STORIES THAT STRETCH OUR EXPERIENCE OF WORSHIP
I continue to explore the use of 100-word stories to dig deeper on the power of worship to transform the worshipper. In these examples, we probe how these micro-stories can connect racism and worship, but the same discipline could be used to reflect on any area in our church life.
Like the parables of Jesus, these stories are not meant to have all the answers. Stories are meant to capture your attention and question your assumptions. They are intended to linger in the mind and cause you to examine your own attitude more deeply.
The story might bother you, irritate you, expand your opinion, or cause you to want to respond in a new way. The value of the 100 word story is that it provides you an opportunity to spend a brief amount of time in framing your response but in a manner that continues to probe your thinking. How many people would like to expand the parable for the Prodigal son with more sympathy for the elder brother? After all, he was the one who played by the rules.
Try this experiment. Take one of these stories and try to rewrite it to make your own comment on the power of worship to transform us. I think you will find it fun, stimulating, and educational. I’d love to see your stories.
HEALING WORDS OF THANKSGIVING
A Black Emergency room physician, Belinda Crainshaw, entered the church after an exhausting night treating victims of a teenage racial war. The first sound was the squeal of a five-year-old. “Dr. C, Dr. C, Will you sign my new arm.?”
As she bowed in prayer, she thought of last night’s victims. Then the five-year-old child’s glee flashed before her. He didn’t care if she was a woman, a Black, or even a doctor, she thought. “Out of the mouths of babes and infants”, from Psalm 8 came to mind. She began prayers with Thanksgiving. It was healing.
BENEDICTIONS AND PREPARING TO LEAVE
George stood for the benediction; meaningless words that covered people preparing to leave. He was offended by the sermon and wanted to leave quickly. Not particularly pious, he was shocked to image Jesus standing by as the pastor said, “Peace I leave with you. . . Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” The sermon had challenged the church to be anti-racist. It had angered him, but he was hardly afraid. Or was the benediction the real sermon? Should he be troubled? Now maybe he was beginning to feel fear. Was Jesus speaking to him?
