Val Brennan brought the morning message focusing on the theme “Be Receptive to God’s Will”. Val broke down the theme into two parts – “be receptive” and “to God’s will”. Val shared concepts from President Veazey’s message “Ways of Discovering God’s Will” from January 2011.
These concepts included using six different lenses to discern God’s will. The lenses include scripture, continuing revelation, tradition, knowledge and reason, personal and community experience, and common consent. Val walked the congregation through the first three and challenged the congregation to watch President Veazey’s message for details on the remaining lenses.
Val shared how “spiritual attention” and “spiritual disciples” can open us to God’s will. By deepening our attention to the Spirit in our lives, we are able to be fully present and aware of God at work. Hearing and responding become second nature when we’re in tune with the “voice” of the Divine in all things.
Matthew 7:7-8
New International Version (NIV)
Ask, Seek, Knock
7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Matthew 7:7-8 promises that if we ask, we will receive. If we knock, the door will be opened to us. If we seek, we will find.
Our prayer today is a portion of the lyrics from “Spirit of the Living God’ by Meredith Andrews:
“Spirit of the Living God
Spirit of the LIving God
Come now and breathe upon our hearts
Come now and have your way
Cause when you speak, when you move
When you do what only you can do
It changes us, it changes
What we see and what we seek.”
Amen
Val is the Lead pastor at Community of Christ Indianapolis. She holds the priesthood office of High Priest. When she isn’t here, she is a principal at Somerset and provides wealth management services.
The High Priests represent Christ primarily as ministers especially through the proclamation and promotion of of ministry through the congregation, mission center, and communities. They lead the sacramental ministries, promote community, promote justice and peace; all while creating nurturing partnerships.