I m Sorry; Please Forgive Me Rev. Jennifer Ryu Williamsburg Unitarian Universalists October 5, 2008
|
|
- Gwen Holt
- 6 years ago
- Views:
Transcription
1 I m Sorry; Please Forgive Me Rev. Jennifer Ryu Williamsburg Unitarian Universalists October 5, 2008 CALL TO WORSHIP Unitarian Universalism occupies an unusual place in the world of religion. Though we came from two protestant denominations hundreds of years ago, we have treated wisdom and revelation as open books, in which we can write new ideas and read old ideas with new eyes. Unitarian Universalism seeks the widest possible community. In this seeking we welcome complexity, ambiguity, and eclecticism. This eclecticism draws us to the tremendous diversity of the world of religions. We especially revere those that have a strong tradition of questioning and critical thinking while at the same time acknowledging that mystery will always be with us. We seek wisdom that has passed through the fire of thought. This idea from our religious ancestor, Ralph Waldo Emerson suggests that our religious ideas and spiritual lives are tempered by our capacity for critical thinking. For us, religion has to make sense and it has to be relevant to our everyday struggles and pain. Our friends at Temple Beth El are currently using this sanctuary to hold their High Holy Days services. This annual community practice of forgiveness and atonement is one that makes sense and is highly relevant to every human being regardless of faith. A few years ago, our association president, Bill Sinkford, suggested that Unitarian Universalists should celebrate an annual day of Atonement. I don t know how many of our 1,000 congregations took him up on that suggestion, but I know that we didn t not yet. What might it look like a WUU day of atonement? What might it feel like to set aside time to write letters, make phone call, and make visits to express our remorse and regret? How might we sharpen our awareness of the value of this spiritual practice by performing rituals of our own making? Come, let us explore the landscape of apology. come, let us worship together. SERMON It s a damp spring day, I am sitting at my desk in my apartment in Oakland staring down at a blank sheet of paper. I am writing a letter of apology to my brother. He says I offended him during a recent visit to his home, but I can t see what I did wrong. We haven t spoken for months. He is my only sibling and I yearn to be close to him. And so I am writing a letter of apology to my brother. Looking at the empty surface of the paper I try to form sentences of regret for what I have done. 1
2 But only anger rises and all I can think about is how unreasonable he is. I set the unwritten letter aside and leave it for another day. Why is it so hard to simply say, I m sorry. Last Monday marked the beginning of the High Holy Days with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. They culminate next Wednesday evening on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. During these holiest of days, people seek forgiveness from those they have harmed because we have all been careless in our words and in our deeds. Jewish wisdom names three types of forgiveness: The first, mechila, is for everyday situations. It is the easiest to ask for and to give. The second, selicha, is more serious. It calls for the expansion of the heart. It is an act of mercy, empathy and compassion. The third, kappara is the ultimate forgiveness it comes from on high or deep within us--unbidden after we do the hard work of confronting ourselves and seeking forgiveness from others. The need for apology arises again and again in our relations with others. I m sorry to be late with this report; I m sorry I forgot your birthday; I m sorry I didn t return your call sooner The everyday apologies are not difficult because our self-worth is not in jeopardy. We expect to make mistakes and we expect others to forgive us and vice versa. This is mechila. We say sorry, the other person says no problem, or if you re in Brooklyn, Fugedaboudit! No heart wrenching apology, no transformation of souls, just a simple pardon. Selicha, the second type of forgiveness, takes more effort. What is required here is a widening of the heart and a willingness to step into another s shoes. We have seen dramatic examples of situations calling for this type of forgiveness. On his deathbed, Ghandi forgave his assassin. Nelson Mandela, imprisoned for 27 years, forgave his captors, Two years ago a small Amish community in Pennsylvania astounded the world when they forgave the gunman who killed five children and injured five others in their one-room schoolhouse. A Gallup Poll of 1000 Americans found that 94% of them hold forgiveness to be an important value. Yet less than half say they actually make forgiveness a frequent practice in their lives. The survey was done in 1988, but I doubt that the answers would be different if taken today. What keeps us from doing something that we believe is valuable? Those people who posted their apologies to the Project Forgiveness blog 2
