Transformative Love: Nurturing Community Through Contemplation

Devotional

Day 1: Let the Children Come—Embracing Childlike Faith and Belonging

Jesus welcomed children, teaching that the realm of God belongs to those who approach with openness, trust, and humility. In a world that often values achievement and status, this invitation is a radical reminder that everyone—regardless of age or background—is beloved and included. The act of bringing children forward, blessing them, and refusing to hinder their access to Jesus is a call to nurture faith that is curious, honest, and unafraid to ask questions. It is also a challenge to the community to create spaces where all are welcomed and cherished, just as they are. [29:31]

Mark 10:13-16 (ESV)
And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

Reflection: In what ways can you approach God today with the openness and trust of a child, setting aside cynicism or self-sufficiency?

Day 2: Be Still—The Power of Contemplative Prayer

Stillness is not just the absence of noise, but a sacred practice that opens the heart to God’s presence and guidance. In the midst of a noisy, anxious world, making time to be still before God allows us to hear what we truly need, to let go of anger and resentment, and to become more aligned with love and grace. This practice is not about perfection or performance, but about showing up—sometimes for just a few minutes—and allowing God to meet us in the silence. Over time, this stillness becomes an anchor, empowering us to act with justice and compassion in the world. [48:52]

Psalm 37:7-8 (ESV)
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.

Reflection: Set aside a few minutes today to sit in silence—what emotions or thoughts arise, and how might God be inviting you to release them?

Day 3: God’s Love Empowers Change, Not Perfectionism

God’s love is not conditional on our ability to change; rather, it is the very experience of being loved that empowers us to grow and transform. Many have been taught that God will love us if and when we change, but the deeper truth is that we are loved as we are, and this love becomes the engine of real, lasting change. When we root our spiritual practices in this assurance, we find the courage to let go of fear, to tame our egos, and to become more compassionate toward ourselves and others. [53:41]

Romans 5:8 (ESV)
But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Reflection: Where in your life do you feel pressure to “earn” God’s love, and how might you let yourself rest in the truth that you are already beloved?

Day 4: Contemplation and Action—A Faith That Transforms the World

A healthy spiritual life is not just about personal peace or inner calm, but about allowing our inner transformation to ripple outward in acts of justice, mercy, and love. Contemplative practices ground us, helping us to act not from ego or anxiety, but from a deep well of compassion and clarity. When we join contemplation with action, our activism is sustained by grace, and our efforts for justice are rooted in God’s love. This integration is essential for healing both ourselves and the world. [50:38]

Micah 6:8 (ESV)
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Reflection: What is one small act of justice or kindness you can do today that flows from a place of inner stillness and prayer?

Day 5: The Interior Castle—Tending to Your Inner Life

Tending to the “interior castle” of your heart is not a luxury, but a necessity for spiritual growth and collective healing. In a world shaped by tribalism, fear, and division, nurturing your inner life helps you evolve beyond old patterns and become a source of peace and hope for others. This practice is not about escaping the world, but about grounding yourself so you can engage it with wisdom and love. As you invest in your own spiritual well-being, you contribute to the healing and transformation of your community and beyond. [54:15]

Ephesians 3:16-17 (ESV)
That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love…

Reflection: How can you intentionally nurture your inner life this week, and what practices help you become more rooted and grounded in love?

Sermon Summary

Today’s gathering was a celebration of community, belonging, and the deep spiritual work that transforms us from the inside out. We began by honoring the many hands that make our shared life possible, and then welcomed a new child into the family of faith through baptism—a reminder that we are all bound together not by blood, but by water and spirit. The promises made today, both by parents and by the congregation, call us to nurture one another in love, justice, and humility, and to honor the questions and journeys of each person, especially our children.

Reflecting on my own upbringing in a small town shaped by rugged individualism and “bootstrap theology,” I shared how such frameworks often focus on personal salvation and outward achievement, but can neglect the vital work of tending to our inner lives. The Christian tradition, at its best, offers a rich treasury of spiritual practices—especially contemplative prayer—that invite us to move beyond ego, anger, and fear, and to align ourselves with the energy of divine love. This is not about appeasing a distant deity, but about falling into the presence of a God who is love itself, and allowing that love to change us.

