June 1, 2025: The Sacred in the Seed
Matthew 13: 31-32
Rev. Dr. Leslie Taylor, preaching
June will be a busy month for us at the church! On June 1, we will celebrate Bowen Tang's high school graduation! Bowen was the Valedictorian of his high school class. We will also celebrate the graduation of our own Dr. Heather Raymond, DVM! AND we will Commission Audrey Barton as a Community Chaplain! WOW! What a packed service!
I'll share a short message on the Parable of the Mustard Seed. Parables are stories used to teach lessons, usually about morals or spirituality. Jesus often used parables in the gospels to make complex ideas more relatable and understandable. In this parable, Jesus is inviting us to recognize there may be more to pay attention to than what one thinks from things seemingly small and ordinary, valuing what feels small or easy to overlook.
There's something interesting about asking ourselves who and what we might overlook in our communities because they don't seem that significant. Think about how society treats the children and elders around us. Their contributions are just as important. Seeing the sacred in the small stuff pushes us to remember that there's always potential, always something to learn, and always something to notice in everything. This mindset helps us celebrate and value those who are often unnoticed in our society.
The text also nudges us to ask, "What are we missing when we don't approach things with curiosity?" When we read the Bible, we should ask questions, both about the people in the stories and those around them. Imagine the uncertainty they felt knowing they had to nurture this tiny, different religion with care, curiosity, and faith. It makes us wonder what could happen if we were curious and generous with our belief in each other's gifts. What if we truly believed in the potential of everyone in our community?
When we recognize the gifts within this congregation, we have an opportunity to participate in God's Big Dream for our congregation. Remember, no gift is too small and no dream is too big.
Music this week:
Every Day
The Lord is Gracious and Compassionate
Protector of My Soul
Seek Ye First
Dream Small
Seed, Scattered and Sown