3 what keeps them from saying I m sorry to real people, instead of hiding in the anonymity of cyberspace. What kept me from writing that letter to my brother? Fear. Fear that I ll lose my sense of self worth. If it is a situation in which I ve wronged someone, then by apologizing, I will be revealed to be a very bad person. On the other hand, if it s a situation where the other person and I have wronged each other, then my fear is that if I apologize it will let the other person off the hook. I ll look weak and vulnerable, and made to be wrong. After weeks of avoiding that blank piece of paper, I overcame at least a little bit of that fear. I sat down again, wrote the letter and sent it. Later, I saw that it was a half-hearted, grudging apology. It was more like a rationale for what I had done, cast in a light that made me look reasonable. Something was still stopping me from opening my heart enough to offer a genuine apology. Maimonides, the 12th century Spanish philosopher, offered a practice of forgiveness that includes these four steps: Recognizing what I did, expressing regret, resolving to change my behavior in the future, and reconciling with the other so that the relationship is deepened and hearts are changed. The practice begins with telling ourselves the truth about our part-- our responsibility in the events. It s not surprising that the first step in repairing relationships with others should begin this way. This wisdom can be found in almost all religious traditions. These traditions urge us to look into the reality of our brokenness as a path to wholeness. It makes sense to start here because our relationships with others will never be better than our relationship with ourselves. (James Hollis) Realizing the full significance of what we ve done doesn t necessarily make us want to rush to apologize to the person we have hurt. Just the opposite can happen. We can be so shamed by our actions that we would rather post an apology on the blog than face the person we ve injured. There was no response to that letter I sent to my brother, of course. After many months of no communication, I find myself sitting in front of another blank sheet of paper. This time I am a writing a letter to myself. The paper becomes a mirror, and now I see that wholeness comes not from overcoming brokenness, but rather from accepting it. I tell myself the painful truth of what really happened just the facts without the excuses. I also tell the truth of how I ve been hurt by my brother over the years. --about my resentment of the 3
4 complicated family dynamics that put the male child on a pedestal. I put myself in his shoes. I imagine the times when being on a pedestal must have been difficult for him. I can feel my compassion for him grow. And then I ask the deepest part of myself to forgive methe part of me beyond ego that knows I am more than the sum of my careless words and selfish acts. This is the third kind of forgiveness Kappara. This Hebrew word for Atonement, At One-Ment, literally means the state of being at one with self, others and god. Rabbi Irwin Kula, in his book called Yearnings, describes Kappara as, the forgiveness that can t be earned or asked for [from others] It is an inner experience of integrating our transgression into a more expanded self. When we are at one with our deepest selves, we can be free from fear. We can know that there is a part of ourselves that is bigger than the unkind thing we did. We can know that we are not our misdeeds. Then an expanded self that is big enough to be humble can speak our authentic apology. After recognition, the second practice of forgiveness is expressing Regretthis is where you say, It gave me great pain when I looked back and saw what I had done to you. I really saw the cost of my actions, not only to you but also to me. We don t often get to witness apologies like this. So many of the public apologies from our leaders sound hollow and self serving. One notable exception is from Jesse Jackson. Expressing his regret for using a derogatory word to describe Jews, he apologized, saying, that was not my truest self. Charge it to my head and not to my heart. My head -- so limited in its finitude; my heart, which is boundless in its love for the human family. Sometimes, a person wants very much to express genuine regret, but the other person has passed away, or refuses to hear the apology. This happened to a man serving a sentence at a maximum security prison in New York State. He was participating in a 3 day workshop called alternatives to violence when he heard a woman speak of being raped while in Mexico and then forgiving the young man who had assaulted her. During a break in the program, he approached her. Here s how she described what happened: (from The Sun Magazie, Feburary 2005) In the hallway he began to wring his hands nervously. I don t know if I can do this, he said. It s OK, I said. Whatever it is, say it. He took a deep breath and asked, Would you be a surrogate for me for a moment? I had no idea what he had in mind, but I felt safe, so I said yes. Tears began to run down his cheeks as he spoke: A long time ago, I hurt a woman very badly. I have tried to apologize to her family, but they want nothing to do with me. I respect that and do not want to hurt them any more than I already have. But I want you to know how deeply sorry I am for what I did. 4
5 He paused to take a breath. And how deeply sorry I am for what was done to you. I was speechless. He was obviously trying hard not to fall to pieces in the middle of the corridor. After a moment, this giant of a man quietly asked, Do you think you could forgive me? Yes, I said. Sometimes it s easier to forgive the stranger than to forgive our children, our parents, our sisters. By the time I saw my brother last Christmas I was ready to say once again, I m sorry, Please forgive me. This time in a way that would express my deepest regret with sincerity and humility. He said no. There was no expansion of the heart, no deepening of relationship. The Jewish sages tell us to try 3 times to seek forgiveness. I will try again. And if no forgiveness is forthcoming from my brother, I will still know that I have been forgiven by the part of me that is large enough not to keep score of wrongs. For me and my brother there is no reconciliation, at least not yet. Nonetheless, the relationship continues even in this broken state. Yom Kippur was the day that Moses brought the second set of