SUNDAY, MARCH 10 2024 - PIE DAY
March 10, 2014
Deborah Laforet
Messed Up!
Let us pray. May the words from my lips and the meditations of my heart be guided by
your Spirit and be words of wisdom for this day. Amen.
The words I have to share with you today came from the several resources on the PIE
Day website. I’ve adapted them and made them my own, but the message you heard today may
be heard in several places across Canada. This is a message for the public square. Historically,
public square is a place of for gathering, a space for discussion, and sometimes decision-making.
My message today reinforces the three words that form the acronym of PIE, that we hear
often in this space, as an Affirming Church - Public, Intentional, Explicit.
Part 1: Public - Our Collective Voice
The power of the public realm cannot be overstated. Throughout history, public spaces
have been the stages upon which the dramas of change and progress have played out.
From the civil rights marches that wound their way through the streets of Washington to
the peaceful protests in town squares advocating for environmental justice, the public
domain has always been where silence is broken and voices are amplified.
Today, we are called to continue this legacy. Being public in our affirmations means
more than just private acceptance. It means visibly standing with those who are
marginalized. Our public actions send a powerful message: everyone is valued, everyone is
loved, and everyone belongs.
Part 2: Intentional - Our Deliberate Actions
Intentionality is about making deliberate choices. It's about deciding, every day, to create an
environment where everyone feels safe and valued. This doesn't happen by accident; it requires
thought, planning, and, what is often left behind, action. Our intentions are expressed in how we
organize events, how we speak, how we listen, and how we learn. Being intentional means
actively seeking out ways to create places of belonging, to understand the diverse experiences of
those in our community, and to reflect this understanding in our actions. It's about being mindful
of the words we use, the resources we share, and the spaces we create. Our intentionality is our
roadmap to a more loving community.
Part 3: Explicit - Our Clear Message
To be explicit is to leave no room for doubt. In our context today, it means clearly stating our
values and standing firmly by them. It's about making our stance known, not just within our
community but to the world at large (our letter for the day - E - Everywhere and everyone. And
might also stand for explicit.) Our explicit message is a beacon for those seeking a safe harbour
in a sometimes stormy world.
Being explicit also means confronting and addressing the tough issues. It involves
having difficult conversations about ignorance, prejudice, discrimination, and injustice. It means
not just acknowledging these problems but actively working to solve them. Our explicit
commitment is a promise to never shy away from the hard work of building a better world.
Conclusion: The Power of PIE in Action
As we gather here today, in our own public square, let us embrace the full meaning of
PIE. Let us be public in our support, intentional in our actions, and explicit in our
message. Together, we have the power to transform, not just our community, but the world.
Our journey of affirmation is not always easy, but it is always worth it. As we go from this place
today, as we gather over pie for lunch, let our actions speak the language of PIE - loud, clear, and
full of love. Remember, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Let one step
be taken here, today, with courage, with love, and with the unshakeable belief that we can
make a difference. May it be so. Amen.
Mark 12:1-17
(Introduce yourself.)
In the chapter before the passage I’m going to read, Jesus had entered Jerusalem on a donkey to
much fanfare from crowds of people and he has turned over tables in the courtyard of the temple.
The chief priests and scribes were afraid of him. They began to plot ways to kill him. They
asked Jesus upon whose authority he was doing such things. After a non answer, he then shares
the following parable. I'm reading the first seventeen verses of chapter 12 from the gospel of
Mark.
12 Then he began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted a vineyard, put a fence around it,
dug a pit for the winepress, and built a watchtower; then he leased it to tenants and went away.
2 When the season came, he sent a slave to the tenants to collect from them his share of the
produce of the vineyard. 3 But they seized him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed.
4 And again he sent another slave to them; this one they beat over the head and insulted. 5 Then
he sent another, and that one they killed. And so it was with many others; some they beat, and
others they killed. 6 He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying,
‘They will respect my son.’ 7 But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir; come, let us
kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 8 So they seized him, killed him, and threw him out of
the vineyard. 9 What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the
tenants and give the vineyard to others. 10 Have you not read this scripture:
‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
11 this was the Lord’s doing,
and it is amazing in our eyes’?”
12 When they realized that he had told this parable against them, they wanted to arrest him, but
they feared the crowd. So they left him and went away.
May God grant us understanding of our sacred text. Amen.