Yes, and

 

Acts 2: 1-21*
New Ark United Church of Christ, Newark, DE
June 5, 2022 – Pentecost

Abstract acrylic painting with splotches of light pink, hot pink, orange, red, yellow, gray, black, light green, dark green, white, navy blue, sky blue, lavender, and purple.

(The main message this morning was an improv exercise between myself and a church member on Zoom, which can be viewed on our Facebook page through the link above.)

When we read stories in the Bible like the story of Pentecost, somewhere in our minds and hearts it is good to hold the question, “What is being taught with this story?” Something fantastical happened, an experience of power and awakening that could only be described in a story about a group of people caught up in a might rush of wind and tongues of flame alighting on their heads as they spoke in the languages of immigrants, travelers, and religious pilgrims. Even then some folks thought the only story that made sense was that they were drunk.



Then Peter gets everyone’s attention, and he preaches right there on the spot. He wings it. He improvises. “Yeah, I know how it looks but it’s only nine o’clock in the morning! We’re not drunk on wine but on the Holy Spirit! It’s just like the prophet Joel said”, and he reaches back into the story of his people and gives them a wider view.



Improvising, winging it sometimes gets a bad rap. We like it when something is scripted because it feels less risky, but it also doesn’t give us the freedom to fail spectacularly and be human, creative, imaginative. The Bible reads like it was scripted because we’ve heard these stories many times. And yet what is a writer but someone who imagines, who creates, who improvises to tell us a story, to teach us something about ourselves? Jesus taught with stories called parables which he improvised and used to connect to the crowds, to communicate the love of God as well as teach about human nature. Remember too that improv was born out of a need to teach and communicate and connect people to each other.

Photo of a wall with faded posters for Certified Fitness with graffiti in cursive black paint that reads "say yes more". 

This Table is one of Jesus’ best improvisations ever. I can imagine that last supper, the last time Jesus would be with his closest friends, their heads down low, morose and despairing, anxious about the future, fearing for their own lives as well as their friend. Jesus looks around the room, wanting to give his companions something to hold onto. Yes, I see your sorrow, which is the measure of your love. Yes, I understand your fear, and I know you will betray and desert me. Yes, and here is my body, this bread, blessed and broken for you. Yes, and here is my blood poured out, this cup, and whenever you drink from it, remember me.



The beauty of improv isn’t when it goes perfectly but when it goes humanly, lovingly, generously, openly, honestly, when it connects us through our weakness and our flaws. Without judgment but with “I got your back”. Just like this Table. Just like Church is called to be. Amen.

*In the bulletin the quotation from Joel was edited to read "people of all genders" instead of "men and women".

Benediction – enfleshed.com



May Winds of Creativity stir your imagination
May Passion for Living breeze through your front door
May play and intimacy unfold within you, Vibrant Wisdom
For the Kin-dom of God is made by the Wild and Wily,
so let us dance our way towards Transformation.