament. When I was hungry… When I thirst... When I was a stranger…. When I was naked…. When I was sick in prison. These are all statements of Lament. In fact, every sentence in this part of the scripture begins with Lament. When Lament asks the questions…. However, Jesus does not stop with Lament, Jesus continues each one of these statements with a
suggestion of hope and hope-filled actions… You gave me something to eat…. You gave me something to drink…You invited me in…. you clothed me… you came to visit me. These statements by themselves are simply that, but when put together in the whole scripture, the conflict between Lament and Hope begin a conversation that calls the disciples and the followers of Jesus to be active participants in God’s mercy and Grace. “When I was hungry…. you gave me food”. “When I was thirsty... you gave me something to drink”...” When I was a stranger…you invited me in”... “When I was naked… you clothed me” ... “And when I was sick and in prison…you visited me”. When Lament asks the questions Hope starts the conversation.
Lament and Hope ended up being very real and present participants in the 225th General Assembly. There were plenty of times for Lament to speak in the work of the commissioners and the moderators. Lament was there to remind us of the work that still needs done, the injustice and unfairness in the world around us. Lament was there when we discussed the Ukraine War and the impact the Russian military invasion is having on the civilians in Ukraine. Lament was there when we talked about the actions and aggression that the Israeli military and government are directing at the people of Palestine. Lament was there when we prayed for our brothers and sisters from all over, who do not feel welcome in our country. Lament was there when we, as white privileged members of the church, stood up as a whole and apologized for the treatment of our African American brothers and sisters. Lament was there, when we heard the anguished cries and stories from our Young Adult Advisory Delegates as they told their stories of experiencing gun violence firsthand and their desperation with our inadequate health care system. Lament was there when we were told about the devastating impact Fossil Fuel companies are having on God’s creation and our world. Lament was there when women from all over the world expressed their fear of losing their rights and autonomy over their bodies. And Lament was there to witness every disagreement, all the tears and frustrations, and the moments of conflict.
But as both the psalmist and the Gospel writer express in their writing, as my personal mantra says, the conversation does not end with Lament. Lament simply asks the question and gives Hope the opportunity to respond. To start the conversation. And I can tell you, Hope was just a present as Lament at this year’s assembly. Hope came in to remind us of the justice work that still needs done. Hope came to remind us of the collective and important voice we have as a Church in the world today. Hope came in to remind us, when the assembly took the hurt and devastation of the Ukraine war and passed a commissioners’ resolution condemning the Russian military invasion of Ukraine and crimes against humanity, and calling for a cease-fire and the immediate resumption of internationally mediated negotiations. Hope came in to remind us, when the 225th General Assembly voted to pass a “Recognition that Israel’s Laws, Policies and Practices Constitute Apartheid Against the Palestinian People.” It declares that the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) “recognizes that the laws, policies, and practices of the government of Israel regarding the Palestinian people fulfill the international legal definition of apartheid.” Hope came in to remind us that every person, every human being, has a right to a clean and safe home as the General Assembly declared the PCUSA a “Sanctuary and Accompaniment Church” for Immigrants of all kinds. Hope came in to remind us when all of our African American and African brothers and sisters responded to our lament and apologies with open arms and forgiveness. Hope came in to remind us when the General Assembly approved a motion that the church renew its commitment to end gun violence by developing a 10-year campaign, the Decade to End Gun Violence (2022 – 2032). The assembly also voted to direct Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI) to engage with Walmart, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Kroger, three publicly traded companies held by either the Board of Pensions or Presbyterian Foundation, that sell guns not classified as semi-automatic and assault-based weapons. Hope came in to remind us when we as an assembly decided to fully divest from five oil and gas companies: Chevron, ExxonMobil, Marathon Petroleum, Phillips 66 and Valero Energy. The assembly continued to respond in hope when they unanimously declared these companies were not doing enough to slow global warming. Hope came in to remind us that all women are beloved and individual Children of God. And Hope came in to remind us of God’s presence through every vote, every conversation, and every new friendship.
