Called to be radical welcome-ers

During this, my final semester as an M.Div student, I have found myself in an Urban Ministry course, down in D.C. Part of the work for the course includes journaling, in some fashion, on the readings that we have been assigned. You, my few, but faithful followers, and other readers who stumble upon my blog are now the ones who will be the recipients of that knowledge (that is to say, I have decided that I will post on this blog, as my way of journaling through the next few weeks of class. This is not to say that these will be the only items which I blog, but they will become a part of it). My dear readers, this means that you will have the benefit of hearing more, both about this course and its topics, as well as learn a little about some of the works that we are reading, and my own thoughts, reflections, struggles, etc. with them.

In our first meeting of the class last week, we spent a great deal of time thinking about the different areas that relate to ministry (and in particular, to urban ministry). Let me begin by familiarizing you with these four key areas: context, leadership (namely that of the pastor), community ministry, and congregational development. (As a note of credit, I must add here that this format comes from the instructor of the course, a pastor called to urban ministry.)

Context: All contexts of ministry will be different, even when thinking about “urban ministry” or “rural ministry,” etc, or for that matter, even when thinking about the context over time. Things happen. Things change. But ultimately, the point of context is that it is important to understand both the congregation itself, and what its physical location is. Where are you located? Who is in the neighborhood? Who lives there? Who works there? Now… who is REALLY there? Sometimes who you see are not the ones who live there. What are the demographics of the area? Think in terms of social class, race, gender, family situations (i.e. mostly intact families of husband and wife + children? Single parent homes? Partners? Singles?). When looking at race, look beyond the general categories of “white”/ “African American.” What are the true nationalities and cultures/ethnicities represented in the area? Where do the children go to school? What kinds of schools? Who are the leaders in the neighborhood? What is the community’s health (i.e. are you located in area with high rates of HIV/AIDS, cancer, etc?) Now, go one step further. What is it that the community is hoping to do? What are the community’s wider goals and hopes for the future? What is it that is important to the community?

All of this is essential when thinking about context. I think that this is a very good beginning to understanding ministry. It is important, first, to know who you are, and where you are. Ministry is not about “us” or the “in crowd,” or the people whose grandfather’s grandfather were members. It is about knowing that we are called to be God’s people in the world, and that starts with our local neighborhoods. Who are the people who are around us every day, but who do not gather in worship on Sunday morning? It is essential that we be aware of this… and it is these tidbits of information that is particularly helpful when beginning a new call. Get a grip on your surroundings!

Your Leadership: It is important to know who you are, in all of your various roles, particularly as a leader. The things is, we are all constantly changing and growing, and as a leader, it is important to continually be considering your strengths and weaknesses, ways in which you can continue growing, and ways in which you can direct and guide others into using their gifts and skills (READ: this means that you are not God, the world does not revolve and you, nor are you able to do all things yourself. Where are your gifts, and what are the gifts of others? Guess what… where your weaknesses are, there are others who may have those strengths! It really is ok to ask for help! And it is also ok to say “no” to things. Sometimes, rest is the best thing you can do as a leader, and for your ministry. Model good health, good self-care, and good stewardship for those you are called to serve). Sometimes, this is the greatest challenge for leaders. I know that I, too, am guilty. We ¬like to have others need us. And sometimes, we hate having to say no to people. I don’t know about other people, but I really appreciated hearing this. It’s good to be reminded that we need to focus on our leadership, and think about the things we can be/should be doing both for ourselves, and to be better prepared and able to walk with and guide the people.

Community Ministry – Think about your context. What seem to be the needs of the people around you? What kinds of programs/ministries does the congregation already participate in? Seek to build a stronger, more intimate community. Focus on the needs of the people, think about the mission field (context!), and be aware of what is going on your “place”—what is going on around you in the neighborhood. What are the ways that you, as leader, and you as a congregation, can get involved in what is going on in the community. The people are not coming to us… they aren’t walking in the doors on Sunday morning. So what can we be doing to go to them? This isn’t about “growing the congregation,” but, at least as I understand it, this is about paying attention to our mission to be the Body of Christ in the world. To go to the needy, the poor, the downtrodden, and to be “little Christs” for them. To find ways of being real, and vital, and involved with the outcast. This isn’t about a congregation struggling to survive and keep members. It is about living out our call to be God’s people, to be “light for the world.”

Congregational Development – Change doesn’t happen overnight! Congregational development requires the leaders and the congregational community to give voice to their own sense of identity—who they are, and whose they are. It is also important for the community to see where God is working in and through them, what God is doing among them… but then to take it one step further and see what it is that God is calling them to. Part of congregational development also involves the community considering what kinds of principles and values they agree upon as a church community based on the ministries they are already engaged in. Then comes the challenge—to stretch… to stretch into new things, new circles, new neighborhoods. This is God’s call to consider being expansive, incorporating all people… even those that we sometimes feel uncomfortable welcoming into our circle.