the 10 commandments to the Israelites. Yes, there were two sets of tablets. Moses brought the first down from Mt. Sinai. But when he saw the people worshiping the golden calf, violating the first of the commandments, he threw down the tablets in anger, smashing them into pieces. He went back up the mountain for another 40 days and created new tablets. Moses then put the broken pieces into the ark along with the whole ones. (as told by Irwin Kula in Yearnings) We must do likewise. In that Gallup Poll in which 94% of Americans said it was important to forgive, a second question revealed that almost all of them said they needed some outside help to do this. This is where the community comes in. Richard Rubenstein wrote in After Auschwitz, that..one of the most important functions of the atonement ritual is that through communal confession and acknowledgement of guilt, the penitent is assured that his is the shared predicament of humankind. He goes on to observe that without the uniting ritual, our feelings of guilt and shame fragment the human community into individuals who must, hide their deepest selves from one another. Let us continue to grow into a community that reveals rather than hides our deepest selves. Let us do so by reciting the litany of atonement, a responsive reading written by the Rev. Rob Eller-Isaacs. I will lead with a statement; please respond with these words: 5
6 For remaining silent when a single voice would have made a difference For each time that our fears have made us rigid and inaccessible For each time that we have struck out in anger without just cause For each time that our greed has blinded us to the needs of others For the selfishness which sets us apart and alone For falling short of the admonitions of the spirit For losing sight of our unity For those and for so many acts both evident and subtle which have fueled the illusion of separateness May it be so, Amen 6
A Sermon Preached by the Rev. Angela Herrera. First Unitarian Church October 2, 2016
Atonement A Sermon Preached by the Rev. Angela Herrera First Unitarian Church October 2, 2016 Once there was a philosopher who had a bone to pick with the legendary Sufi wiseman, Mulla Nasrudin. With the
The Necessity of Forgiveness. October 9, 2016 Rev. Rebecca M. Bryan First Parish in Brookline
The Necessity of Forgiveness October 9, 2016 Rev. Rebecca M. Bryan I am going to talk about two things this morning that you won t normally hear much about in a Unitarian Universalist congregation: sin
righting Wrongs Chapter 1
Contents Introduction: Why This Is Important....................................... 9 1. Righting Wrongs.........................................................13 2. I m Sorry : Expressing Regret........................................
Become Awestruck Rev. Joan Montagnes I once found myself in a small Hindu temple in a remote village in India. At the center of the temple was an
0 Become Awestruck Rev. Joan Montagnes I once found myself in a small Hindu temple in a remote village in India. At the center of the temple was an altar with a god robed in crimson and saffron. Hanging
Habit of the Heart: Doors to Forgiveness 12 October 2014 Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Reston, VA Rev. Dr.
1 Habit of the Heart: Doors to Forgiveness 12 October 2014 Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Reston, VA Rev. Dr. Barbara Coeyman The Worship Theme for October is Forgiveness This year I bring the
David was blown away at the bird s change in attitude and was about to ask what changed him when the parrot continued, May I ask what the chicken did?
Message for Kol Nidre 1 18 September 2018: Teshuvah and Chesed David received a parrot for his birthday. This parrot was fully grown, with a bad attitude and even worse vocabulary. Every other word was
Forgiveness and Atonement by Rev. Meghan Cefalu UUCM September 23, 2007
Forgiveness and Atonement by Rev. Meghan Cefalu UUCM September 23, 2007 This is the second of a two-part sermon coinciding with the Jewish High Holy Days. Last week, in honor of Rosh Hashanah, my sermon
Never Forget a Theology of Forgiveness
Never Forget a Theology of Forgiveness by Rev. Audette Fulbright delivered on September 15, 2013 at Unitarian Universalist Church of Cheyenne This weekend, our Jewish brothers and sisters celebrated Yom
What might we learn from the Days of Awe which might guide us on our own individual and collective journey?
MAKING AMENDS Observant Jews around the world have just come to the end of the Days of Awe, the holiest days in the Jewish religious year which begin with Rosh Hashanah, the New Year, and end with Yom
A Fresh Start. A great rabbi and his disciple were walking along a river when they came upon their usual crossing point.
A Fresh Start A great rabbi and his disciple were walking along a river when they came upon their usual crossing point. At the crossing was a woman in tears. The rabbi asked her what her problem was, and
Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, which was yesterday, marks the celebratory close
Linda Simmons Yom Kippur Sermon September 15, 2013 Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, which was yesterday, marks the celebratory close of the High Holy Days in Judaism. The High Holy Days begin with
Healthy and Holy Relationship Concept: Mercy and Forgiveness
Healthy and Holy Relationship Concept: Mercy and Forgiveness Catechist Reflection Page When one is looking at the topic of safe environment, we need to consider how we keep our children, youth and teens
Apologies And Forgiveness 1
Apologies And Forgiveness 1 By Rabbi Michele B. Medwin, D.Min. Erev YK 5779 2018 Forgiveness is an important theme during Yom Kippur. We ask God to forgive us many times throughout the Yom Kippur liturgy.
