It is interesting that our first and third readings both refer to dancing today. And what a contrast there is between them. On the one hand there is unbridled Joy of David as he danced before the Lord and on the other, the calculating seductive dance of Salome before her Step Father designed to gain favour and position. One to please God, and the other a man. One as a celebration of life and the other - Death.

Let us begin to think about the first. Our passage clearly shows, that dance was a way of worship. David, totally immersed in the moment, danced with joy, both in recognition to the import of the moment and as an almost uncontrollable outworking of the joy within. This does beg the question, "Do we have a place for dance as worship in the Anglican church?"

Well I am a bit ambivalent about it. Yes it is true, Dance was a regular part of the worship we experienced in Africa. There was no collection, but rather the men and women if the congregation dance with an offering at the time of the offertory. (And yes that did include Louise and I). And I must say that to give in this way is quite different to having someone pass a plate under your nose. (No offence Murray). It did give all the elements of cheerful giving and a wonderful sense of participation. But it was also very much part of the cultural experience, where communal dance was part of many gatherings.

I also have had a negative experience. Do not get me wrong, Liturgical Dance is beautiful when done well, but when the wives of the ELDERS of Louise's church discovered it and because of their husbands position were able to include it every week, I can honestly say I have had my fill. Young lithe and trained dancers they were not, and what they lack in ability and grace, they made up for with enthusiasm. The end result was many in our youth group were put off the church service. Sadly for me, when you mention Liturgical Dance, that is usually the first image that comes to mind.

Fear not, if we do think about introducing Dance, you will have fair warning and it will be a special treat.

I want us to think about the story in the first reading. It would be easy for us to dismiss this as also being outside of our culture but I am not sure that I can. As I have thought about this topic, I have had a particular image in my mind that seems to both sum it up and give us an insight into the story that we are looking at.

Do you remember the end of the War? Well I certainly don't, but there is an image that comes to mind from the paper of that day. There was a simple headline - Peace and underneath this picture of a man dancing down Swanson Street (I think). I am sure most of you have seen it. In this moment in time, the unknown reveller was caught up in the moment - and lost in the dance of joy. Here for him and for many others was that long hoped for dream - fulfilled and nothing else mattered. This was the same thing for David. The bringing of the Ark into his city was more than just an administrative act, but the culmination of his reign. And he celebrated with abandon.

I want to ask you the question - Have you had this experience? Have you been so overwhelmed by God that nothing else matters other than the celebration?

Now I am not talking about a permanent state here. I am sure that many of us have met Christians who are for all intention purposes off the planet. But there is a need for us to have this experience at least in part. There is a need for us to be able to dance before the Lord, rejoicing in his presence. Sadly we seem to do much as a church to kill this joy. Some denominations banned dancing, some even banned laughter and enjoyment on the Sabbath. But God wants us to rejoice in him and to Dance even if it is only in the mind, but to abandon ourselves to the moment (like the man in the Newspaper photo.

But not all dance is good? Salome danced for gain. She danced for power and favour. Her dance was not random or abandoned, but cold and calculating to en-trance and enslave the on-looker. The difference between Salome and David was that David abandoned himself to the Lord.

We do like to be in control. To be in charge. To have everything as we want it, but David challenges us from the past, to surrender to the moment, to God and let him lead us.

Sadly, there are many in this diocese who seek to have control of all the circumstances. For whom Power is the ultimate aim. But the Christian walk is one of surrender and as you and I learn more and more to abandon ourselves to God, then he can use us for his purposes.

My dream, it is that we all may dance with the gay abandon of David and trust God to lead us in the Dance.

We will sing Hymn 375, Lord of the Dance.