Ok, so with those four areas of ministry mapped out, I now turn attention towards this week’s readings. The primary text for this week was Radical Welcome: Embracing God, the Other, and the Spirit of Transformation by Stephanie Spellers. What I really appreciate about this book was how clearly it connected with the areas of ministry listed above. In this text, Spellers lays out the importance of being a welcoming community as the Body of Christ—but this is more than just “welcome” – this is radical welcome. This is inviting new, different, and sometimes unexpected Others into our midst. This is a welcome that goes beyond just inviting people to come, and become “like us,” and to get involved in what we’re already doing. This is a welcome that says, “Please, come in, bring with you all the things that you are, all the things that have made you who you are, and share them with us. Use your gifts, your culture, your being, to teach us and help us learn more about who God is.” This is a welcome that includes a willingness to be changed… that is, to be transformed… by those whom we rarely interact with. Those whom we may feel uncomfortable around because they are different from us. Sometimes, it involves welcoming those who we (or others in our congregations) may view as being somehow outside of the circle. Oh sure, we don’t like to think about that. We all like to think of ourselves as being welcoming. But all too often, we expect others to change to match us, when what we really ought to be doing is using all of those things that make each of us unique to help expand and transform all of us.

Spellers lays out suggestions for how a congregation might move towards becoming a radically welcoming congregation, noting that there are not specific answers, because each congregation’s context will be different. Rather, she provides questions to ask, to think about, to pray over… to “discern.” She stresses over and over again, that not every congregation is ready to become radically welcoming. For that matter, not every congregational will ever be truly radically welcoming. Some congregations may be radically welcoming to certain groups, but not to others. While she doesn’t necessarily call them as such, many of her arguments use elements of the four areas of ministry listed above. She spends much of the early portion of the text talking about elements of context—thinking about who is in, around, about, and outside of the walls of the church. I think that this is perhaps the most important step in developing and preparing a congregation to extend its welcome to those outside the walls of the building where they worship. It’s easy, on a Sunday morning, for people to drive to the church, walk inside, worship, and drive away, without ever really even being made aware of those who live in the church’s neighborhood. As leaders, not only do we need to know who is there, on the outskirts, on the periphery of our vision, but the people need to know. They need to see who is there. Simply putting faces, making it a REALITY for people can be a driving force to encourage further ministry.

But Spellers also notes the importance of community ministries—what is being done in the community already? What are the goals, the hopes and needs of the community? This is extremely important. I served my internship in a congregation that is an urban site, but the members, at least the vast majority, tend to be suburbanite. The congregation held a “block party” one evening, as a way of inviting people in the neighborhood to come, meet in the parking lot, and enjoy desserts and conversation with the members of the congregation. Some of the most important conversations that took place were those that involved the concerns of the community—what it was that the people living there wanted and hoped for their “home” block, what other groups were doing to help fulfill those goals, and ways in which the congregation could become more involved.
Now, this is, of course, not a quick fix. After all, this is just a start to becoming radically welcoming. A congregation must move towards inclusion—although even this isn’t enough. Because an inclusive, “incorporated” community has not yet fully embraced the Other… there has been “no true shift in [the] congregation’s cultural identity and practices” (p. 64). The table that she provides, (p.64), was a very helpful way of thinking about this. What we are called to be in an “incarnational” community… a community that reflects, acknowledges, and uses all of the voices and gifts of the people… including (and perhaps especially) the Other.

Of course, the leadership plays an important role in all of this. Not just the pastor, but the lay leadership. The leaders must stretch themselves, and guide others, to encourage communication and conversation, to discern the congregation’s identity, the goals, hopes and sense of calling of the community. And to encourage the community to stretch themselves.

Ultimately, I really appreciated this text. While some things will work, and others will not, depending on the context of the congregation, it has been very helpful in thinking about the ways in which we are called to reach out, and welcome, and be transformed by others. Regardless of whether it is urban, suburban, rural… The important thing, is that I believe we are called to the Other. We are not called to remain enclosed, wrapped up in ourselves, just clinging to survive, fighting to remain as we are, to stay the same, to keep our culture, our values intact and unchanged. God calls us to step beyond ourselves, to live out the Gospel, to transform and to be transformed by the Other. We are called to change and to be changed. And in so doing, to carry the gospel with us, that others may know the love that is for all people, regardless of ethnicity, race, culture, social status, economical situation, gender, sexuality, or any other human concept of division.


We were also assigned two short articles to consider and review. The first, “What Would Jack Do?” by Jeff Chu, speaks to the need for strong, knowledgeable leadership. Chu holds up the ministries of Willow Creek church, one of the fastest growing congregations in the country. The main element that has driven the church to its growth has been the importance of preparing church leaders (and also helps to educate and prepare other leaders around the world for church leadership, particularly pastoral leadership). It focuses on how there is a need for congregational leaders, pastors, etc. to have business skills—organizing, planning, administration—along with their skills to preach, lead worship, visit the sick, preside over the sacraments, weddings, and funerals. But, interestingly, many of those who are also prepped at the educating seminars are not just church leaders, but political, business, and educating leaders. The strength of Willow Creek is that it sees the value being aware of context, and using the hopes, goals and values of the community to grow and welcome others. But it also recognizes the value of strong leadership that is well-versed in the “business-y” end of congregational mission, ministry and development. While I do appreciate the point that this article makes, and I realize how important leadership is, I also have to say that I don’t think there was enough focus given to being theological leaders. Theology is what makes the Church the Church. Yes, other leadership aspects are important. But theology, God’s love, through Christ is ultimately the greatest gift that the Church has to share with the world… and maybe this is where “radical welcome” is important. So yes, well-equipped leadership is extremely important, but I would have liked to see more about the ways in which a congregation might use the leadership to extend welcome and include the Other—how it might be that a leader take this knowledge and use it to lead congregations into understanding their identity and their call to move beyond themselves and welcome others.