A walk through the Sermon on the Mount to discover the characteristics that should mark every follower of Christ
A walk through the Sermon on the Mount to discover the characteristics that should mark every follower of Christ The Sermon on The Mount is one of the most famous, talked about, written about passages
[1] Better Together #2 ~ Forgiveness Matthew 5:21-24 and 18:21-35
[1] Better Together #2 ~ Forgiveness Matthew 5:21-24 and 18:21-35 Last week, Jeff and I watched the movie Unbroken which tells the true story of the life of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic athlete who joined
Confession: Taking Responsibility for Your Actions
Confession: Taking Responsibility for Your Actions A Sermon for the High Holy Days by Senior Rabbi Amy Schwartzman Temple Rodef Shalom September 21 & 22, 2007 / 10 Tishrei, 5768 This past winter I joined
Being Godlike In Our Imperfection Or: If God Can Do It, So Can We
Being Godlike In Our Imperfection Or: If God Can Do It, So Can We This season in the Jewish calendar reminds us that we are broken. Try though we do, all year long, we are imperfect, we have made mistakes,
HHD Sermon: To Die While You are Still Alive
HHD Sermon: To Die While You are Still Alive In preparation for this evening, my mind has been stalking a simple but provocative prayer: Let me not die while I am still alive. I don t remember where I
According to Jewish tradition, from the very beginning, God understood. Atonement: At One With God. This month s study with Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein
A MONTHLY STUDY ON THE JEWISH ROOTS OF CHRISTIANITY Limmud למוד This month s study with Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein Atonement: At One With God According to Jewish tradition, from the very beginning, God understood
Foundation for Christian Service Term 2 Chapter 9 Sermon on the Mount 4. Chapter 9 SERMON ON THE MOUNT 4 MATTHEW 6 - PART 1
Chapter 9 SERMON ON THE MOUNT 4 MATTHEW 6 - PART 1 SECTION 1: MOTIVES (Matthew 6:1-8) Scripture List: Proverbs 4:23; I Corinthians 3:10, 12-14 I. A motive is the inner drive, impulse, or intention that
REDEEMED FROM BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS
SESSION 2 REDEEMED FROM BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS What s a silly argument you had when you were a kid? QUESTION #1 #BSFLbeauty BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 75 THE POINT Showing humility is critical to restoring relationships.
Of Every Person: Dignity, Reconciliation and Yom Kippur September 24, 2017 The Rev. Heather Janules
Of Every Person: Dignity, Reconciliation and Yom Kippur September 24, 2017 The Rev. Heather Janules It was a joyous occasion, the ordination of a colleague in the beautiful sanctuary of All Souls Church
Origins of the Jewish Faith
Judaism Origins of the Jewish Faith Oldest Western religion Judaism is an Abrahamic religion along with Christianity and Islam Abrahamic religions assert that Abraham was God s first prophet Monotheistic
Forgiveness Rabbi Amy Schwartzman Yom Kippur 5774/2013
Ten days ago on Rosh Hashanah, I spoke about Abraham and Isaac and the Akedah, that difficult story about God s test, and the mountain, and the near sacrifice and in my sermon that day I also spoke about
Yom Kippur 5778 Questions & Answers. with Rabbi David Klatzker
Yom Kippur 5778 Questions & Answers with Rabbi David Klatzker My friends, I invited the congregation to submit questions in advance that I would try to answer on Yom Kippur. Neuroscientists report that
The Psalm before us today is a beautiful illustration of one who has gone through the process of repentance.
Lent Psalm 32 March 20, 2011 Psalm 32 1Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2Happy are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
1 of 7.
WEEK OF NOVE MBER 27 He wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. And Joseph said to his brothers, I am Joseph! Is my father still alive? (Genesis 45:2 3a). DEVOTIONAL
The Unitarian Universalist Church in Meriden
The Unitarian Universalist Church in Meriden Saying Yes to Love Kayla Parker, Ministerial Intern February 15, 2015 What is love anyways? I m probably not the best authority on the subject, honestly. I
Intersecting Faiths: The Story of Hagar
Intersecting Faiths: The Story of Hagar a sermon by Rev. Jennifer Ryu Williamsburg Unitarian Universalists Williamsburg, VA September 16, 2007 READING: Genesis 21:14-19 (American Standard Version) And
Forgiveness Kol Nidrei 9 Tishrei 5775 October 3, 2014 Congregation B nai Shalom Braintree, Massachusetts Rabbi Van Lanckton! David and Susan suffer
Forgiveness Kol Nidrei 9 Tishrei 5775 October 3, 2014 Congregation B nai Shalom Braintree, Massachusetts Rabbi Van Lanckton! David and Susan suffer deep emotional pain. They have two married sons, Matt
Breathing in and out naturally through your nose, focus your awareness on your breath, the actual sensations of breathing.
