| p1. July 1-8 Tabernacle: July 1. And Jesus answered them, �Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me (Luke 7:22-23). Those who thought they�d never have a lover, now do; those who never understood homosexuality, now do; those for whom life seemed an out-of-body experience are now embodied; those considered unclean are now welcome; those buried in closets are now raised; those with poor self-esteem have self-worth. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at us. July 2. �Mortal, can these bones live (Ezekiel 37:3)?� A gay staff member in the church put up a sign on the bulletin board that read, �Anyone who doesn�t believe in the resurrection of the dead should be here at quitting time.� It�s true we often do come alive when we leave the weariness of our work behind. The closet was and is a living death. Those who have been raised from it know new life is possible. That should inspire us to come out again: out of old patterns that make work or worship boring. You have put your Spirit within me, Holy One. Inspire me to live! July 3. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning (light). You have turned my mourning into dancing (Psalm 30:5, 11). Sleep is an underrated gift of God and an undervalued source of spiritual healing. Sleep offers a sanctuary to work things out, transforming tears to joy and grief to dance. Praise to you for the blessing of sleep and rebirth. July 4. This day shall be a day of remembrance for you. You shall celebrate it as a festival to God, throughout your generations you shall observe it as a perpetual ordinance (Exodus 11:14). As Jews celebrate Passover in remembrance of their deliverance from Egypt, so we celebrate gay and lesbian pride month, week, and day, as a remembrance of our deliverance from spiritual and societal bondage. We should love and accept ourselves as we are, and at the same time we should keep in mind that extreme pride may equal low self-esteem. We celebrate our faith in your idea in making us, Creator God. We pray others will share our faith and our pride. July 5. Then the prophet Miriam, Aaron�s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with dancing. And Miriam sang to them; �Sing to the Sovereign, for God has triumphed gloriously (Exodus 15:20-21).� Miriam led the women in a dance inspired by their deliverance from oppression and slavery in Egypt. They had just crossed the Red Sea on dry land and watched the waters come down on Pharaoh�s armies, who had been giving chase. Now they were free and on their way to the Promised Land. Jesus knew the dance of freedom, too. The Christian Acts of John, not included in the Bible, recorded Jesus issuing an invitation to his disciples after their last supper together, �Let us dance.� The disciples dance in a circle around Jesus while singing a joyous song responsively. Dancing God, teach us to follow Miriam in the dance! Teach us to dance our liberation in our laughing, loving, living, singing, and serving! July 6. The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This is God�s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes (Psalm 118:22-23). The Gospel of Mark quotes this passage in relation to Jesus (Mark 12:10). The Psalmist seeks entrance to the temple, and is told by the gatekeeper that only those who are fit may enter. The Psalmist replies that God has confirmed her worth by liberating her when others rejected her. July 7. But Paul shouted in a loud voice, �Do not harm yourself, for we are here (Acts 16:28). Paul and Silas are beaten and jailed for delivering a young female slave from those who were exploiting her psychic powers. Midnight finds them praying and singing hymns to God, when an earthquake opens the prison doors and unfastens all the prisoners� chains. The jailer awakes. Knowing the penalty is death for allowing an escape, he intends to take his own life. But Paul shouts, assuring him no one has escaped. Paul�s generosity of spirit prompts the jailer to ask about the gospel, and he is converted, caring for their wounds and feeding them. Our liberation is not complete until we free those who imprison us. God of Mercy, we pray for the liberation of our captors rather than their harm. Grant us grace to be gracious. July 8. Then the cloud covered the tent of the meeting, and the glory of God filled the tabernacle� Whenever the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, the Israelites would set out on each stage of their journey (Exodus 40:34, 36). The Tabernacle was a portable, tent like sanctuary for Yahweh, the God of Israel. Worship was truly a moveable feast, because Yahweh was leading the Israelites, newly freed from Egyptian slavery, to the Promised Land. God led them by cloud by day and by fire within the cloud by night. Both God and we are on-the-go. We take comfort that God tabernacles with us in our quest for the Promise. |
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