The final article, (and I promise to bring this to a close, for those of you who are thinking “long post, much?”) “The Parish as Place: Principles of Parish Ministry,” by Harvey S. Peters, Jr., is, as it says, helpful in thinking about being called to serve and “do ministry in, with and for a particular place” (p.53). Ultimately, the Church finds its identity in God’s Word, guided by the Holy Spirit. It helps us to know who and whose we are. God calls us in service, and God calls people of every time, place, culture, and background. God’s mission calls us to “identify” with the hopes and needs of those who on the “outside” (the Other). I would take this one step further. We are called, not just to identify with, but to stand in solidarity, to work alongside, and to build up the Other. But I also agree with Peters’s statement that “Parish ministry is geographical and integral to its setting” (p.55). The congregation is visible, and ought to be a part of the community in which it is located, sharing concerns, working with the neighbors, and working to include the cultures and values of the community. As with Radical Welcome, Peters also states the importance of welcoming the Other (including and welcoming the gifts of all people). It is also important for congregations to realize that we are all working together as the Body of Christ.

My final thought on this article is that, for me, most importantly, the congregation, the leadership, etc… all need to remember who it is that calls us to serve. The examples of Christ, calling us to minister to the sick, the poor, the needy also tells us what is it that we are being called to as the Body of Christ. Our context is important. We are called to be the Body of Christ, but we are also called to a particular time and place, and knowing the communities to which we are called are essential for carrying out the mission and ministry of God.

And with that, I will end this entry. Perhaps for future journaling, I will break up entries into smaller units. But to those readers who have managed to “stick it out” to the end... thanks! And I hope that you will share your own thoughts and comments at the end!

Thanks be to God for calling us to be God’s people in the many and various places and contexts where we find ourselves! During this, my final semester as an M.Div student, I have found myself in an Urban Ministry course, down in D.C. Part of the work for the course includes journaling, in some fashion, on the readings that we have been assigned. You, my few, but faithful followers, and other readers who stumble upon my blog are now the ones who will be the recipients of that knowledge (that is to say, I have decided that I will post on this blog, as my way of journaling through the next few weeks of class. This is not to say that these will be the only items which I blog, but they will become a part of it). My dear readers, this means that you will have the benefit of hearing more, both about this course and its topics, as well as learn a little about some of the works that we are reading, and my own thoughts, reflections, struggles, etc. with them.

In our first meeting of the class last week, we spent a great deal of time thinking about the different areas that relate to ministry (and in particular, to urban ministry). Let me begin by familiarizing you with these four key areas: context, leadership (namely that of the pastor), community ministry, and congregational development. (As a note of credit, I must add here that this format comes from the instructor of the course, a pastor called to urban ministry.)

Context: All contexts of ministry will be different, even when thinking about “urban ministry” or “rural ministry,” etc, or for that matter, even when thinking about the context over time. Things happen. Things change. But ultimately, the point of context is that it is important to understand both the congregation itself, and what its physical location is. Where are you located? Who is in the neighborhood? Who lives there? Who works there? Now… who is REALLY there? Sometimes who you see are not the ones who live there. What are the demographics of the area? Think in terms of social class, race, gender, family situations (i.e. mostly intact families of husband and wife + children? Single parent homes? Partners? Singles?). When looking at race, look beyond the general categories of “white”/ “African American.” What are the true nationalities and cultures/ethnicities represented in the area? Where do the children go to school? What kinds of schools? Who are the leaders in the neighborhood? What is the community’s health (i.e. are you located in area with high rates of HIV/AIDS, cancer, etc?) Now, go one step further. What is it that the community is hoping to do? What are the community’s wider goals and hopes for the future? What is it that is important to the community?

All of this is essential when thinking about context. I think that this is a very good beginning to understanding ministry. It is important, first, to know who you are, and where you are. Ministry is not about “us” or the “in crowd,” or the people whose grandfather’s grandfather were members. It is about knowing that we are called to be God’s people in the world, and that starts with our local neighborhoods. Who are the people who are around us every day, but who do not gather in worship on Sunday morning? It is essential that we be aware of this… and it is these tidbits of information that is particularly helpful when beginning a new call. Get a grip on your surroundings!

Your Leadership: It is important to know who you are, in all of your various roles, particularly as a leader. The things is, we are all constantly changing and growing, and as a leader, it is important to continually be considering your strengths and weaknesses, ways in which you can continue growing, and ways in which you can direct and guide others into using their gifts and skills (READ: this means that you are not God, the world does not revolve and you, nor are you able to do all things yourself. Where are your gifts, and what are the gifts of others? Guess what… where your weaknesses are, there are others who may have those strengths! It really is ok to ask for help! And it is also ok to say “no” to things. Sometimes, rest is the best thing you can do as a leader, and for your ministry. Model good health, good self-care, and good stewardship for those you are called to serve). Sometimes, this is the greatest challenge for leaders. I know that I, too, am guilty. We ¬like to have others need us. And sometimes, we hate having to say no to people. I don’t know about other people, but I really appreciated hearing this. It’s good to be reminded that we need to focus on our leadership, and think about the things we can be/should be doing both for ourselves, and to be better prepared and able to walk with and guide the people.

