Discerning our Common Call

What does it mean to be a Christian in the 21st Century?  What does it mean to be part of a church that has a hierarchical structure like the Episcopal Church?  What does it mean to be a “Diocese”?  These are all important questions with no simple answers, but ones we must be brave enough to engage. 

The reality is that the way we do “church” is changing, even since I was ordained 12 years ago!  While the majority of Americans still believe in “God” (or some mystic entity), most don’t go to church or another religious institution.  That is partially because the institutions have let people down, but also because priorities of life have changed.  People, especially children, are busy ALL THE TIME.  There is little to no “down” time to just be (which is kinda ironic, since that is part of developing our spiritual lives, but I digress). 

We can look at the changing dynamics and fear what that means for the future, because it won’t look or work like the past. Or we can begin to envision what God is calling us toward and be part of new life. To do that, we need to talk about what we value as part of the Episcopal Branch of the Jesus Movement, located in the Diocese of New Jersey. We need to understand that we are not vying with each other for limited resources, but brothers and sisters in Christ that are not here just for our own benefit, but for the benefit of the other.

Bishop Chip Stokes is hosting an opportunity for such a conversation with the laity at various times and locations around the Diocese.  The one closest to St. Barnabas will be on Saturday, July 22nd at St. Luke’s in Metuchen (17 Oak Ave), from 10 am-12 pm.  I highly encourage all members of St. Barnabas to participate and be part of this conversation, share your thoughts and ideas, and listen to what others are saying. 

It may be helpful prior to the meeting to consider what you value most about your relationship with God. Now, how does going to church help or support those values?  What happens at church that (hopefully) deepens your belief in God?  How does the church share those values with others?  What can we do better?  What should we stop doing? 

Then we can begin to extrapolate this to the Diocesan level.  The diocesan structure does center around the Bishop, but it can also widen our view to other needs and offer ideas to strengthen our local ministries.  Unfortunately, too often the Diocese and other congregations are not looked at as colleagues but combatants, wanting to take away our ability to sustain our own ministry.  I think we sometimes forget that all we do is for God’s glory, not our own congregation.  What does that glory look like, and how can we do it better? 
There will be another all-day conversation for the laity on Saturday, September 9th at Trinity Cathedral in Trenton from 9 am – 3 pm.  While this meeting will build on what is happening in July, you can go to either or both.  It is a sacrifice, but I do hope you will consider participating in some way and learning how St. Barnabas can be a part of the new thing God is doing in creation. 

“So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgement, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us. Those who say, ‘I love God’, and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.” 1 John 4:16-21
In Christ,

Rev. Valerie+

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