Can I get a Witness?

A couple weeks ago during our Patronal Feast worship, we proclaimed various aspects of our life together as the community of St. Barnabas that we value – acceptance, inclusivity, fellowship, food (!), music, worship, support for each other to name a few. Can I get an “AMEN!”? These are wonderful ways of how we demonstrate our commitment to our live as disciples of Christ and our commitment to support each other in our journeys of faith. 
Let’s dare to take this one step further.  How have you witnessed these (or other) values played out in the community?  A couple of people offered short explanations of why these values were named, but in the context of the sermon, we didn’t have the time to offer longer stories about particular times when these values were exemplified. 
So take a moment right now. Think about your time at St. Barnabas and allow your heart to remind you of a time then you felt nurtured or challenged in your life in Christ. What was happening?  Who was involved? How did you feel supported or upheld?  Even consider if you felt let down (we have to be honest!). What did you learn from this experience?  Did you feel closer to God during or after this event?  Is that experience something you would be willing to share with others?
This is how we learn our own stories, how we claim our understanding as disciples of Christ.  We need to be able to identify where and how we met God on the journey, especially within the community in which we live.  And we need to share these stories with each other, building up the Body of Christ.
This is the basic aspects of offering one’s witness – sharing your stories.  I guarantee, the more we share our stories, the more we will recognize how much we have in common with each other – our hopes and fears, our joys and tears. 
We need each other in order to see God.  It is an integral part of the God’s emanant presence in our lives.  It helps us feel less isolated to know that others know us and love us, even with our faults. There is risk involved in sharing are stories because we feel vulnerable about the sharing the intimate details of our lives. 
So let us be brave and daring, will to expose the messiness of our faith with each other, holding each other up in grace and love, to see how God is at work in our lives and our community.  Can we share our stories with each other, knowing that they invite us into deeper relationship with each other and God, and maybe helping each other be more aware of God’s work in our lives?
Can I get a witness?
I will ask this question during worship.  A response need only be 3-5 minutes long.  It can be about St. Barnabas or anywhere you encountered God in your week.  What is important is that we get more comfortable sharing these stories with each other.  This is how we learn to know our stories and live them boldly.
In Christ,

Rev. Valerie+

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