Community Ministry – Think about your context. What seem to be the needs of the people around you? What kinds of programs/ministries does the congregation already participate in? Seek to build a stronger, more intimate community. Focus on the needs of the people, think about the mission field (context!), and be aware of what is going on your “place”—what is going on around you in the neighborhood. What are the ways that you, as leader, and you as a congregation, can get involved in what is going on in the community. The people are not coming to us… they aren’t walking in the doors on Sunday morning. So what can we be doing to go to them? This isn’t about “growing the congregation,” but, at least as I understand it, this is about paying attention to our mission to be the Body of Christ in the world. To go to the needy, the poor, the downtrodden, and to be “little Christs” for them. To find ways of being real, and vital, and involved with the outcast. This isn’t about a congregation struggling to survive and keep members. It is about living out our call to be God’s people, to be “light for the world.”

Congregational Development – Change doesn’t happen overnight! Congregational development requires the leaders and the congregational community to give voice to their own sense of identity—who they are, and whose they are. It is also important for the community to see where God is working in and through them, what God is doing among them… but then to take it one step further and see what it is that God is calling them to. Part of congregational development also involves the community considering what kinds of principles and values they agree upon as a church community based on the ministries they are already engaged in. Then comes the challenge—to stretch… to stretch into new things, new circles, new neighborhoods. This is God’s call to consider being expansive, incorporating all people… even those that we sometimes feel uncomfortable welcoming into our circle.

Ok, so with those four areas of ministry mapped out, I now turn attention towards this week’s readings. The primary text for this week was Radical Welcome: Embracing God, the Other, and the Spirit of Transformation by Stephanie Spellers. What I really appreciate about this book was how clearly it connected with the areas of ministry listed above. In this text, Spellers lays out the importance of being a welcoming community as the Body of Christ—but this is more than just “welcome” – this is radical welcome. This is inviting new, different, and sometimes unexpected Others into our midst. This is a welcome that goes beyond just inviting people to come, and become “like us,” and to get involved in what we’re already doing. This is a welcome that says, “Please, come in, bring with you all the things that you are, all the things that have made you who you are, and share them with us. Use your gifts, your culture, your being, to teach us and help us learn more about who God is.” This is a welcome that includes a willingness to be changed… that is, to be transformed… by those whom we rarely interact with. Those whom we may feel uncomfortable around because they are different from us. Sometimes, it involves welcoming those who we (or others in our congregations) may view as being somehow outside of the circle. Oh sure, we don’t like to think about that. We all like to think of ourselves as being welcoming. But all too often, we expect others to change to match us, when what we really ought to be doing is using all of those things that make each of us unique to help expand and transform all of us.

Spellers lays out suggestions for how a congregation might move towards becoming a radically welcoming congregation, noting that there are not specific answers, because each congregation’s context will be different. Rather, she provides questions to ask, to think about, to pray over… to “discern.” She stresses over and over again, that not every congregation is ready to become radically welcoming. For that matter, not every congregational will ever be truly radically welcoming. Some congregations may be radically welcoming to certain groups, but not to others. While she doesn’t necessarily call them as such, many of her arguments use elements of the four areas of ministry listed above. She spends much of the early portion of the text talking about elements of context—thinking about who is in, around, about, and outside of the walls of the church. I think that this is perhaps the most important step in developing and preparing a congregation to extend its welcome to those outside the walls of the building where they worship. It’s easy, on a Sunday morning, for people to drive to the church, walk inside, worship, and drive away, without ever really even being made aware of those who live in the church’s neighborhood. As leaders, not only do we need to know who is there, on the outskirts, on the periphery of our vision, but the people need to know. They need to see who is there. Simply putting faces, making it a REALITY for people can be a driving force to encourage further ministry.

But Spellers also notes the importance of community ministries—what is being done in the community already? What are the goals, the hopes and needs of the community? This is extremely important. I served my internship in a congregation that is an urban site, but the members, at least the vast majority, tend to be suburbanite. The congregation held a “block party” one evening, as a way of inviting people in the neighborhood to come, meet in the parking lot, and enjoy desserts and conversation with the members of the congregation. Some of the most important conversations that took place were those that involved the concerns of the community—what it was that the people living there wanted and hoped for their “home” block, what other groups were doing to help fulfill those goals, and ways in which the congregation could become more involved.
Now, this is, of course, not a quick fix. After all, this is just a start to becoming radically welcoming. A congregation must move towards inclusion—although even this isn’t enough. Because an inclusive, “incorporated” community has not yet fully embraced the Other… there has been “no true shift in [the] congregation’s cultural identity and practices” (p. 64). The table that she provides, (p.64), was a very helpful way of thinking about this. What we are called to be in an “incarnational” community… a community that reflects, acknowledges, and uses all of the voices and gifts of the people… including (and perhaps especially) the Other.

Of course, the leadership plays an important role in all of this. Not just the pastor, but the lay leadership. The leaders must stretch themselves, and guide others, to encourage communication and conversation, to discern the congregation’s identity, the goals, hopes and sense of calling of the community. And to encourage the community to stretch themselves.

