Here's an excerpt of Father Jim Nutter's address to the folks who had arrived from Louisiana after Hurrican Katrina. He also spoke later in another sermon about the efforts of the congregation and their feeding ministry in the aftermath. If you'd like to read more on this and/or the other sermon Father Nutter gave, feel free to email me at hawkgirl327@yahoo.com.
Namaste,
Lydia Almost eleven years ago I stood here for the first time and said that my dream, desire and hope would be that Palmer [Church in Houston, Texas] would be a sanctuary for all of God’s children. Sanctuaries are places of solace and rest, support. Sanctuaries are places where you can fill up. We get empty, don’t we? And fill in where we can heal and be held. Sanctuaries give us the strength to face into the storms both within and without. Sanctuaries are safe harbors for our souls. This image of sanctuary is very real to us here at Palmer. It’s tangible. And on this day and the days ahead we offer sanctuary to you.
I’ve talked a little bit about what we will do and what we will offer. I would now like to talk about what we won’t do and what we won’t offer. Some of you, including many of us here at Palmer, are probably asking, “Why? Why God? Why do things happen like this?”
I don’t know. I sometimes wish that I did know or at least I think I wish I knew, but I don’t.
And you will not hear me nor will you hear anyone else who’s privileged to preach in this place lean into the “Why?” questions. “Why do hurricanes happen, why do children get cancer, why do good people die young?” We’re not going to do that. We’re not going to do what we cannot do. Some things are just a mystery to us. You can add it to your list like I’ve got a long list, when I see God face to face, “Here’s my list.”
I want to be really clear and really adamant about that because there will be... there are some people right now in God’s name, ho, ho, ho...are doing the “Why” question and who are saying terrible things in God’s name. It’s one of those moments where I want a thunderbolt, “Oh Lord, just singe a couple of these pulpits here today.” (laughter) It’s not worthy but there it is.
When Hurricane Hugo happened, there were some creatures who resorted, “Well, this hurricane happened because of our litany, our wickedness, and they’re paying it out.” Here’s the picture. God looks at the human endeavor and says, “Oh. Hmm. Send a hurricane, that’ll wake them up.”
What kind of theology is that?
Mean, stupid. For starters. Such theology is pinched, it insults God. And it abuses God’s people. We’re just going to have to live with this question. And again I want to be so clear about that you’re not going to hear a whiff of the “Why”
because we don’t know. And it’s better just to be honest.
Do we sin? Of course we do. This Is no revelation, right? We mess up, do terrible things, but this is, this is not about a wake up call. So don’t go there.
You also will not receive from this, from this congregation or any of our reflections a social commentary about the looters. I’ve already heard, you know, “Because of what’s happening there, because it’s a war zone, we ought not to help.” Don’t go there. Is it terrible? Of course it is. Do we need to face into it? Of course we do.
But now is not the time to play the blame and shame game in the name of God.
Is there anybody here who can understand that kind of deprivation? I don’t think so. We need to make a distinction between those who are carrying off water and diapers and food from those who are carrying off guns and plasma TVs. But again, if you were there, if you had a young family, if you needed help, what would you do? So we’re not going to pursue that here. There’ll be time later to reflect upon our society.
We are also not going to say any disparaging remarks about the President, about the governors, about the mayors, about the Air National Guard, or about anyone or anybody who is facing into this crisis. Are we all flat-footed? Just about. But we’re not going to join the virus of the talking heads. Not until they get out of their tv studios and enter the streets will we pay attention.
And now is the time to join with those who are opening up their homes, their hearts, their hands to make a difference. And that’s where our energies are going to go. To save lives and to rebuild communities. So there’s not going to be any talking head virus going on ‘round here. I want to be clear. (laughter)
Follow us on Twitter
Be a Fan on Facebook
Here's an excerpt of Father Jim Nutter's address to the folks who had arrived from Louisiana after Hurrican Katrina. He also spoke later in another sermon about the efforts of the congregation and their feeding ministry in the aftermath. If you'd like to read more on this and/or the other sermon Father Nutter gave, feel free to email me at hawkgirl327@yahoo.com.
Namaste,
Lydia
Almost eleven years ago I stood here for the first time and said that my dream, desire and hope would be that Palmer [Church in Houston, Texas] would be a sanctuary for all of God’s children. Sanctuaries are places of solace and rest, support. Sanctuaries are places where you can fill up. We get empty, don’t we? And fill in where we can heal and be held. Sanctuaries give us the strength to face into the storms both within and without. Sanctuaries are safe harbors for our souls. This image of sanctuary is very real to us here at Palmer. It’s tangible. And on this day and the days ahead we offer sanctuary to you.
I’ve talked a little bit about what we will do and what we will offer. I would now like to talk about what we won’t do and what we won’t offer. Some of you, including many of us here at Palmer, are probably asking, “Why? Why God? Why do things happen like this?”
I don’t know. I sometimes wish that I did know or at least I think I wish I knew, but I don’t.
And you will not hear me nor will you hear anyone else who’s privileged to preach in this place lean into the “Why?” questions. “Why do hurricanes happen, why do children get cancer, why do good people die young?” We’re not going to do that. We’re not going to do what we cannot do. Some things are just a mystery to us. You can add it to your list like I’ve got a long list, when I see God face to face, “Here’s my list.”
I want to be really clear and really adamant about that because there will be... there are some people right now in God’s name, ho, ho, ho...are doing the “Why” question and who are saying terrible things in God’s name. It’s one of those moments where I want a thunderbolt, “Oh Lord, just singe a couple of these pulpits here today.” (laughter) It’s not worthy but there it is.
When Hurricane Hugo happened, there were some creatures who resorted, “Well, this hurricane happened because of our litany, our wickedness, and they’re paying it out.” Here’s the picture. God looks at the human endeavor and says, “Oh. Hmm. Send a hurricane, that’ll wake them up.”
What kind of theology is that?
Mean, stupid. For starters. Such theology is pinched, it insults God. And it abuses God’s people. We’re just going to have to live with this question. And again I want to be so clear about that you’re not going to hear a whiff of the “Why” because we don’t know. And it’s better just to be honest.
Do we sin? Of course we do. This Is no revelation, right? We mess up, do terrible things, but this is, this is not about a wake up call. So don’t go there.
You also will not receive from this, from this congregation or any of our reflections a social commentary about the looters. I’ve already heard, you know, “Because of what’s happening there, because it’s a war zone, we ought not to help.” Don’t go there. Is it terrible? Of course it is. Do we need to face into it? Of course we do.
But now is not the time to play the blame and shame game in the name of God.
Is there anybody here who can understand that kind of deprivation? I don’t think so. We need to make a distinction between those who are carrying off water and diapers and food from those who are carrying off guns and plasma TVs. But again, if you were there, if you had a young family, if you needed help, what would you do? So we’re not going to pursue that here. There’ll be time later to reflect upon our society.
We are also not going to say any disparaging remarks about the President, about the governors, about the mayors, about the Air National Guard, or about anyone or anybody who is facing into this crisis. Are we all flat-footed? Just about. But we’re not going to join the virus of the talking heads. Not until they get out of their tv studios and enter the streets will we pay attention.
And now is the time to join with those who are opening up their homes, their hearts, their hands to make a difference. And that’s where our energies are going to go. To save lives and to rebuild communities. So there’s not going to be any talking head virus going on ‘round here. I want to be clear. (laughter)