September 5, 2024

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it." Hebrews 13:2 (NRSV)

Beloved! God has called us to do remarkable things. God invites us into shared mission, to bring God’s love to the world around us. It won’t take a lot to live into God’s Covenantal love– God is already with us. It just takes us.

I saw a poster once that declared: “the church should be a community where messed up people are welcome, outcasts are loved, underdogs find a champion, the hopeless find hope, and the friendless find a friend.”

I can think of no better way to describe that extravagant and inclusive welcome that is a core tenet of our denomination and our faith. When we do those things, we are living into our calling to church. Each and every day.

Church, my beloved, is no longer just a noun… it’s a verb.

And how do we know how to church? From the stories passed down from our parents and grandparents. Stories passed down generation to generation.

These stories sustained the ancient Israelites as they wandered through the wilderness… stories passed down to one another about covenantal promises and the unexpected angels in our midst. Those stories sustain us, too.

And we know how the story ends – with a brutal crucifixion and an empty tomb. Bright shining light that shows us that God has power over life and death. These stories tell of God’s loving presence in our world, passed on from generation to generation. 

We treasure these stories, but sometimes it seems really hard for us to keep believing them. The reality of our lives doesn’t always connect with these promises. Jesus was raised and we are promised new life, but that was thousands of years ago. Thousands of years filled with war and rage and betrayal. Thousands of years of people fighting over who Jesus is and what God envisions for us all.

We prepare for the fulfillment of Christ's purposes on earth by doing what Jesus did. We prepare for God's kingdom by seeking it, and God's justice first. We prepare for the coming Christ, so we can live our lives, pursuing what God pursues. 

How do we do that? It’s all in those stories that we have inherited. 

Feed, clothe, set free... love. And bring peace

Last year, the Congregational Vitality team sponsored “Rejoice in the Welcome Sunday.” This was an opportunity for each congregation to celebrate our welcoming presence in fun and loving ways. This year, “Rejoice in the Welcome Sunday” is on September 8th (or whenever a congregation chooses to celebrate it). This year, we are asking congregations to use this Sunday’s Welcome to kick-off a Year of Peace. Each of you are encouraged to explore the unique gifts you have, as individuals and as congregations, for bringing peace and welcoming presence into this world. Perhaps you will engage in a new mission or be an advocate for the voiceless. Perhaps your search for peace will focus on mental health, social issues, leadership issues large and small, or maybe environmental concerns leading to peace with nature. Perhaps you will look at how calls for peace impact your local community, our country, the world and the sustainability of our planet.

Whatever you choose to do, this is the continuation of our stories and we want to hear from each of you as you move forward. And don’t forget to take pictures and videos! We will create a video for Annual Meeting, so we can get glimpses of each congregation’s story.

Show us how you Church!

So, rejoice! Live lives that reflect God’s justice, peace, extravagant welcome and love. Get ready to feed, clothe, set free, love and church! Rejoice!