Ultimately, I really appreciated this text. While some things will work, and others will not, depending on the context of the congregation, it has been very helpful in thinking about the ways in which we are called to reach out, and welcome, and be transformed by others. Regardless of whether it is urban, suburban, rural… The important thing, is that I believe we are called to the Other. We are not called to remain enclosed, wrapped up in ourselves, just clinging to survive, fighting to remain as we are, to stay the same, to keep our culture, our values intact and unchanged. God calls us to step beyond ourselves, to live out the Gospel, to transform and to be transformed by the Other. We are called to change and to be changed. And in so doing, to carry the gospel with us, that others may know the love that is for all people, regardless of ethnicity, race, culture, social status, economical situation, gender, sexuality, or any other human concept of division.


We were also assigned two short articles to consider and review. The first, “What Would Jack Do?” by Jeff Chu, speaks to the need for strong, knowledgeable leadership. Chu holds up the ministries of Willow Creek church, one of the fastest growing congregations in the country. The main element that has driven the church to its growth has been the importance of preparing church leaders (and also helps to educate and prepare other leaders around the world for church leadership, particularly pastoral leadership). It focuses on how there is a need for congregational leaders, pastors, etc. to have business skills—organizing, planning, administration—along with their skills to preach, lead worship, visit the sick, preside over the sacraments, weddings, and funerals. But, interestingly, many of those who are also prepped at the educating seminars are not just church leaders, but political, business, and educating leaders. The strength of Willow Creek is that it sees the value being aware of context, and using the hopes, goals and values of the community to grow and welcome others. But it also recognizes the value of strong leadership that is well-versed in the “business-y” end of congregational mission, ministry and development. While I do appreciate the point that this article makes, and I realize how important leadership is, I also have to say that I don’t think there was enough focus given to being theological leaders. Theology is what makes the Church the Church. Yes, other leadership aspects are important. But theology, God’s love, through Christ is ultimately the greatest gift that the Church has to share with the world… and maybe this is where “radical welcome” is important. So yes, well-equipped leadership is extremely important, but I would have liked to see more about the ways in which a congregation might use the leadership to extend welcome and include the Other—how it might be that a leader take this knowledge and use it to lead congregations into understanding their identity and their call to move beyond themselves and welcome others.

The final article, (and I promise to bring this to a close, for those of you who are thinking “long post, much?”) “The Parish as Place: Principles of Parish Ministry,” by Harvey S. Peters, Jr., is, as it says, helpful in thinking about being called to serve and “do ministry in, with and for a particular place” (p.53). Ultimately, the Church finds its identity in God’s Word, guided by the Holy Spirit. It helps us to know who and whose we are. God calls us in service, and God calls people of every time, place, culture, and background. God’s mission calls us to “identify” with the hopes and needs of those who on the “outside” (the Other). I would take this one step further. We are called, not just to identify with, but to stand in solidarity, to work alongside, and to build up the Other. But I also agree with Peters’s statement that “Parish ministry is geographical and integral to its setting” (p.55). The congregation is visible, and ought to be a part of the community in which it is located, sharing concerns, working with the neighbors, and working to include the cultures and values of the community. As with Radical Welcome, Peters also states the importance of welcoming the Other (including and welcoming the gifts of all people). It is also important for congregations to realize that we are all working together as the Body of Christ.

My final thought on this article is that, for me, most importantly, the congregation, the leadership, etc… all need to remember who it is that calls us to serve. The examples of Christ, calling us to minister to the sick, the poor, the needy also tells us what is it that we are being called to as the Body of Christ. Our context is important. We are called to be the Body of Christ, but we are also called to a particular time and place, and knowing the communities to which we are called are essential for carrying out the mission and ministry of God.

And with that, I will end this entry. Perhaps for future journaling, I will break up entries into smaller units. But to those readers who have managed to “stick it out” to the end... thanks! And I hope that you will share your own thoughts and comments at the end!

Thanks be to God for calling us to be God’s people in the many and various places and contexts where we find ourselves!

Called to be Radical Welcome-ers

During this, my final semester as an M.Div student, I have found myself in an Urban Ministry course, down in D.C. Part of the work for the course includes journaling, in some fashion, on the readings that we have been assigned. You, my few, but faithful followers, and other readers who stumble upon my blog are now the ones who will be the recipients of that knowledge (that is to say, I have decided that I will post on this blog, as my way of journaling through the next few weeks of class. This is not to say that these will be the only items which I blog, but they will become a part of it). My dear readers, this means that you will have the benefit of hearing more, both about this course and its topics, as well as learn a little about some of the works that we are reading, and my own thoughts, reflections, struggles, etc. with them.

In our first meeting of the class last week, we spent a great deal of time thinking about the different areas that relate to ministry (and in particular, to urban ministry). Let me begin by familiarizing you with these four key areas: context, leadership (namely that of the pastor), community ministry, and congregational development. (As a note of credit, I must add here that this format comes from the instructor of the course, a pastor called to urban ministry.)