Where Lament asks the Question, Hope starts the conversation. Lament is a very real and present thing in our lives and in our world. But our lives and our work does not stop with Lament. For every Lament in our lives, there is an opportunity for Hope, for growth, and for a deeper and more fulfilling relationship with God and with Jesus Christ. But in order for us to experience the Grace and Mercy of our Savior Jesus Christ, we must first embrace Lament, accept Lament, and let Lament lead us to God’s Greatest Gift of Hope. Lament and Hope…. the gifts of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God and Amen.
WE GATHER IN AWE AND PRAISE
INTROIT “Come! Join Our Cheerful Song” Dale Wood
WELCOME Rev. Trip Porch
*CALL TO WORSHIP Adapted from Rev. Shavon Starling-Louis
One: The Holy Spirit gathers us
All: in the fullness of our whole selves, a body of actual bodies –
empowered to perceive the unseeable.
One: We gather in faith,
All: lamenting for all that is piercingly broken, lost, dismissed or stolen.
One: We gather in faith,
All: hoping for all that God will beautifully redeem and make new.
One: Just as God laments with us when we are lost and dismayed
So too God rejoices when the beacon of hope finds us.
All: Come let us worship Our Faithful God who searches us out, always!
*HYMN NO. 39 “Great is Thy Faithfulness” FAITHFULNESS
*INVITATION TO GROANING by Rev. Ruth T. West Doug Slusher , Director of Music Emeritus
*PRAYER OF RECOGNITION
One: As we are gathering together, let us be mindful that worship is not contained
within finite spaces but is manifest through our actions – our lived experiences
from the groans and moans and sighs of lament to the hope in God’s great faith-
fulness.
Many: We come to worship you, O God, in fullness and in truth.
Space for Lament is kept.
One: We come recognizing our places of sorrow and deep grief with our brokenness
and our thoughts of uncertainty in these unknowable times.
Many: You have blessed us with your Holy Spirit who prays on our behalf
with groans too deep for words.
Space for Lament is kept.
One: Hear us, O God, as we moan and groan in solidarity with those
who are suffering, those who remain unseen and silenced, and with Creation.
Many: We have been deeply moved by the guilt of complicity, the comfort of
apathy and the difficulties of enduring change.
Space for Lament is kept.
One: Hear our sighs as we lower our gaze endeavoring to recognize our
vulnerabilities and the weight of our insecurities and fear; the ways we embrace
notions of scarcity; and the absence of our neighbors from our feast tables.
*ACCEPTANCE OF BOUNDLESS GRACE Grace by Rev. Ruth T. West
One: We have made ourselves known to God and accept God’s boundless grace.
Many: We place all that we are in your hands, loving God. You have mercifully
attended to all of our groans and moans and sighs by your Grace,
so that we might make room for joy and hopefulness.
*RESPONSE OF PRAISE #447 “We Are Forgiven” WE ARE FORGIVEN
*PASSING OF THE PEACE
One: The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all,
All: And also with you.
WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD
ANTHEM "Praise the Lord" by Florence Price
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
SCRIPTURE Psalm 42 and 43 Visual Reading produced by the Work of the People
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE Jeremy Carroll
SCRIPTURE Matthew 25: 31-40
“Now when the Human One comes in his majesty and all his angels are with him, he will sit on his majestic throne. All the nations will be gathered in front of him. He will separate them from each other, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right side. But the goats he will put on his left.
“Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who will receive good things from my Father. Inherit the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world began. I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was naked and you gave me clothes to wear. I was sick and you took care of me. I was in prison and you visited me.’
“Then those who are righteous will reply to him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you, or naked and give you clothes to wear? When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
“Then the king will reply to them, ‘I assure you that when you have done it for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you have done it for me.’
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
SERMON “When Lament asks the question, how will you respond?” Ella Bryan
*HYMN NO. 772 “Live into Hope” TRURO
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
TIME OF OFFERING
*OFFERTORY RESPONNSE #607 “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” OLD HUNDREDTH
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
God of new life, out of the abundance of our lives we offer these gifts to you. Through your blessing and our willingness to share, may these offerings become a source for hope and love in this church family, and in the community beyond us, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
*HYMN NO. 765 “Canto de Esperanza” ARGENTINA
TIME OF COMMUNITY SHARING
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
BENEDICTION RESPONSE “Lord, Dismiss Us” Dale Wood
POSTLUDE
Acknowledgments: Unless otherwise indicated, all texts and music are printed and broadcast under OneLicense.net license #A-702452