Contemplative practice is not a luxury or an escape, but a necessary discipline for our time. In a world marked by noise, division, and the pain of toxic religious expressions, we are called to be still, to listen deeply, and to let go of the anger and resentment that so easily entangle us. This inner work is not separate from our call to justice; rather, it is the wellspring from which our activism and compassion flow. The pairing of contemplation and action is essential—one without the other is incomplete.

We are living in a moment that calls for evolution, not just of our systems, but of our consciousness. Our ancient instincts for tribalism and conformity are being tested by a world that demands openness, courage, and the willingness to see with the eyes of the heart. Prayer and stillness help us break free from old patterns, ground ourselves in love, and become agents of healing and transformation. As we come to the table of communion, we remember that all are welcome, all are fed, and all are called to participate in the ongoing work of love. May we each find time to enter our own “interior castle,” and from that place, help to change the world.

Key Takeaways

1. Belonging Through Water and Spirit Baptism is a powerful sign that our kinship is not defined by bloodlines or boundaries, but by the waters of grace and the promises we make to one another. In welcoming a child, we are reminded that every person’s journey and questions are sacred, and that our community is called to nurture, support, and honor each one as they grow. This belonging is a gift and a responsibility, inviting us to live out love in tangible ways. [29:31]
2. Moving Beyond Individualism to Collective Transformation The myth of rugged individualism and “bootstrap theology” can lead us to focus solely on personal achievement and salvation, neglecting the communal and interior dimensions of faith. True spiritual growth requires us to invest in the well-being of the whole, to show up for others, and to cultivate practices that transform us from within. Our faith is not just about what we do, but about who we are becoming together. [44:23]
3. Contemplative Practice as the Engine of Change Prayer and stillness are not about escaping the world, but about tuning into the deeper reality of divine love that empowers real change. When we make time to be still, to listen, and to let go of anger and ego, we become more aligned with grace and tenderness. This inner work is what enables us to act justly and love mercy in a world that desperately needs both. [47:18]
4. The Interdependence of Contemplation and Action Activism without contemplation can become reactive and empty, while contemplation without action can become self-absorbed. The pairing of the two is essential: we go inward to be renewed and to see with the eyes of our heart, and then we act outwardly from that place of groundedness and love. This rhythm sustains us and helps us resist the pull of tribalism and fear. [50:29]
5. Evolving Together Through Love and Inner Work Our world is at a crossroads, shaped by ancient instincts for conformity and suspicion of difference. Yet, we are invited to evolve—to move beyond tribalism and into a wider, deeper love. The experience of being loved by God as we are is what empowers us to change, both individually and collectively. Tending to our inner lives is not just for ourselves, but for the healing and transformation of the world.

** [53:41]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[19:07] - Gratitude for Volunteers and Community
[28:22] - Children and Family Come Forward
[29:00] - Baptism and Blessing of Water
[29:31] - Promises and Congregational Commitment
[31:37] - Godparent’s Promise and Prayer
[35:28] - Sending Children Out
[40:43] - Centering and Opening Prayer
[41:43] - Reflections on Small Town and Individualism
[44:23] - The Need for Inner Life and Healing
[45:15] - Contemplative Practice and Divine Love
[47:18] - The Power of Prayer and Stillness
[50:29] - Contemplation and Action Together
[51:14] - Evolution, Tribalism, and Consciousness
[53:41] - Love as the Engine of Change
[54:44] - Community Reflection
[57:53] - Sending Forth and Peace
[63:32] - Justice Offering and Generosity
[65:41] - World Communion Sunday
[68:23] - Communion and Invitation
[69:03] - Kinship Through Water
[74:15] - The Lord’s Prayer
[74:44] - Meditation on Breathing and Closing Blessing
[76:49] - Benediction and Farewell

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Mark 10:13-16 (ESV) — > And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

Psalm 37:7-8 (ESV) — > Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.