Context: All contexts of ministry will be different, even when thinking about “urban ministry” or “rural ministry,” etc, or for that matter, even when thinking about the context over time. Things happen. Things change. But ultimately, the point of context is that it is important to understand both the congregation itself, and what its physical location is. Where are you located? Who is in the neighborhood? Who lives there? Who works there? Now… who is REALLY there? Sometimes who you see are not the ones who live there. What are the demographics of the area? Think in terms of social class, race, gender, family situations (i.e. mostly intact families of husband and wife + children? Single parent homes? Partners? Singles?). When looking at race, look beyond the general categories of “white”/ “African American.” What are the true nationalities and cultures/ethnicities represented in the area? Where do the children go to school? What kinds of schools? Who are the leaders in the neighborhood? What is the community’s health (i.e. are you located in area with high rates of HIV/AIDS, cancer, etc?) Now, go one step further. What is it that the community is hoping to do? What are the community’s wider goals and hopes for the future? What is it that is important to the community?

All of this is essential when thinking about context. I think that this is a very good beginning to understanding ministry. It is important, first, to know who you are, and where you are. Ministry is not about “us” or the “in crowd,” or the people whose grandfather’s grandfather were members. It is about knowing that we are called to be God’s people in the world, and that starts with our local neighborhoods. Who are the people who are around us every day, but who do not gather in worship on Sunday morning? It is essential that we be aware of this… and it is these tidbits of information that is particularly helpful when beginning a new call. Get a grip on your surroundings!

Your Leadership: It is important to know who you are, in all of your various roles, particularly as a leader. The things is, we are all constantly changing and growing, and as a leader, it is important to continually be considering your strengths and weaknesses, ways in which you can continue growing, and ways in which you can direct and guide others into using their gifts and skills (READ: this means that you are not God, the world does not revolve and you, nor are you able to do all things yourself. Where are your gifts, and what are the gifts of others? Guess what… where your weaknesses are, there are others who may have those strengths! It really is ok to ask for help! And it is also ok to say “no” to things. Sometimes, rest is the best thing you can do as a leader, and for your ministry. Model good health, good self-care, and good stewardship for those you are called to serve). Sometimes, this is the greatest challenge for leaders. I know that I, too, am guilty. We ¬like to have others need us. And sometimes, we hate having to say no to people. I don’t know about other people, but I really appreciated hearing this. It’s good to be reminded that we need to focus on our leadership, and think about the things we can be/should be doing both for ourselves, and to be better prepared and able to walk with and guide the people.

Community Ministry – Think about your context. What seem to be the needs of the people around you? What kinds of programs/ministries does the congregation already participate in? Seek to build a stronger, more intimate community. Focus on the needs of the people, think about the mission field (context!), and be aware of what is going on your “place”—what is going on around you in the neighborhood. What are the ways that you, as leader, and you as a congregation, can get involved in what is going on in the community. The people are not coming to us… they aren’t walking in the doors on Sunday morning. So what can we be doing to go to them? This isn’t about “growing the congregation,” but, at least as I understand it, this is about paying attention to our mission to be the Body of Christ in the world. To go to the needy, the poor, the downtrodden, and to be “little Christs” for them. To find ways of being real, and vital, and involved with the outcast. This isn’t about a congregation struggling to survive and keep members. It is about living out our call to be God’s people, to be “light for the world.”

Congregational Development – Change doesn’t happen overnight! Congregational development requires the leaders and the congregational community to give voice to their own sense of identity—who they are, and whose they are. It is also important for the community to see where God is working in and through them, what God is doing among them… but then to take it one step further and see what it is that God is calling them to. Part of congregational development also involves the community considering what kinds of principles and values they agree upon as a church community based on the ministries they are already engaged in. Then comes the challenge—to stretch… to stretch into new things, new circles, new neighborhoods. This is God’s call to consider being expansive, incorporating all people… even those that we sometimes feel uncomfortable welcoming into our circle.

Ok, so with those four areas of ministry mapped out, I now turn attention towards this week’s readings. The primary text for this week was Radical Welcome: Embracing God, the Other, and the Spirit of Transformation by Stephanie Spellers. What I really appreciate about this book was how clearly it connected with the areas of ministry listed above. In this text, Spellers lays out the importance of being a welcoming community as the Body of Christ—but this is more than just “welcome” – this is radical welcome. This is inviting new, different, and sometimes unexpected Others into our midst. This is a welcome that goes beyond just inviting people to come, and become “like us,” and to get involved in what we’re already doing. This is a welcome that says, “Please, come in, bring with you all the things that you are, all the things that have made you who you are, and share them with us. Use your gifts, your culture, your being, to teach us and help us learn more about who God is.” This is a welcome that includes a willingness to be changed… that is, to be transformed… by those whom we rarely interact with. Those whom we may feel uncomfortable around because they are different from us. Sometimes, it involves welcoming those who we (or others in our congregations) may view as being somehow outside of the circle. Oh sure, we don’t like to think about that. We all like to think of ourselves as being welcoming. But all too often, we expect others to change to match us, when what we really ought to be doing is using all of those things that make each of us unique to help expand and transform all of us.

