When I arrived at St. John four years ago, many people said how important it would be for the church to have younger members and families. I should have asked why, I guess if I had, the two most frequent answers I would have likely received are
1) To sustain the church, we are getting older and dying off.
2) To add new life and energy and perspective to our community.
I am very interested and excited about number 2. It is not useful to sustain the church as it is or was but rather to embrace new life into the creative existence of our mission. This requires the willingness to change and, become comfortable within our discomfort.
To be multi-generational we must work to do more things together. To be willing to share our/God’s love more freely. Part of this vision must extend beyond the boundaries of the church and into our very families and neighborhoods. The only way this will work is if we share God’s love through compassion, mercy, justice, grace, and forgiveness.
Will we allow Christ to take the lead in our lives now more than ever? Will we teach our children and grand-children that it is better to love than to hate, to be forgiving rather than judgmental. To strive for hope rather than promote fear? Of course we will!
It might be the case that Jesus is fighting to get into the church through new voices, younger voices, more diverse voices. In a way the old church must die a bit for the new church to grow a bit. Does that make sense?
Can each of us open our hearts and minds to the freshness of God’s Spirit within and around us? To trust and not be afraid, to experiment, sometimes succeeding and sometimes failing?
Of course we can!!!!
May God’s peace strengthen you with a sense of wonder and hope,
Pastor Mark
Comentários