Format for meeting: Record The Emotional Sobriety Workshop is directed towards anyone who has completed the steps and is seeking to bring G-d into their daily life on a moment to moment basis. The purpose
Give the Gift of Forgiveness Matthew 18:21-35
Faith Evangelical Free Church December 26, 2010 Brian W. Anderson Give the Gift of Forgiveness Matthew 18:21-35 A couple of weeks ago as part of my responsibilities as the chairman of one of our district
Lesson 106 Yom Kippur Day of Atonement In Leviticus 23: 27 The Lord spoke to Moses and said, Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall
Lesson 106 Yom Kippur 9-26-2012 Day of Atonement In Leviticus 23: 27 The Lord spoke to Moses and said, Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation
Begin Again in Love Sunday Katie Michael-Sanchez UU Fellowship of Bozeman December 30, 2018
Begin Again in Love Sunday Katie Michael-Sanchez UU Fellowship of Bozeman December 30, 2018 Good morning. That responsive reading was a bit heavy to start of the morning, but I think that this time of
JONAH: The Prophet Who Could Not Change
JONAH: The Prophet Who Could Not Change YK 2017-5778 One night a ship s captain was on the open sea when he spotted a light straight ahead in the distance. He flashed his signal light telling the other
I. Letting Go and Forgiving
I. Letting Go and Forgiving A. To let go is an important part of a victim s healing 1. Saying I am letting this go sounds good but until you ve learned how the process works you may become defeated before
The Prodigal Son September 24, 2017 Rev. Melanie Homan
The Prodigal Son September 24, 2017 Rev. Melanie Homan Luke 15:11-32 11 Then Jesus [b] said, There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the share of the
Why Forgiveness? by Scott Mabe
Why Forgiveness? by Scott Mabe Presented to the Unitarian Universalist Fellow of the Rappahannock Sunday, June 5, 2016 Reading The Two Wolves Within A Native American Tale A young boy came to his Grandfather,
An Introduction to: The Five Love Languages. by Dr. Gary Chapman. The Five Languages of Apology. by Dr. Gary Chapman & Dr.
An Introduction to: The Five Love Languages by Dr. Gary Chapman The Five Languages of Apology by Dr. Gary Chapman & Dr. Jennifer Thomas We All Seek Happy and Fulfilling Relationships MYSELF MATE Where
Today, the third Sunday of Easter, we are commanded to repent, and to proclaim repentance, as the way to the new life of Easter.
HOMILY EASTER SUNDAY 3 B Homily 02* Living and Proclaiming Repentance (Acts 3:13-15; 17-19; 1 Jn 2:1-5; Lk 24:35-48) ***************************************** Are you living, or resisting, the Word of
Joseph: Not Your Average Joe Move on from what hurts
Joseph: Not Your Average Joe Move on from what hurts GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: (Page 1) TRADITIONAL MODEL: Are you generally a forgiving person or a grudge holder? Read Genesis 42-46:30 before the group
Making amends to those I ve hurt
Making amends to those I ve hurt How many of you have ever been hurt by another person? Have you forgiven them? How many of you have ever hurt another person? Did you ask for forgiveness? Did they forgive
A Vision for Disciplemaking Key Men s Conference
A Vision for Disciplemaking Key Men s Conference February 20-23, 2003 The Joy of Fellowship R. Kent Dyer, Jr. The Joy of Fellowship R. Kent Dyer, Jr. Hebrews 10:24 - "And let us consider how we may spur
You can take notes on the sermon outline in the bulletin if you wish
The Gift of Forgiveness (Leviticus 4:1 5:13) 9 th August 2015 1 Please turn your Bibles to Leviticus chapter 4 to begin with. You can take notes on the sermon outline in the bulletin if you wish Let s
Matthew 18:21 35 (NKJV)21Then Peter came to Him and said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?
Introduction We ve talked about Matthew 18 as our How to chapter. How to be great (be teachable, simple humble, dependent); how to escape hell (vv.7-9); how to exercise church discipline (vv.15-20); how
Teachings of Jesus Blessed Are the Merciful Matthew 5:7
Teachings of Jesus Blessed Are the Merciful Matthew 5:7 Introduction The beatitudes are the eight statements of blessing spoken by Jesus at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew Chapter 5.
Looking Back: Finding Healing through Forgiveness i Matthew 18:21-35
Looking Back: Finding Healing through Forgiveness i Matthew 18:21-35 We are continuing our series on relationships this morning with one more look in the rearview mirror. We ve all experienced pain in
KOL NIDREI SERMON 2018 For All of These Sins? The Limits of Forgiveness
1 KOL NIDREI SERMON 2018 For All of These Sins? The Limits of Forgiveness I m a Trekkie from way back, and Tim is a big science fiction fan. One of the recurring themes in many Science Fiction works is
USE FOR APOLOGY ACTIVITY... Never ruin an apology with an excuse. ~ Kimberly Johnson. An apology is a good way to have the last word.