Spellers lays out suggestions for how a congregation might move towards becoming a radically welcoming congregation, noting that there are not specific answers, because each congregation’s context will be different. Rather, she provides questions to ask, to think about, to pray over… to “discern.” She stresses over and over again, that not every congregation is ready to become radically welcoming. For that matter, not every congregational will ever be truly radically welcoming. Some congregations may be radically welcoming to certain groups, but not to others. While she doesn’t necessarily call them as such, many of her arguments use elements of the four areas of ministry listed above. She spends much of the early portion of the text talking about elements of context—thinking about who is in, around, about, and outside of the walls of the church. I think that this is perhaps the most important step in developing and preparing a congregation to extend its welcome to those outside the walls of the building where they worship. It’s easy, on a Sunday morning, for people to drive to the church, walk inside, worship, and drive away, without ever really even being made aware of those who live in the church’s neighborhood. As leaders, not only do we need to know who is there, on the outskirts, on the periphery of our vision, but the people need to know. They need to see who is there. Simply putting faces, making it a REALITY for people can be a driving force to encourage further ministry.

But Spellers also notes the importance of community ministries—what is being done in the community already? What are the goals, the hopes and needs of the community? This is extremely important. I served my internship in a congregation that is an urban site, but the members, at least the vast majority, tend to be suburbanite. The congregation held a “block party” one evening, as a way of inviting people in the neighborhood to come, meet in the parking lot, and enjoy desserts and conversation with the members of the congregation. Some of the most important conversations that took place were those that involved the concerns of the community—what it was that the people living there wanted and hoped for their “home” block, what other groups were doing to help fulfill those goals, and ways in which the congregation could become more involved.
Now, this is, of course, not a quick fix. After all, this is just a start to becoming radically welcoming. A congregation must move towards inclusion—although even this isn’t enough. Because an inclusive, “incorporated” community has not yet fully embraced the Other… there has been “no true shift in [the] congregation’s cultural identity and practices” (p. 64). The table that she provides, (p.64), was a very helpful way of thinking about this. What we are called to be in an “incarnational” community… a community that reflects, acknowledges, and uses all of the voices and gifts of the people… including (and perhaps especially) the Other.

Of course, the leadership plays an important role in all of this. Not just the pastor, but the lay leadership. The leaders must stretch themselves, and guide others, to encourage communication and conversation, to discern the congregation’s identity, the goals, hopes and sense of calling of the community. And to encourage the community to stretch themselves.

Ultimately, I really appreciated this text. While some things will work, and others will not, depending on the context of the congregation, it has been very helpful in thinking about the ways in which we are called to reach out, and welcome, and be transformed by others. Regardless of whether it is urban, suburban, rural… The important thing, is that I believe we are called to the Other. We are not called to remain enclosed, wrapped up in ourselves, just clinging to survive, fighting to remain as we are, to stay the same, to keep our culture, our values intact and unchanged. God calls us to step beyond ourselves, to live out the Gospel, to transform and to be transformed by the Other. We are called to change and to be changed. And in so doing, to carry the gospel with us, that others may know the love that is for all people, regardless of ethnicity, race, culture, social status, economical situation, gender, sexuality, or any other human concept of division.


We were also assigned two short articles to consider and review. The first, “What Would Jack Do?” by Jeff Chu, speaks to the need for strong, knowledgeable leadership. Chu holds up the ministries of Willow Creek church, one of the fastest growing congregations in the country. The main element that has driven the church to its growth has been the importance of preparing church leaders (and also helps to educate and prepare other leaders around the world for church leadership, particularly pastoral leadership). It focuses on how there is a need for congregational leaders, pastors, etc. to have business skills—organizing, planning, administration—along with their skills to preach, lead worship, visit the sick, preside over the sacraments, weddings, and funerals. But, interestingly, many of those who are also prepped at the educating seminars are not just church leaders, but political, business, and educating leaders. The strength of Willow Creek is that it sees the value being aware of context, and using the hopes, goals and values of the community to grow and welcome others. But it also recognizes the value of strong leadership that is well-versed in the “business-y” end of congregational mission, ministry and development. While I do appreciate the point that this article makes, and I realize how important leadership is, I also have to say that I don’t think there was enough focus given to being theological leaders. Theology is what makes the Church the Church. Yes, other leadership aspects are important. But theology, God’s love, through Christ is ultimately the greatest gift that the Church has to share with the world… and maybe this is where “radical welcome” is important. So yes, well-equipped leadership is extremely important, but I would have liked to see more about the ways in which a congregation might use the leadership to extend welcome and include the Other—how it might be that a leader take this knowledge and use it to lead congregations into understanding their identity and their call to move beyond themselves and welcome others.

The final article, (and I promise to bring this to a close, for those of you who are thinking “long post, much?”) “The Parish as Place: Principles of Parish Ministry,” by Harvey S. Peters, Jr., is, as it says, helpful in thinking about being called to serve and “do ministry in, with and for a particular place” (p.53). Ultimately, the Church finds its identity in God’s Word, guided by the Holy Spirit. It helps us to know who and whose we are. God calls us in service, and God calls people of every time, place, culture, and background. God’s mission calls us to “identify” with the hopes and needs of those who on the “outside” (the Other). I would take this one step further. We are called, not just to identify with, but to stand in solidarity, to work alongside, and to build up the Other. But I also agree with Peters’s statement that “Parish ministry is geographical and integral to its setting” (p.55). The congregation is visible, and ought to be a part of the community in which it is located, sharing concerns, working with the neighbors, and working to include the cultures and values of the community. As with Radical Welcome, Peters also states the importance of welcoming the Other (including and welcoming the gifts of all people). It is also important for congregations to realize that we are all working together as the Body of Christ.

