Beth Rauen Sciaino (and Phoebe)

(9:15 a.m. Family Service)

Why do we pray? What do our prayers say about our understanding of God? Do we ask God for things? To help us or to help other people? Do we tell God our worries and our secrets? Do we believe that God is actively involved in our lives? Do we think God listens to us? If we don’t, why do we pray? This is a question my Hebrew Bible professor at Drew Theological School has asked as we learn about the stories in which people cried out to God, talked with God, and saw God at work in their lives.

Why do we come here to St George’s? To worship God with other people, to learn about God, to see friends? Today we come to remember our family, friends, and pets who have died and we see that our friends also have similar loved ones. The Day of the Dead is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the roles that these people still play in our lives. A grandmother who taught us how to tie our shoes or ride a bike. A grandfather who baked cookies with us or fed us soup when we were sick. A pet who was always happy to see us. An aunt who sent us postcards from around the world. An uncle who encouraged our love of music. I’m sure that the people you are remembering today gave you gifts during your time with them that remain a part of you.

Here at St George’s we are also interconnected. And this interconnection grows through our engagement in church school; in the family service; in choir or a play; our parents’ service on committees; through welcoming someone new. Each of us has many gifts and talents we can offer in this community. Just as with our family members both alive and dead, there are threads that connect us to each other here at St George’s. If you look really hard you can imagine them.

Together as St George’s we share beliefs about God and God’s people. We ask questions, sometimes sitting with them in wonder, other times working together to discover answers. Every Sunday we have an opportunity to remind each other that each one of us is made in the image of God. These are blessings we can bring to the world outside of St George’s.

But what if we didn’t have St George’s? What would we do on Sunday mornings? Where would we learn about God? What would we learn? Who would give us unexpected wisdom? Where would we find a sense of belonging? Would we feel included? Would we recognize God?

Each of us is a steward of St George’s. Of what St George’s means to us, and to our community here, and to the broader world outside our doors. Our investment in St George’s is an act of participation, a way of living into of the blessings we receive in this place, from God and from each other. The pledges we make do practical things like keep the lights on and the staff paid. But they also keep alive the community of St George’s, the message we have been entrusted with from generations that came before us in this place. They expect that we will expand this message of God’s radical and healing love until everyone sees themselves in it. Just as we seek God in this place, within this our community, God seeks us. We believe God is present here in St George’s and sees that it is good. It is from this abundance that we give.