Note: I am the pastor of a small church in Seattle that is going through a revitalization. Once it was a larger church. Now it isn't. But why that happened isn't important. What is important is what we are going to do for God now and in the future.)
To the members and friends of my church: As a church we are much like an infant in the womb, a developing fetus with lots of potential, waiting to be born into a new and wonderful world full of hope and promise. We are blessed with a good foundation of history, bylaws, standard operating procedures, a great location to worship, a building fund that most small churches don’t have, and a new residential pastor who is getting to be known in our city. Yet we cannot deny that we are a very small group struggling to move forward toward the God-given vision of a future Metropolitan Community Church Seattle.
It is a glorious vision that centers on being the New Community of God which welcomes and includes the many different persons within the metropolitan region of Seattle. That vision also encompasses our finding ways to be a servants to fulfill the needs of persons living with inequality, injustice, illness, poverty, homelessness, and all the other challenges that they encounter in their attempts to become authentic individuals living God-blessed lives. It’s a pretty big vision, and we’re a pretty small group.
Some would say that it is an impossible vision. But there are many human endeavors that began with the vision of one person and grew into great institutions and world-wide movements. We have several persons sharing the hope of a single vision together, praying together, encouraging each other, sharing the burdens and the work together and so our potential is even greater than those groups that began with only one person’s vision.
What will it take to accomplish the vision that we share? It will take you and me sharing the vision with others that we know and that we come into contact with through our efforts to be the New Community of God. It will not happen if we simply wait for folks we don’t know to show up and join with us. It will take you and me inviting our own friends and co-workers, relatives and ‘chosen family members’ to come and join us in this endeavor to serve and worship God.
You must become excited and enthusiastic…just like Demi is when she greets you on Sunday afternoons as you enter worship and makes you feel like she has only been waiting for you!
You must become full of hope and faith…just like Lee is when she gets up and prays “God is good, She hasn’t let us down,” and then thanks God for the financial blessings MCC Seattle enjoys, even when we know we are far short of what we would like to have. Lee’s vision is to see beyond the facts of the moment into the reality of the future God is preparing for us to enjoy!
You must become joyful and persistent…just like Gil who has been a very important part of MCC Seattle for 37 years never failing to stop believing that God had a plan for us whether the church was growing or going through difficulties.
You must become one who freely shares your God-given talents and gifts…just like Rev. Chett and Dan do in so many behind the scenes ways that most of us do not even know about, but which result in so many positive things for all of us. It isn’t about the glory for yourself, but the glory we can give to God.
You must become a servant to others…just like Selena and Dilo who give us the blessing of a fellowship and snack time prepared and ready when we complete worship. Never once have I heard them complain about the work involved.
You must become caring and encouraging…just like Rev. Michelle and Rev. Gloria who with loving words and keen observation give to all of us such wonderful personal attention.
You must become full of praise, calling others to honor God…just like Erin and Mark do when they lead us in our worship music to glorify God.
You must become one who depends upon prayer and who trusts God to work everything for our good…just like Rev. Brian and Rev. Hugh.
You must become willing to be a ‘team player’ who isn’t concerned with personal glory or honor ...just like Colin, Tom, Dale, Mark, Sara, and others.
You must become loving and forgiving…just like Jesus who taught us how to live!
In this week’s Lectionary Reading from Mark 9 Jesus tells the disciples that “Whoever wants to become first must go to the end of the line and become a servant to others.” What kind of a church would we be blessed to enjoy if we all tried to become servants to each other. For when we care for, love and encourage others Jesus tells us that we are doing it to him.
Grad hold of the vision! Grab hold of God! Grab hold of each other! We are on a fabulous journey together with Jesus the Christ! I’m ready to take the journey with Jesus! Are you ready to join us? Then, please, go to the end of the line!
No comments:
Post a Comment