{"id":4443,"date":"2024-04-22T13:35:28","date_gmt":"2024-04-22T13:35:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/2024\/04\/22\/god-is-good-by-sylvester-doyer-based-on-psalm\/"},"modified":"2024-04-22T13:35:28","modified_gmt":"2024-04-22T13:35:28","slug":"god-is-good-by-sylvester-doyer-based-on-psalm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/2024\/04\/22\/god-is-good-by-sylvester-doyer-based-on-psalm\/","title":{"rendered":"Untitled"},"content":{"rendered":"

“God is Good!” by Sylvester Doyer based on Psalm 150.<\/h1>\n

Introduction: This month of April in 2024 marks the 40 year anniversary of Sylvester’s diagnosis with HIV. In 1984 the diagnosis was seen as a death sentence, and indeed almost everyone diagnosed then died<\/i>. Somehow, and we don’t know, Sylvester didn’t. In 2007\/8 he came very close, and was lying in a hospital bed with 1 T-cell left expecting the end had come. But, somehow, and we don’t know how, it didn’t.<\/i> He celebrates the love of his long time partner and now husband Denis who was the embodiment of God’s grace pulling him through.<\/i><\/p>\n

This sharing is in three pieces. First words written decades ago by now Bishop Karen Oliveto for World AIDS day; second a prayer combing the sermon with the baptism we’d shared in just before the sermon; and third the sermon itself. For those in need of a reminder that there can be hope when it seems like hope has fled, may these words of gratitude penetrate your very being.<\/i> – Pastor Sara Baron<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

*Call to Worship<\/small><\/b>1<\/small><\/b><\/a><\/b>\u201cWorld AIDS Day Liturgies\u201d Karen Oliveto<\/small><\/b><\/p>\n

One:\u00a0\u00a0 How have you come to this time and place?<\/small><\/p>\n

Many: We’ve come this far by faith!<\/small><\/b><\/p>\n

One:\u00a0\u00a0 How has your heart weathered the many losses of ffriends and l overs?<\/small><\/p>\n

Many: We’ve come this far by faith!<\/small><\/b><\/p>\n

One:\u00a0\u00a0 How has your mind grappled with the constant specter of death?<\/small><\/p>\n

Many: We’ve come this far by faith!<\/small><\/b><\/p>\n

One:\u00a0\u00a0 How has your soul maintained wholeness?<\/small><\/p>\n

Many: We’ve come this far by faith!<\/small><\/b><\/p>\n

One:\u00a0\u00a0 It’s not because of government support;<\/small><\/p>\n

Many: We’ve come this far by faith!<\/small><\/b><\/p>\n

One:\u00a0\u00a0 It’s not because of the research and medical communities;<\/small><\/p>\n

Many: We’ve come this far by faith!<\/small><\/b><\/p>\n

One:\u00a0\u00a0 It’s not because of the health insurance companies;<\/small><\/p>\n

Many: We’ve come this far by faith!<\/small><\/b><\/p>\n

One:\u00a0\u00a0 It’s because of the grace of God.<\/small><\/p>\n

Many: We’ve come this far by faith!<\/small><\/b><\/p>\n

One:\u00a0\u00a0 It’s because of the presence of Christ.<\/small><\/p>\n

Many: We’ve come this far by faith!<\/small><\/b><\/p>\n

One:\u00a0\u00a0 It’s because of the sustaining power of the Holy Spirit.<\/small><\/p>\n

Many: We’ve come this far by faith!<\/small><\/b><\/p>\n

One:\u00a0\u00a0 We’ve come this far because the love of God is made visible through the care of lovers, friends, family, and caregivers.<\/small><\/p>\n

Many: We’ve come this far by faith!<\/small><\/b><\/p>\n

One:\u00a0\u00a0 We’ve come this far because nothing, nothing at all can separate us from this love.<\/small><\/p>\n

Many: We’ve come this far by faith!<\/small><\/b><\/p>\n

One:\u00a0\u00a0 We’ve come this far by faith, and we will go even farther, knowing that in every step we take,<\/small><\/p>\n

Many: God hasn’t failed us yet!<\/small><\/b><\/p>\n

One:\u00a0\u00a0 In every burden we carry,<\/small><\/p>\n

Many: God hasn’t failed us yet!<\/small><\/b><\/p>\n

One:\u00a0\u00a0 In every setback we face,<\/small><\/p>\n

Many: God hasn’t failed us yet!<\/small><\/b><\/p>\n

One:\u00a0\u00a0 Our God is a constant presence on which we can lean.<\/small><\/p>\n

Many: God hasn’t failed us yet!<\/small><\/b><\/p>\n

One:\u00a0\u00a0 We can trust in God’s presence.<\/small><\/p>\n

Many: God hasn’t failed us yet!<\/small><\/b><\/p>\n

One:\u00a0\u00a0 Alleluia! Amen!<\/small><\/p>\n

Many: Amen and amen!<\/small><\/b><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Prayer Before Sermon<\/b><\/p>\n

