A popular folk song among Christian youth in the 60s went like this:

And God said Yes! Yes! Yes!
Said Yes to the world once more!
Said Yes with a cosmic roar!
Said, Open that Other Door!
Said Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!

In one word, that’s God’s message for this planet. It’s the gospel. It’s the hope we need, the doorway to the future. Each of us has asked ourselves and one another and the silent stars at night: "Must there not be a better world than this? Must our lives not have been meant to be put right, instead of broken as we see and feel and live them?"

God answers: Yes!

How did you first hear God say "yes" to you? Was it through a parent? A teacher? A pastor of this congregation or another one you may have known? Was it through someone who didn’t even use "religious" language - eve…