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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