1. There's something about General Assembly that evokes a renewed sense of denominational pride and loyalty. So much so, that I painted my toes to convey that pride and loyalty! And the fact that I took, and published, a picture of said toes, is a testament to how proud I really am, of our Church! (I may or may not have a weird aversion to feet.)
2. Worshipping with 4,500 other people who all breath the same Disciples air you breath...is well...breathtaking.
Tonight, in the sermon, a church in Ohio was referenced. This church has, just outside their entrance and engraved in stone, the following:
We agree to differ;
Resolve to love;
And live to serve.
Can we all just engrave this on our hearts, and be done with it?! As people of faith, as local churches, as regional bodies, and as the general manifestation of a what it means to be "church," I wish we could make this our mantra (if we were the kind-a folks who had mantras). "We agree to differ, resolve to love, and live to serve."
Instead, we get things muddled. We forget that the church is bigger than us. We forget all the good that the church has nurtured in us...all the moments of reconciliation it has fostered...all the voices of justice that it has reared...all the glimpses of the Divine that it has allowed us....
And I think what General Assembly does, at least for those who actively participate, is help clear the muddled waters a bit.
I mean, it's not like we don't step out of the worship service saying things like, "I would'a ended that sermon differently," or, "I can't believe I paid $35 for that piece of dry chicken?" Afterall, most of us (or the clergy at least), spent three years of seminary learning how to critique. Everything. It's part of our job. It's part of being prophetic. It's also just part of being human. And dare I say, it's part of being church.
But in spite of our critiques, there's a hope that floats just a little above our hearts and a giddiness in our voices, that reminds us WHY we're church.
...When the fear of "not good enough" tries to conquer us...we are reminded that God has called us to be the Divine presence to a broken world. Even in our own brokenness.
...When we fear "what might be" and retreat into safe-keeping...we are reminded that God is with God's people...be it, in the desert or the valley or the sea. Or even in death.
...When we fear saying something - anything - because it might ruffle a feather...we are reminded that God spoke mightily, and gave even those who were not public speakers, a voice that was salvific. And God expects us to continue to be a voice of Justice, Peace, Hope, and Reconciliation.
...When we fear that the world is too much...the injustice and the murder and the hatred and the anxiety and the pain...is just too much, and it begins to seep into our soul... we are reminded that the burden is not ours to carry alone, but one to share with the One who is creating and re-creating and the One who empowers us, as co-creators.
...When the fear of dying tries to break us...we are reminded that God is a resurrecting God. And new life can only begin, when we let that which is dead in us, die fully.
Tonight, The Reverend Dr. Glen Miles (minister of Country Club Christian Church in Kansas City, Missouri) served as the opening worship preacher...an honor, no doubt. And during his sermon, he said something (well, several things...but one in particular) that struck me as truth. He said: "Fear is about our ego... and not about God."
If we're to be a people about God...and not about the ego (let the world do that...it's pretty good at it anyway)...then we have to let those fears go. We just have to.
We're breathing the same Divine air (be it Disciple or Buddhist or Anglican or...or whatever air you breath).... let it inspire our pride and our loyalty, our passion and our compassion, our voice and our heart.......let it inspire us.
Just a thought, on this General Assembly evening...
Thanks be to God....
rt
No comments:
Post a Comment