A MESSAGE FROM REV. KAREN KINNEY: ARE WE THE STONES?
Grace and peace to you,
If you were with us last Sunday and stayed for the celebration, you might recall the Rev. Dr. Sally Brown’s comment about this week’s lectionary reading.
In this reading from Luke, Jesus speaks about 
the temple, saying that the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another. In other words, the physical temple and then the stones that make it up will no longer exist.
Luke’s readers would be very aware that the temple had already been destroyed by the Romans. So, if the physical stones no longer exist, are there spiritual stones that we can hold on to?
In other words, what are the stones of faith and trust and praise and worship? In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, he writes this,
“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?”
Does this mean we are the stones who will go out fearlessly to testify to the love, mercy, compassion and grace of God through Jesus Christ? Are we the stones who will build up the community of faith? Are we the stones who will not prepare a defense in advance, but know that words and wisdom will be given to us through the Holy Spirit?
What does our faith need to be a witness? What does our faith need to be a servant imitating Christ? What holy and sacred space and place does our faith need to be nourished? There is a wonderful song written by John Thompson and Randy Scruggs called “Lord, Prepare Me.” Here are the lyrics:
Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary,
pure and holy, tried and true.
With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living
sanctuary for you.
Let our stones of faith help us understand that we are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in us as we go out fearlessly into the world as imitators of Christ.
On a personal note, I want to say thank you to everyone for your generous prayers, offers of food and lodging, cards, notes, and texts. It has meant so much to me as I continue to heal. I am most grateful for this community of faith.
Blessings,
Pastor Karen