We come before you Creator of all, thanking you for allowing us to see another day. Thank you\u00a0for allowing us to plant our feet on solid ground and start on our way. We thank you and\u00a0acknowledge that you didn\u2019t have to allow us to wake this morning, but you did, and we thank you. In the mist of all that is happening in the world today we cry out Father I stretch my hand to\u00a0thee and you hear us. As a reminder that you are ever near and ever listening to us Lord you are\u00a0constantly giving us signs of your loving presence. This morning, we thank you for putting in our\u00a0midst such a sign in the little one Koa, who we welcome into your family this morning through\u00a0his baptism. We pray for his parents that they maybe a source of\u00a0strength and guidance for Koa so that as he grows, he may know nothing but caring and love from\u00a0them and everyone around him. Amen <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Sermon<\/b><\/p>\n

We all have a tendency when times get rough to seek comfort from
anywhere and anyone around us. If you are spiritual, we usually turn to the man upstairs.<\/p>\n

And I was no different when in those early days I didn\u2019t know if I would be around to see the next day. That\u2019s when I remember growing up with a Catholic and Southern Baptist background, I found myself seeking and drawing comfort more from my Southern Baptist
background. <\/p>\n

I recall going to church with my dad who was Southern Baptist and
there was a group of women called the Mother Board who usually would stand and sing one of those old gospel songs that they called Dr. Watts song. There was this one elderly mother who would lead the
song but before she would start, she witness, testify to and about the
goodness and greatness of God. <\/p>\n

I am here this morning to join mine witnessing and testimony to hers and to shout as she shouts God is good. Back then the words she was saying didn\u2019t make much sense till later. When in those darkest hours your soul cries out seeking comfort, I remember just lying there sometimes and listening to my soul cry out in the words of that
old gospel song, “Father, I stretch my hand to thee. No other help I know. If Thou withdraw Thyself from me Ah, where shall I go.” Looking back as my soul cried out, “Father, I stretch my
hand to Thee \u2026.”, even in those darkest moments he was listening
because sitting next to my hospital bed was Denis, he put him there saying don\u2019t give up, never, never, never give up. <\/p>\n

My soul would cry all the louder, “Father I stretch my hand to Thee\u2026.”
There in the room working through the medical team and everything else would be that voice, “don\u2019t give up.” The louder I\u2019d cry, “Father I stretch my hand to Thee\u2026..”, the louder that voice would become. <\/p>\n

I\u2019m here to tell you, he showed himself to me in those around me but
especially Denis who would get up in the morning walk the dogs; go to work all day; come home walk the dogs and then come up to the hospital and be that voice that whispered “don\u2019t give up; never, never,
never give up.” They would let him sit sometimes way pass visiting
hour. <\/p>\n

My soul would cry out even more but it changed the song and cried out “I Love The Lord He Heard my cries, And pitied every groan; Long as I live, when troubles rise, I\u2019ll hasten to His throne” the song goes
on to say “My God has saved my soul from death and dried my
falling tears; Now to his praise I\u2019ll spend my breath and my remaining years.” My heart this morning is full of joy, full of gratitude and thanksgiving. Last month my doctor reminded me that I\u2019ve been
living with HIV\/AIDS now for 40 years this month. <\/p>\n

There were those days when I wasn\u2019t sure I was going to be here, but my soul cried out “Father I Stretch my hand to Thee”, and he heard my cry. I\u2019m here this morning to tell you He didn\u2019t have to wake me up this morning, but He did. He didn\u2019t have to plant my feet on solid
ground, but He did. He heard my cry and let me see another day and I am here to thank Him. My soul this morning cries out even louder “I love the Lord; He heard my cry and pitied every groan.” So,
I\u2019m here this morning to join my story, my testimony to that elderly mother and to let you know even in those darkest of times the soul cries out and it\u2019s heard. <\/p>\n

There is a song that sums up how I feel today and every day. <\/p>\n

Now my soul cries out How I got Over.
How I got over
Well, how I got over
Well, my soul look back and wonder
Don’t know how I got over (How I got over)
How I got over
I’m gon’ thank him for how he brought me
Well, I’m gon’ thank him for ho<\/small>w he taught me<\/p>\n

Oh, thank him for how he kept me
I’m gon’ thank him ‘cause he never left me
I’m gonna thank him for heart felt religion
I’m gonna thank him for a vision
I’m gonna sing hallelujah
Oh, shout all my trouble over
I’m gon’ thank him (Thank him for)
All he’s done for me
Thank him for all he’s done (<\/small>He’s done)
For me<\/p>\n

Amen <\/p>\n

1<\/a>Karen Oliveto \u201cWorld AIDS Day Liturgies\u201d in Shaping Sanctuary edited by Kelly Turney, 2000, page 140-1.<\/p>\n

First United Methodist Church of Schenectady\u00a0
603 State St. Schenectady, NY 12305\u00a0
http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/\u00a0<\/a>
https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/FUMCSchenectady<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Sylvester (left) and Denis (right) on their wedding day in 2013.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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