The Weekly Word

January 13, 2023



West Suffield
Congregational Church, UCC

Join us Sundays at 10:00am
for
Worship, Sunday School and Fellowship

Bernie Krause has made his living recording nature sounds from wild habitats. In the late 60s, he used to be able to walk into nature and record for ten hours in order to get an hour of pure sound. Now it can take him up to 10,000 hours for the same 1 hour of nature sounds. 50% of his sounds have changed because of habitat changes. I strongly recommend listening to his TED Talk, although it may break your heart.

Silence is a commodity we no longer have. There are always motorcycles and cars, airplanes and machines running in the background. It has been pointed out to me that the Church used to have a moment of silence prior to the pastoral prayer. I should have paid more attention. I will try to remember to give you all that moment in future services. 

Now I know it won’t be perfect, we have noise coming in from outside, but I hope it still gives you a moment of peace and centering. I am glad that this got pointed out, it will help me center, too. 

My favorite phrase as a child was “the still, small voice.” I think I like it because it makes God not scary. Even as a small child, I recognized that that was where and how I could hear God’s voice, not as a roar or movement, but in the stillness. God would not be loud, but instead move me with nudges and gentleness. How do you hear God’s voice, in the happy mayhem of children playing, in a favorite piece of music, or in the sounds of nature? I guess the trick is that the person listening has to be aware and quiet themselves in order for one to hear the other. So, listen, be calm, see what you hear, God will be in it; I promise.

Love, Denise