Tomorrow I preach at church. First, come the readings I chose and then my sermon. The sermon's title is "Namaste."
- Elder Picard

Romans 15 1:7
Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "the reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me." For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.

From an article written by Nitin Kumar
The word nama [the first of 2 words in Namaste] is split into two: na and ma. Na signifies negation and ma represents mine. The meaning would then be 'not mine'. The import being that the individual soul belongs entirely to the Supreme soul, which is identified as residing in the individual towards whom the namaste is directed. Indeed there is nothing that the soul can claim as its own. Namaste is thus the necessary rejection of "I" and the associated phenomena of egotism. It is said that 'ma' in nama means death (spiritual), and when this is negated (na-ma), it signifies immortality.

* * * * * * *

Namaste.
When Buddhists or Hindus greet each other with that word and gesture, they are saying:
"The Divinity within me perceives and adores the Divinity within you."
Or
"I salute the God within you."
Or even
"I honor the place in you in which the entire Universe dwells, I honor the place in you which is of Love, of Integrity, of Wisdom and of Peace. When you are in that place in you, and I am in that place in me, we are One.”
When Reverend Cari sends you an email, her signature contains this sentence:
“There is nothing more sacred than to recognize the face of God and to honor the presence of God in yourself and in others.”

So, Namaste.

I’d like to take some time to talk about my work on the PNC. Please don’t expect any big announcements regarding results, by the way. We’re coming along as well as we should. And that’s fine. That’s all I’m going to say. However, if you have any questions, please feel more than welcome to submit them to the PNC via the PNC Box in the Narthex. We’ve provided lined 3x5 cards and golf pencils. Ask and you shall receive.

Instead, I’d like to talk about the current state of the committee: the members of the PNC. (Please stand up when I say your name.) Ardythe Williams, Uda Bradford, Dick Turmail, Keren Murumba, Chester Lee, Ellen Oler, Mario Adorno and myself.

One thing that I can say about myself that I know can be said of all the PNC is that I know each of these individuals a lot more than I did a year ago. Ardythe, I wouldn’t have known who you were talking about if you had mentioned her name to me a year ago. Now, we’re Netflix Buddies. She rated “I Think I Love My Wife” only 1 star. Chris Rock in a 1-star movie? I don’t think so! Ardythe chairs the PNC with me and is my perfect cohort. If she’s the paper, I’m the glue; if I’m the right brain, she’s the left. We usually agree and often compliment each other’s choices and decisions. Lately, she’s also been picking up my slack and I’m extremely grateful.

Dick Turmail has a beautiful home (with Dotti) and an antique tool collection. He played Mr. Goodwrench on television and when he leads us in prayer, I hear the Stage Manager character from the play, “Our Town.” (Though he has some spiritual convictions that are on the edge of the theological charts.) He’s smart, wise and convincing and also very able to see another’s point of view. He’s also very funny and tells a story better than almost anyone I know.

Now, Uda, I’ve known from the choir for some years now. Uda was a Social Worker. She’s always been the quiet one (and I’ve used that quality as a reason to lovingly pick on her); now I know she has strong and thoroughly thought-out opinions and will convincingly express them when she sees fit. She’s Jamaican by birth, you know, though I never would have guessed from speaking with her.

Keren has many opinions, but keeps them to herself and metes them out only when necessary. She does what she has to do when she has to do it and does it thoroughly. For instance, Keren is our Prayer Meister and will quietly mention it from her place on the couch when we begin or end a meeting without prayer or from a prayerful perspective. She is extremely reflective and speaks her mind with only the words necessary.

Chester Lee is a puzzle to me. Often when I anticipate his opinion he states the opposite of my guess. He’s a by-the-book guy (though sometimes I’m not sure which book) and is not easily swayed by opinions and argument. He can be very serious and yet, has an odd, zany side that I find outrageous and entertaining. Chester is very dependable and computer savvy. He recently raised a ton of money for Chinese elderly in a walk from Cadman Plaza to Chinatown.

Ellen Oler has a huge coffee cup. It’s always on the side table next to her chair in the Thurman Study. Ellen and I will often share opinions, though we part occasionally at interesting times. I personally use Ellen’s different opinion as a way to look at my own opinions and the thought behind them. Ellen will not commit to something that she’s not entirely sure she will accomplish and complete.

Mario and I usually sit on opposite sides of the church on Sundays. I remember him from when I first joined the choir in 2000 because he was one of the two Amening in the congregation. Mario has a strong spiritual leaning and at-the-ready tears. And a great, white tractor trailer that he drives hundreds of miles every week. Mario’s work as a truck driver must reflect his love for the road because since we started with the PNC, his most often repeated phrase is “road trip.”

These are just my opinions and observations. We on the PNC are going through a process. And it’s a process that is requiring us to reach deep. To venture into those deep waters that Pastor Paul has spoken about so often.