Observation Questions

In Mark 10:13-16, what was Jesus’ response when the disciples tried to stop the children from coming to him? What does this show about how Jesus viewed children and their place in the community? [29:31]
According to the sermon, what promises did the parents, congregation, and godparent make during the baptism? [31:03]
In Psalm 37:7-8, what are the two main instructions given about how to respond to evil or troubling times? [48:52]
The sermon mentions that baptism is a sign of kinship “not by blood, but by water and spirit.” What does this mean for how we see our church community? [01:09:03]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus insisted that the children be allowed to come to him, and what does it mean to “receive the kingdom of God like a child”? How might this challenge our usual ideas about faith and belonging? [29:31]
The sermon contrasts “rugged individualism” and “bootstrap theology” with a more communal and interior approach to faith. What are some possible dangers of focusing only on personal achievement or salvation? [44:23]
The psalmist says to “be still before the Lord” and “refrain from anger.” According to the sermon, how does contemplative prayer help us actually do this in our daily lives? [49:27]
The pastor said, “Activism without contemplation can become reactive and empty, while contemplation without action can become self-absorbed.” What does it look like to hold both together in real life? [50:29]

Application Questions

The promises made at baptism include nurturing one another in love, justice, and humility. Is there someone in your church family—child or adult—who needs extra support or encouragement right now? What is one practical way you could show up for them this week? [31:03]
The sermon talked about “tending to our inner lives” as a way to break free from anger, ego, and fear. What is one small step you could take to start or deepen a practice of stillness or prayer in your own life? [49:27]
The pastor shared about growing up with a focus on “doing good for the whole” but missing out on the inner life. Which side do you tend to lean toward—action or contemplation? How could you bring more balance? [44:23]
The idea of “belonging through water and spirit” means our community is not just about family ties or background. Have you ever felt like an outsider in church or another group? What helped you feel more included, or what could have helped? [01:09:03]
The sermon said, “Prayer is a practice that allows us to change with time, becoming more aligned with love and grace and tenderness.” Is there a specific area in your life where you need to let go of anger or resentment? What would it look like to bring that into prayer or stillness this week? [47:18]
The pastor mentioned that our world is at a crossroads, and that “tending to our inner lives is not just for ourselves, but for the healing and transformation of the world.” How might your own spiritual growth ripple out to impact others around you? [53:41]
The sermon invited everyone to “enter your own ‘interior castle.’” What does that phrase mean to you, and what is one thing you could do this week to spend time in your “interior castle”? [54:15]

Sermon Clips

The truth underneath this story of outward ruggedness is actually the hard living of farming and ranching in rural life. It's blanketed in the theology of a God who would reward some and not others, a faith that seeks to please a divine presence. In this framework, Jesus is a judge, and the focus of the Christian life is doing all right to appease this God. It's a paradigm where we arrive here as sinners and then must spend the rest of our lives making up for it. [00:42:47]

But because of my mom, I soaked up a lot of about doing good for the whole the part about showing up for others, being a part of a group and spiritual community and showing up for the world. She taught me well. The part about investing in the spiritual over the material. But what was Almost entirely missing from this secular cultural bootstrap theology and from the UCC church that I grew up in was tending to the inner life as we heard from the mystic Teresa of Avila spending time in our interior castle. [00:44:12]

And part of why this feels extremely important right now is that some of the pain we are living with is from a kind of Christianity that has failed to tame the ego that we humans have. It is an expression that is angry and wants to dominate and control. It believes that God wants this too. And this makes sense if God is a deity that desires our offerings. But if God is an energy of love, then prayer is a way to tune into this love, to hear beyond the noise, to feel what we need to feel, and to notice what needs our attention. [00:45:03]

It wasn't until our daughter was little and I was thick into the impossible and gut wrenching work of planting a new church that I fell so far down that the only thing I could do was just let it happen and to flop and to find the bottom and to feel instead that there was something holding me and that something told me to go inside. That in spite of what I was being hearing in then the so called Silicon Valley, the answer was not to do more, but to do less. [00:46:17]

The answer was to be still long enough to hear something that can only be heard in the silence. The answer was not to find a way to pay thousands to go to a retreat, which Boulder is all about too, but to instead make a habit of sitting in, in that case, the ugly garage chair for longer than 10 minutes. And it turned out that that chair helped me change everything. [00:46:49]

