The pastor of United Church on the Green, the church my family has attended faithfully for the past seven years, has been known to sneak theater references into his sermons. One of the first times I heard him preach, he interpolated a few lines of a showtune. One memorable Sunday, he invited the cast of the national tour of Altar Boyz (while it was playing at the Long Wharf Theatre) to do a few songs for the UCotG congregation, while he pontificated on comedy in organized religion.
This past Sunday, Rev. Gage opened his sermon with an appreciation for the longrunning Off Broadway and nationally touring Greater Tuna series of multi-character comedies co-written and performed by Jaston Williams and Joe Sears. The minister refers to Greater Tuna’s quick-change Texas townfull of characters, portrayed by just those two actors, as “a miracle to behold.” But he has other miracles on his mind as well.
From an odd opening—a Greater Tuna Christmas joke at the expense of both censorship-minded fundamentalists and Catholics—the sermon quickly gets deep and wide-ranging. He discusses how some Protestant faiths back away from dealing with the virgin-birth aspects of the nativity, and with Mary in general. He evinces great respect for Mary’s practical response to the angel’s pronouncement of her becoming pregnant with the son of God: “How can this be?” He turns that question into one that corresponds to the shock, disbelief and confusion which met the horrible news of the Sandy Hook school tragedy just over a week ago.
He may have been referencing Greater Tuna, but Rev. Gage’s remarks were as profound, socially conscious and real-world relevant as, say, Sarah Ruhl’s Passion Play or the angel scenes of Tony Kushner’s Angels in America.
Rev. Gage wisely presented a variation on that same sermon (entitled “Saying Yes, Saying No”) tonight, on Christmas Eve, during the Meditation segment of the Lessons & Carols service, amid some glorious Ralph Vaughan Williams tunes featuring guest flautists and oboeists. The sermon deserved a larger audience. Often the Christmas sermon has gently chided all the once-or-twice-a-year church attendees for not coming more often. This one shows them what they’re missing.
Happy Christmas to all our readers. We got snow on Christmas Eve, a bit of divine scenic design. Now let us work on the peace, calm and community.