Original Belovedness

Seattle Mennonite Church Sermons

We start a new Narrative Lectionary year at a very good place to start: In the beginning… We begin with the genesis of all things, and it doesn’t take long for everything to devolve into deception, messing up, shame, hiding from God, and scapegoating. If our ancient Hebrew forebears in the faith told this story because they - like us - knew their overwhelming capacity to screw up royally, then I think it’s telling to back up a few steps and see how they START that story. Despite what some may have you believe, their story (and ours) does not originate with sin, but with the tender shaping of soil, the intimate breathing of life, and holy belovedness.

Sermon begins at minute marker 6:22
​​​​Genesis 2.4b-7, 15-17; 3.1-8
Resources

• BibleWorm podcast: Episode 601 – The Knowledge of Good and Evil, Amy Robertson and Robert Williamson, Jr
• Wikipedia article on the doctrine of “Original Sin” and Augustine’s shaping of it.
• “Beloved Is Where We Begin,” blessing by Jan Richardson, also published in her book, Circle of Grace.
• Image: Photo by Quino Al on Unsplash
• Hymn: 531 Holy Presence, Holy Teacher. Text: Shirley Erena Murray (Aotearoa New Zealand), alt., © 2008 Hope Publishing Co. Music: C. Hubert H. Parry (England), 1897. Permission to podcast the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, license #A-726929. All rights reserved.