Dance! Dance!
Text of Reflection given by Guest Worship Leader, Pat Edmonds, on July 15, 2018 based on 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19
Last November we invited our two granddaughters, 7 and 12, to vacation with us in the Dominican Republic. They had never been to a tropical resort so there were many new sights and sounds to experience. We had chosen a particular resort because it was family-friendly and had a good program for children. In addition to the beach and swimming pools, every evening there was an outdoor stage show geared for children. My younger granddaughter particularly enjoyed sitting with me in the evening for this show. Prior to the performance some young children would climb up on the stage and do an impromptu dance or song or just enjoy the freedom of clowning around on a stage. The last night, Deirdre, without a word to me, suddenly got up from our table, ran to the stage and performed an amazing solo dance of several minutes to the Latin music that was playing – much to the delight of everyone there. Then just as suddenly she stopped, ran back to the table, sat down, covered her face with her hands in embarrassment and declared, “Nana, I can’t believe I just did that!” Apparently she had been so overcome with joy that she could not help but express her emotions by dancing with great abandonment. For me it was a truly magical moment.
Dancing is a universal act across the world and has been since time began. People dance to express emotions, to entertain, to educate, to attract other people or to bring good fortune such as in the rain dance. Dances for centuries have been connected with religion and worship. Dancing has always been an important expression of joy, a beautiful form of communication.
In today’s Old Testament lesson we encounter an intense and vivid celebration, a spontaneous expression of great joy. King David marks his kingship and victory over the Philistines by bringing the Ark of the Covenant, which was captured by the Philistines when they defeated Israel in battle, back to Jerusalem. The ark was seen as the as the embodiment of the presence of God among the people. It was said to lead the Israelites across the Jordan River into the Promised Land. It was seen as a unifying presence for the people. This ark symbolizes for the people of Israel their covenant with God and God’s presence among them. It is a great cause for celebration that the Ark is being brought to a new permanent home in Jerusalem.
As the Ark moves along the parade route there is much rejoicing. Thirty thousand people vigorously dance before the Lord, using all manner of musical and percussion instruments. It is a picture of wild enthusiasm and celebration. Finally the ark is brought to the city of David to a special tent. Here the celebration also involves ritual sacrifice of animals and David, the king, dances before the ark wearing, not his royal robes, but a priestly garment, the linen ephod, associated with the priestly activity of offering sacrifices. The celebration here also includes blessings and the distribution of food to the people. David recognizes God’s blessing on him, his kingship and the people of Israel and he responds with celebration, dancing, ritual sacrifices and food.
David and the people dance because, after a long journey, the Ark representing God’s presence has come back home to Jerusalem. David dances to celebrate having achieved the task God had placed on his life. That is, to be King of Israel and to bring God back to Israel. David dances to honour God. He knows he has not become king because of his great abilities but because of God. David dances to teach the rest of Israel the importance of honoring and serving God through the trials of life. David dances because he has joy overflowing from his heart. He wants to express his gratitude to the Lord for this great moment of praise – definitely a time for dancing!
As I have sat through countless meetings in the past year and listened as others have expressed much angst and bemoaned the whole idea of change and the sweeping changes to come in the UCC, I have asked myself is this not also a time for dancing? I see in this denomination of ours much to celebrate, much to dance about. I want to dance when I know that our leaders and members have spent much time in discernment and prayer about how this church can better be the hands and feet of Christ in the world. We have come to the realization that we cannot continue as we have in the past: that the millions of dollars spent on holding meetings at four levels of governance and transporting people to them can be better spent; that the real work of the church happens close to home in our congregations and local communities: that these local communities of faith can accomplish greater things by working in clusters and networks than they can on their own; that restructuring allows room for creativity as we begin new programs and ways of being church.
Secondly we should feel like dancing when we experience the events and activities that are encouraging all of us to become better educated in order to live out the principles of Truth and Reconciliation; that the story of the residential schools is now part of the Canadian history curriculum; that more secondary schools, colleges and universities are offering courses of study about indigenous peoples; that these courses have been developed in consultation with our indigenous brothers and sisters.
Thirdly I feel like dancing when I visit a church that is totally accessible, where all can safely access the sanctuary for worship and other areas for fellowship; that our denomination has made accessibility a priority and has made funds available to assist with these projects.
We should all dance in celebration with all the LGBTQ people who are welcomed into our church at all levels; that conferences, presbyteries and congregations have declared that they are affirming; that all are welcome in our denomination.
Knowing there are thousands of dedicated volunteers across our denomination caring for one another, teaching Sunday School, nurturing the youth, enhancing worship with their musical gifts, visiting the shut-in’s and countless other wonderful supportive things church people do should have all of us dancing with joy in the aisles and the streets.
Every time I work on the Toronto Conference Interview Committee and meet the students who are willing and able to offer their God-given gifts for ministry in our denomination I want to dance. Meeting these enthusiastic faith-filled individuals is one of the highlights of my faith journey.
When we learn of the amazing variety of projects and activities supported by our donations to the Mission and Service Fund we should all dance alongside the recipients of our generosity. Lives are changed for them and for us.
Whenever I meet with UCW members and realize that in the past year women across Canada donated more than 1 million dollars to M &S, that in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of UCW more than $260 000 was raised to train midwives in Africa, I want to dance with thanks and praise.
Most important I feel like dancing because I know through all of these changes, all of these ways of being church, God is with us. God is leading as we learn the new dance steps needed to be successful disciples in this 21st century. We all know in any dance there can be only one leader. If each partner tries to lead chaos can result. We need to let go and let God set the rhythm and the beat. In order to succeed as modern day disciples as we live through the upcoming changes, we must pay close attention to the instructions in God’s dance manual, the Bible.
It is important that others see our dance – that we dance to give praise and thanksgiving – that we dance with our heart, mind and soul as well as our bodies. Dancers need to be flexible, not rigid and dogmatic. They need to be strong in their faith in order to communicate the message of joy and celebration that a life in tune with God can bring.
I know some of you are sitting here thinking “My dancing days are over”. I can no longer cut the rug as I used to. But let me share with you the fact that not only have I not been gifted with an ability to sing but my sense of rhythm is terrible. I hear the beat in my head but it doesn’t translate to my feet. Fortunately when I was a teenager my future husband played in a dance band so I was able to sit, listen and enjoy the music without embarrassing myself or him on the dance floor very often. However this has not prevented me from dancing with my heart and soul when the occasion arises. I often dance in my head. My arms and body sway with the music even in church. To be a graceful, beautiful, athletic dancer would be amazing. But that is not to be for me and many of us. However this fact does not prevent us from being a healthy, spiritual dancer for God. We can all dance with joy even if we have limited mobility or lack rhythm.
I still recall participating in Renovations 2000, a United Church event at a large downtown church in Toronto. The lively hymn “Go Make a Difference” had just been published and most of us were hearing it for the first time. Spontaneously the entire sanctuary of participants rose to our feet, danced in the aisle, out the door and down the broad steps of this large church, carried on across the street and into Allan Gardens. I am sure the residents of the neighborhood were amazed and wondered what on earth was happening. But we were so filled with the spirit we danced our joy for the world to see.
“Dance then wherever you may be.I am the Lord of the dance, said he!”