Because that's the thing. Prayer is a practice that allows us to change with time, becoming more aligned with love and grace and tenderness. I see prayer not as a petition to the higher power, although sometimes we do pray that way, but rather in the bigger sense. It's making time to go inward, giving commitment to the interior castle that is our heart. [00:47:16]

It's falling into the invisible presence of the great mystery and then building little muscles. This is how I see it. To see the world with the eyes of our heart, to see things clearly. It's a regular occurrence that within that context of deep contemplative practice, that I have been able to have realizations or hear a new perspective or let go of something I was holding. [00:47:41]

It's these practices over time that have led me to be able to be less angry, to let go of resentments, to be freed from things I cannot fix, and to feel empowered to change the parts of myself that aren't serving me. But all of this requires practice, both alone and together in a group, here as a church, the living body, here and now. [00:48:08]

So I interpret the psalm for today to mean, be still before the universe long enough to hear what we need to. I kind of laughed when I read this, as this psalm was assigned in the lectionary. And I don't know about you, but I've been doing a lot of fretting for the wicked. And it tells us at the end to refrain from anger and forsake wrath. At least in my experience, I need to do a lot of prayer to be able to do that. [00:48:32]

I have a most everyday practice of setting the timer on my device and closing my eyes and sitting there. This is the baseline. Sometimes I build on that with a fragment of scripture or a poem if my mind is racing and I need an anchor. But, you know, after doing this for years now in connection with my doing, I can tell you it has guaranteed results. [00:49:10]

This is actually a way to be able to refrain from anger and forsake wrath. I promise. It's a practice that allows a sacred container to see where we are being led by our egos. It's a place to leave our fear behind. For me, I do it for 13 minutes, but maybe you want to start with three and work your way up. And some days I do longer, but that's my minimum. [00:49:35]

And for me, it's an anchor for my activism. It's from that deep spiritual well that I seek to join God in doing justice in the world. Boulder is one of those towns that loves to talk about meditation of all kinds. Oh, Boulder loves meditation. But the inner life extracted from an ethic of justice is empty. For me. The activism and the contemplation are a pair. They go together. [00:50:01]

We act. We go inside. We go inside. To act outwardly from a place of justice. My opinion is that part of the reason we are in this painful place. Is there a kind of Christianity that is hyper focused on personal salvation, leaving out all the work of internal transformation? [00:50:35]

But Jesus invites us to hear his words of good news to the poor, liberation to all in bondage, to see with the eyes of our heart the heaven that is here now. He beckons us to come sit with ourselves. Silence. And here's why I'm talking about this. Part of what we're facing is evolution. This is a moment of rising consciousness. How shall we evolve? [00:50:57]

Because our brains are wired for tribal survival, we'll always choose the strong lie over the complicated truth. People are trapped in a feedback loop that exploits the very instincts evolution gave us to survive. I think prayer will help us evolve, knowing not everyone will do it, but enough of us do. Tending to our inner lives, grounding ourselves in something deeper. It will help us get unstuck and get through. [00:52:23]

I invite you, if you don't already, to start today to claim a contemplative practice of some kind. It does not need to be complicated. Turn off your screens and turn in. Being still is one of the most important things we can do right now, especially with all of this noise. [00:52:56]

Fall into the greater love the God beyond our naming in silence to hear beyond all that is spoken from any that we humans have created. [00:53:18]

Part of how we can tame the raging egos of this hour, my friends, is for all of us to up our game, tending to our inner lives. I believe this will help us evolve collectively, I really do. It will ripple out. What if that can help change the world? [00:53:54]

What are the fruits of a faith that is rooted in both contemplation and action? What does a Christianity devoted to a healthy and inner outer life look like? [00:54:34]

Beloved of God, may you go inside to your interior castle. Peace be with you. Amen. [00:57:26]

I'm convinced part of what he was saying was we now have a blessing of water. Before that, the kinship was blood. Now it's water. We are all siblings together, where we all belong. [01:08:57]

Beloved of God, keep deep breathing. Let's take a deep breath right now. Turn it off and go inside. You will find peace. God be with you. Till we meet again. [01:16:41]

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