USE FOR APOLOGY ACTIVITY... Never ruin an apology with an excuse. ~ Kimberly Johnson An apology is a good way to have the last word. ~ Anonymous An apology is the super glue of life. It can repair just
FBG Vision Series Small Groups
FBG Vision Series Small Groups We want to remind you that each session has some key components we want you to be familiar with before you get started: Location: There are two primary locations on a map
Love and Forgiveness A Sermon by Reverend Lynn Strauss
Love and Forgiveness A Sermon by Reverend Lynn Strauss It is not enough to know that love and forgiveness are possible. We have to find ways to bring them to life. -- Jack Kornfield On March 13, 2015,
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Springfield, IL September 14, Forgiveness Is
The Fourteenth Sunday After Pentecost Rev. Darrell Debowey Immanuel Lutheran Church, Springfield, IL September 14, 2014 Matthew 18:21-35: 21 Then Peter came up and said to him, Lord, how often will my
The Book of Forgiving Desmond Tutu and Mpho Tutu
The Book of Forgiving Desmond Tutu and Mpho Tutu This book is about understanding, embracing, and practicing forgiveness. Forgiveness seems to be a simple and straightforward process, but reading this
God s Process For Life Change Repairing Our Relationships (Part 5)
Mailing Address: PO Box 797 Molalla, OR 97038 Phone: 503-829-5101 Fax: 503-829-9502 Pastor Dale Satrum God s Process For Life Change Repairing Our Relationships (Part 5) Everything in this life eventually
7/6/2016. Well, it figures! We re seven tenths of a mile past the warranty! Forgiveness allows us to move from Oh No! to Oh Well.
Deborah Grassman ARNP, CEO Opus Peace www.opuspeace.org www.soulinjury.org To give up resentment against or the desire to punish. (Dictionary) Giving up the hope that the past can be any different than
Transformation, healing and the cross of Christ
Good Friday 30 th March 2018 Cathedral, Grahamstown 12 noon Transformation, healing and the cross of Christ Luke 23:34 1 st Word Father, forgive them There were two others with Jesus, criminals who were
Reverend Michael J. Yadron, Pastor Miss Emily Hackett, Director of Religious Education
2017-18 Reverend Michael J. Yadron, Pastor Miss Emily Hackett, Director of Religious Education Religious Formation Office October 2017 Dear Parents: The Sacrament of Penance is the confession of our sins
Christian Marriage. We will give ourselves to a regular lifestyle of confession and forgiveness.
II. Lesson 2: Commitment 1. Christian Marriage We will give ourselves to a regular lifestyle of confession and forgiveness. A. Coming Clean: Confession Confession is the doorway to growth and change in
Fearless and Searching
A sermon preached by the Rev. Lee Bluemel On October 2, 2016 At The North Parish of North Andover, Unitarian Universalist North Andover, MA Spirit of Love, of Life, of God, of Awe- help us to turn from
Rev. Cindy Worthington-Berry UCCB September 14, 2014 It Must Be Said. Let us pray...
Rev. Cindy Worthington-Berry UCCB September 14, 2014 It Must Be Said Let us pray... I grew up in a family that said I love you a lot. Those words were spoken at the end of the day, before going to school,
3/10/2013 Loving Others 1
"Loving Others" The highest calling of life is to love God and to love others. How well are you fulfilling that calling? Hello, I m Phil Sanders; and this is a Bible study, In Search of the Lord s Way.
The Greatness of Forgiveness
The Greatness of Forgiveness Pastor Ronald Molmisa Generation 3:16 Ministries FACT: Most people need to be taught about forgiveness to begin forgiving Without forgiveness, there is no future The world
2/28/2016 Loving Others 1
"Loving Others" The highest calling of life is to love God and to love others. How well are you fulfilling that calling? Hello, I m Phil Sanders. And this is a Bible study, In Search of the Lord s Way.
Daniel S. Teefey Riverside Covenant Church November 22, 2009 Matthew 18: Them Fightin Words. Read Matthew 18:15 22.
Daniel S. Teefey Riverside Covenant Church November 22, 2009 Matthew 18: 15 22 Them Fightin Words Read Matthew 18:15 22. So this week has been an interesting week. I believe that God changes us. And when
The Real Meaning of the F-Word
The Real Meaning of the F-Word To forgive is to set a prisoner free and find out that the prisoner was you. Lewis B. Smedes For some spiritually fragile people, forgiveness is like a dirty word. After
Welcome to Ekklesia, the newsletter of Peacebridge Ministries! Peacebridge Ministries has moved!
