Outdoor Services & the Chance of Rain

 [God] makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.

                    Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount -- Matthew 5:45 NRSVue

 For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”

                           Matthew 18:20 NRSVue

Jesus went up on a mountain or onto a plain, depending on the gospel you consult, to offer challenging wisdom on what it means to live in the radical reign of God. Notice I said reign rather than rain, although Jesus did suggest that precipitation shows no favourites, a pithy illustration for people gathered outdoors -- no sheltering church building, no pews.

We are in Algonquin Park this morning and I will be leading worship outdoors as part of the Cathedral of the Trees summer ministry of the United Church. This ministry has been in existence for decades, developed a major speed wobble, then revived -- only to have to shut down for two years because of the pandemic. We have a roster of worship leaders who stay in the park for a week at a time, leading the service on the Sunday. 

Since last Monday I've been watching the forecast which calls for rain this morning -- does that make me wicked, and not in a good way? We'll go to the outdoor theatre and figure out what to do regardless of who shows up. Our theme this year is renewal and we'll celebrate the presence of the Creator in some way, even if we are "two or three gathered together" -- also Jesus. 

Hey, for all my peering at the Weather Network this week, I have no control over the weather. Rain is actually important for every living thing -- for renewal. I would prefer that we don't have a deluge, although we do have our kayaks with us, and we will have our "Algonquin incense" (bug spray) at the ready.  

Could you pour down some prayers for us this morning?