I’m still basking in the afterglow of this past Sunday’s worship service!
Last week we played host to a wonderful group providing instruction and mentorship to some wonderfully talented young people. The Dallas Symphony Orchestra developed the Young Strings program which provided opportunities for talented underserved youth. The program provides instruments and lessons to some incredibly talented young people. Through budget cuts the students were left with no place to call home. Refusing to let the music stop, cello teachers Vilma Peguero and Eric Taeyang Mun established the DFW Cello Summer Camp. Our own Chris Clarke, who provided all of this background for us, asked if Preston Hollow would be able to host this group. We eagerly agreed, and these young people became the first group to utilize our newly renovated spaces. It was a joy to see them hard at work all week. Then on Sunday, they blessed us with a performance during our worship time. Truly amazing, 17 cellists playing The Lord of the Dance was simply beautiful.
We also hosted a wonderful group of young people, parents, and sponsors of the confirmation class from Umphress Road United Methodist Church. Such an amazing group filled with the very presence of God. We were doubly blessed by having Pastor Ken Park and a lay person from their congregation to help serve Holy Communion to all who had gathered.
I cannot imagine a more beautiful example of the inclusive love of God being present. A real picture of how I believe God intends for worship to be like. A rich tapestry of races, cultures, and ages. I am humbled by the opportunity to be a part of such an awesome experience.
With all the noise being generated right now about immigrants and persons of different ethnicities, this experience stands in opposition to those who decry the obvious benefits of inclusivity and diversity. God covered the earth with brown people, yellow people, black people, red people and white people. No fences, no walls, no borders were established by God to separate them. The understanding that God is present in every culture, every ethnic group, every race, every person is paramount to us having even a glimpse of God’s true self.
In The Revelation to John 7:9-10 we read…
After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”
It is clear to me, God intends for people to learn to live together, to celebrate one another and our differences. God’s intention is that ALL are of great value, and ALL have much to contribute to our even beginning to understand the depth and breadth of who God is.
If heaven is going to look like John’s vision, then we have to do better and be better at how we relate to each other. I reminded the congregation that 11:00 Sunday morning still stands as the most segregated hour of the week. I happen to believe, the more we work together, play together, live together and worship together, the more of heaven we will experience here on earth.
May God draw us together. May we find the uniqueness of each a blessing to behold. And may God continue to give us an openness and desire to include the other in our midst.
Your companion on the Way,
Pastor Tom