January 2011 VOL. 1 NO.1 Welcome to Ekklesia, the newsletter of Peacebridge Ministries! The title, EKKLESIA, is the ancient Greek term meaning, Gathering of the called out ones, also known as the Christian
Grace Bible Church of Boerne. Walking in Christ. Week 4
Grace Bible Church of Boerne Walking in Christ Week 4 In all of the laments and reproaches made by our seers and prophets, one misses any mention of sin, a word which used to be a veritable watchword of
Forgiveness vs. Reconciliation Teen Handout
Forgiveness vs. Reconciliation Teen Handout Flame I Lesson Week 14 February 28, 2016 FORGIVENESS IS giving up my right to hurt you, for hurting me wiping the slate clean, to pardon, to cancel a debt giving
Staying True to Our Intentions Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray March 22, 2015
Staying True to Our Intentions Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray March 22, 2015 Reading Our reading this morning is from Belgian born, American poet, May Sarton. It is a poem that speaks to the path of becoming
GOD S STORY. Does the story of the ten commandments have the power to inspire and shape my life? How does this story connect to my story?
GOD S STORY DEuteronomy 5:1-21, 6:4-9 10/11/15 The Israelites considered the law precious, a sign of God s love for them. No other god had given such clear and wise instruction for living. But as soon
Go And Be Reconciled! Scripture Text: Matthew 5:21-26
Delivered Date: Sunday, December 17, 2017 1 Go And Be Reconciled! Scripture Text: Matthew 5:21-26 Introduction In this sermon series, we have been learning about making peace. Peacemaking is not easy,
Letting Go- Releasing to the Eyn Sof Rabbi Micah Becker-Klein Rosh Hashanah Day / 2015
Letting Go- Releasing to the Eyn Sof Rabbi Micah Becker-Klein Rosh Hashanah Day 1 5776 / 2015 Good Yuntif. Today I will be talking about Letting Go and Releasing to the Eyn Sof (one of the names for God).
THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT Forgiveness Mini Guide
THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT Forgiveness Mini Guide Joy is the end result of the Spiritual Disciplines functioning in our lives. -Richard J. Foster Forgiveness Reverence Gratitude Humor Desire Faith Joy heatherc@heathercarlile.com
The Power of Humility. In the final season of Larry David s comedy series Curb Your. Enthusiasm, Larry promises his good friends Jeff and Suzy
The Power of Humility Shana Tova. In the final season of Larry David s comedy series Curb Your Enthusiasm, Larry promises his good friends Jeff and Suzy Garland that he will show up for their daughter
The Light of Forgiveness
The Light of Forgiveness Rabbi Chaim Koritzinsky Yom Kippur 5776/2015 Over the last couple of months, I have been trying to learn a lot of names. I really appreciate the effort that people make on Shabbat
First Be Reconciled. A Sermon by Rev. Brian W. Keith
First Be Reconciled A Sermon by Rev. Brian W. Keith "If you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar. First be
1 Yom Kippur: Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16) 15 th November Let me pray first, for God s help and guidance as we look at this passage together
1 Yom Kippur: Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16) 15 th November 2015 Please have your Bibles open at Leviticus chapter 16. There s an outline in the bulletin to jot down notes if you wish Let me pray first,
Katherine Hilditch.
So many people are hurting and do not know what to do about it. And others are feeling guilt and shame at things they have done. Jesus has made it possible to forgive and be forgiven and start to walk
Practicing Forgiveness The Rev. Dr. J. Carl Gregg 7 June 2015 Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Frederick, Maryland frederickuu.
Practicing Forgiveness The Rev. Dr. J. Carl Gregg 7 June 2015 Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Frederick, Maryland frederickuu.org When I think about forgiveness, one experience that comes to mind
Sermon 03 Starting over Releasing your regrets
1 NOTE: this sermon series is largely based on the Starting Over series from Big Idea Resources 1 INTRODUCTION The first week of this series I told a funny story about myself, last week we laughed at some
Because of this, it s sad when our relationships are strained or broken, but it s a joy when they re healed and restored.
Week 4 (Friday Third Week of Lent) Forgiveness and Reconciliation God is a Trinity of Persons Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who are united in perfect love. In other words, God is a tangle of loving relationships.
No Hard Feelings Yom Kippur Morning Cindy and I recently embarked on a special. trip abroad for a big upcoming anniversary.