Before any member of the PNC decided to volunteer to do this work, we were told how long it will take and how difficult it will be. And we accepted this responsibility pretty much with that as the only recommendation. We weren’t told what it would be like to listen to and read about pastors’ spiritual journeys (some of the most beautiful stories I’ve ever heard). To listen to answers to difficult questions, both given from the heart. To meet, usually every week and listen to each other speak passionately about who we want to lead us. To express strongly held opinions and listen to others’ strongly held opinions as neutrally as possible and learn from the differences. To share a meal every now and then and share details of our lives with each other. And to pray and to pray and to pray.

We pray for our process. We pray for God’s guidance. We pray for discernment. We pray for stamina. We pray for each other. We pray for our church. We pray for those who are being called to apply for a position at our church.

The PNC Experience is more than I’m relating to you and it’s not all pleasant. We each have our moments of weakness and doubt and frustration. We disagree. And we keep some thoughts to ourselves. And that’s probably good. But, we’re doing it together. And we’re doing it with love for each other, love for First Presbyterian Church and love for God.

It’s not always that easy to greet the God within. For instance, a couple of weeks ago, my partner, Sam and I went to a vegan health spa in Florida. The weather was just fine, thank you, and the food was really good. Anyway, we met and shared stories and journeys with about a half-dozen others (women) over meals, on the beach, during exercise classes, and so on. On about the third day, while we were enjoying one of our after-lunch conversations, laughing and having a great time, some new comers who took their place across the small dining room shushed us. I don’t respond well to being shushed. I think shushing has to be much more annoying than whatever is being shushed. I’ve thought this way for many years and have yet to really come up with a good way – a “Christian” way – of dealing with it, and so I usually just take their hint (as strongly as I resent it) and quiet down. The best that I can do at this point is to not lash out at them or behave in a way that is equally offensive. I’m not saying that this is the best approach, but at this point in my life, it’s the best I can do to honor the God within the shusher. It’s not the ultimate answer, but I’m just a sinner and, as one of my Spiritual Advisor’s told me recently, “that’s why we go to church at least once a week.” I do my best to carry what I learn and experience in church into the rest of my life outside of church.

And, speaking for myself, my Pastor Nominating Committee church-work is one of the most profoundly spiritual experiences I’ve ever had. God is, surely, in every one of our meetings. Also, in each of us as we go through this process. Because, as we go through this process, to the best of our abilities, we greet God in each other. All that is best and highest in Ardythe greets all that is best and highest in Dick. All that is best and highest in Dick greets all that is best and highest in Uda. All that is best and highest in Uda greets all that is best and highest in Chester. All that is best and highest in Chester greets all that is best and highest in Ellen. All that is best and highest in Ellen greets all that is best and highest in Mario and all that is best and highest in Mario greets all that is best and highest in me.

I believe that God is present in all that we do in church, not just on Sundays. God is present at the Fellowship Hour, in the Narthex as you enter, in the nursery, in the Sunday school, at the 10 o’clock hour, in the Choir, in the Social Action Committee, in the Women’s and Men’s groups, in preparing for Communion, collecting and counting the Offering, in our Office, in the broom closet, in the garden.

God is in each and every one of us. And I believe the more we enter into a relationship with each other, greeting the Divine within each of us, the more we’ll be able to experience the Divine in ourselves.

There’s that cliché about judging a book by its cover. Well, in some ways, involving oneself in church only on Sundays is like reading the flyleaf of a book. (It’s more than that of course, but let’s just keep with this thought for another minute.) When I was asked to become an Elder, I was frightened. I was afraid of seeing the dark underbelly of First Presbyterian Church. I was afraid of being part of those workings of the church in which the “goodness and light” aren’t immediate apparent. But I did it anyway. I became an Elder and joined Session for what I believe was a deeper experience of who we are as a church community. And I was right. The more I work with people in the church the more it becomes my home. The more I keep my home clean and flourishing, the better I feel about myself, about church and about my relationship with God. And when problems arise or disagreements occur, we deal with them as best we can with God’s help and greet all that is best and highest in each other. The more I greet all that is best and highest in others, the more I become aware of all that is best and highest in myself. I find that when God’s light shines from me, it reflects others’ light.

And I feel God’s blessings on our community. As Paul says in his letter to the Romans, “the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grants us to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord we may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

By seeing God in others and glorifying that God, no matter what work or play we have before us, the more blessed the work becomes.

What easier place to practice sharing God’s light, than in church? At Fellowship Hour, in the Narthex as you enter, in the nursery, in Sunday school, at the 10 o’clock hour, in the Choir, in a Social Action Committee meeting, in the Women’s and Men’s groups, in preparing for Communion, in collecting and counting the Offering, in the Church Office, in the garden.

And what better way to live it than every day, with everyone, everywhere?

Namaste and Amen.