No Hard Feelings Yom Kippur Morning 2018 Cindy and I recently embarked on a special trip abroad for a big upcoming anniversary. We wanted it to be something unique and memorable. We planned it carefully,
Life Together Romans 13:8-14 Crossroads Christian Church Matthew 18:15-20 Sep. 7, 2014 Pentecost13A
Life Together Romans 13:8-14 Crossroads Christian Church Matthew 18:15-20 Sep. 7, 2014 Pentecost13A The title of my sermon today, Life Together, comes from a book by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Bonhoeffer was
Prayer. Erev RH Thank you for the baby brother but what I really wanted. If we come back as something, please don t let me be
Prayer Erev RH 5777 Dear God, Thank you for the baby brother but what I really wanted was a puppy. Dear God, If we come back as something, please don t let me be Jennifer Horton because I hate her. Dear
CERTIFICATION PROGRAM. Princess
CERTIFICATION PROGRAM Princess of God Forgiveness THEEraser Princess of God CERTIFICATION PROGRAM CERTIFICATION PROGRAM Etymological origin of forgiveness Etymology: The study of the historical linguistic
Holy Acts, Approaching the Altar, Sacrificing Second Day of Rosh Hashanah 5778 Rabbi Claudia Kreiman
A couple of months ago, TBZ member and lay leader, Tali Walters invited me to meet Reverend Gretchen Grimshaw, Rector at the Episcopal Parish of St. Paul in Newton Highlands. I went to meet her and see
Our Relationships: Seeking Healing, Forgiveness, and Peace Yom Kippur 2009 Rabbi Jay Perlman * Temple Beth Shalom, Needham, MA
Our Relationships: Seeking Healing, Forgiveness, and Peace Yom Kippur 2009 Rabbi Jay Perlman * Temple Beth Shalom, Needham, MA Heavenly perfection: It is an image that has captured the imagination of the
Forgiveness is what you do to your soul when you choose to live in light rather than in darkness 1
For Sins Committed Bein Adam L atzmo: Forgiving Ourselves Yom Kippur 5777 Rabbi Leah Citrin and Rabbi Dusty Klass Temple Beth Or, Raleigh, NC Rabbi Karen Kedar wrote: Forgiveness is a process, a path without
Debbie Homewood: Kerrybrook.ca *
Dealing with Loss: How to Handle the Losses that we Experience Throughout Our Lives. Grief is the pain we experience when there is a LOSS in our lives not just the loss of a loved one, but the loss of
Red Rocks Church. God s Plan for Human Sexuality. Let s be clear from start, God has a perfect design for how we are meant to live.
Red Rocks Church God s Plan for Human Sexuality Let s be clear from start, God has a perfect design for how we are meant to live. Living life God s way is to truly live life to the fullest in a perfect
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Doctrinal Catechesis Session Mary Birmingham Sacrament of Reconciliation Prodigal Son: Rembrandt, Public domain Opening Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy
Take the last six commandments, which have to do with how we relate to people
Welcome: We re spending the first part of our year walking through the Sermon on the Mount the most well known sermon that Jesus preached. You can find it in Matthew 5-7. I told you last week that as we
BIBLE LESSON SUNDAY SCHOOL WORKBOOK DOCTRINE OF ATONEMENT
BIBLE LESSON SUNDAY SCHOOL WORKBOOK DOCTRINE OF ATONEMENT October 9-15, 2006 Prepared by Peggy Koehler for CSDirectory.com Designed for those in Junior High and beyond These lessons are merely suggestions
February GIFT Called To Forgiveness Home Session
February GIFT Called To Forgiveness Home Session Can you think of one movie or book or story that you heard that was about forgiveness? What did you learn from that story? This year we have been spending
Copyright 2001 The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University 29. To Err is Human; To Forgive...? Ephesians 4:25-32
Copyright 2001 The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University 29 To Err is Human; To Forgive...? B Y T H O M A S G. L O N G The New Testament is always calling us to do what we cannot do. No, we
Endorsement This book appeals to me because Don gives biblical wisdom for daily Christian living. He starts with assured salvation through faith in Je
Endorsement This book appeals to me because Don gives biblical wisdom for daily Christian living. He starts with assured salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, and then explains such principles as how
The Day of Atonement. Atonement
The Day of Atonement The Day of Atonement The Day of Atonement is the most solemn of all feast days in Judaism. The Day of Atonement is a day of national and sanctuary cleansing. Leviticus 16 and Leviticus
Diversity Matters at Westmont
Diversity Matters at Westmont Christ holds first place in the educational mission of our college both as an academic institution and as a residential community. The specific expectations of college members
But it didn t take long for us each to figure out what a powerful promise we had extracted from one another.
Called Back A Sermon by the Rev. Molly Housh Gordon Delivered to the UU Church of Columbia September 30, 2012 When James and I got married and joined our names together in the book of life, we promised
Only a tiny portion of Jews participated in worshipping the golden calf. So why does God seem to blame the whole nation? by Rabbi Ken Spiro
2008 Only a tiny portion of Jews participated in worshipping the golden calf. So why does God seem to blame the whole nation? by Rabbi Ken Spiro After 40 days on Mount Sinai, Moses came down with the Ten