My final thought on this article is that, for me, most importantly, the congregation, the leadership, etc… all need to remember who it is that calls us to serve. The examples of Christ, calling us to minister to the sick, the poor, the needy also tells us what is it that we are being called to as the Body of Christ. Our context is important. We are called to be the Body of Christ, but we are also called to a particular time and place, and knowing the communities to which we are called are essential for carrying out the mission and ministry of God.

And with that, I will end this entry. Perhaps for future journaling, I will break up entries into smaller units. But to those readers who have managed to “stick it out” to the end... thanks! And I hope that you will share your own thoughts and comments at the end!

Thanks be to God for calling us to be God’s people in the many and various places and contexts where we find ourselves! During this, my final semester as an M.Div student, I have found myself in an Urban Ministry course, down in D.C. Part of the work for the course includes journaling, in some fashion, on the readings that we have been assigned. You, my few, but faithful followers, and other readers who stumble upon my blog are now the ones who will be the recipients of that knowledge (that is to say, I have decided that I will post on this blog, as my way of journaling through the next few weeks of class. This is not to say that these will be the only items which I blog, but they will become a part of it). My dear readers, this means that you will have the benefit of hearing more, both about this course and its topics, as well as learn a little about some of the works that we are reading, and my own thoughts, reflections, struggles, etc. with them.

In our first meeting of the class last week, we spent a great deal of time thinking about the different areas that relate to ministry (and in particular, to urban ministry). Let me begin by familiarizing you with these four key areas: context, leadership (namely that of the pastor), community ministry, and congregational development. (As a note of credit, I must add here that this format comes from the instructor of the course, a pastor called to urban ministry.)

Context: All contexts of ministry will be different, even when thinking about “urban ministry” or “rural ministry,” etc, or for that matter, even when thinking about the context over time. Things happen. Things change. But ultimately, the point of context is that it is important to understand both the congregation itself, and what its physical location is. Where are you located? Who is in the neighborhood? Who lives there? Who works there? Now… who is REALLY there? Sometimes who you see are not the ones who live there. What are the demographics of the area? Think in terms of social class, race, gender, family situations (i.e. mostly intact families of husband and wife + children? Single parent homes? Partners? Singles?). When looking at race, look beyond the general categories of “white”/ “African American.” What are the true nationalities and cultures/ethnicities represented in the area? Where do the children go to school? What kinds of schools? Who are the leaders in the neighborhood? What is the community’s health (i.e. are you located in area with high rates of HIV/AIDS, cancer, etc?) Now, go one step further. What is it that the community is hoping to do? What are the community’s wider goals and hopes for the future? What is it that is important to the community?

All of this is essential when thinking about context. I think that this is a very good beginning to understanding ministry. It is important, first, to know who you are, and where you are. Ministry is not about “us” or the “in crowd,” or the people whose grandfather’s grandfather were members. It is about knowing that we are called to be God’s people in the world, and that starts with our local neighborhoods. Who are the people who are around us every day, but who do not gather in worship on Sunday morning? It is essential that we be aware of this… and it is these tidbits of information that is particularly helpful when beginning a new call. Get a grip on your surroundings!

Your Leadership: It is important to know who you are, in all of your various roles, particularly as a leader. The things is, we are all constantly changing and growing, and as a leader, it is important to continually be considering your strengths and weaknesses, ways in which you can continue growing, and ways in which you can direct and guide others into using their gifts and skills (READ: this means that you are not God, the world does not revolve and you, nor are you able to do all things yourself. Where are your gifts, and what are the gifts of others? Guess what… where your weaknesses are, there are others who may have those strengths! It really is ok to ask for help! And it is also ok to say “no” to things. Sometimes, rest is the best thing you can do as a leader, and for your ministry. Model good health, good self-care, and good stewardship for those you are called to serve). Sometimes, this is the greatest challenge for leaders. I know that I, too, am guilty. We ¬like to have others need us. And sometimes, we hate having to say no to people. I don’t know about other people, but I really appreciated hearing this. It’s good to be reminded that we need to focus on our leadership, and think about the things we can be/should be doing both for ourselves, and to be better prepared and able to walk with and guide the people.

Community Ministry – Think about your context. What seem to be the needs of the people around you? What kinds of programs/ministries does the congregation already participate in? Seek to build a stronger, more intimate community. Focus on the needs of the people, think about the mission field (context!), and be aware of what is going on your “place”—what is going on around you in the neighborhood. What are the ways that you, as leader, and you as a congregation, can get involved in what is going on in the community. The people are not coming to us… they aren’t walking in the doors on Sunday morning. So what can we be doing to go to them? This isn’t about “growing the congregation,” but, at least as I understand it, this is about paying attention to our mission to be the Body of Christ in the world. To go to the needy, the poor, the downtrodden, and to be “little Christs” for them. To find ways of being real, and vital, and involved with the outcast. This isn’t about a congregation struggling to survive and keep members. It is about living out our call to be God’s people, to be “light for the world.”

Congregational Development – Change doesn’t happen overnight! Congregational development requires the leaders and the congregational community to give voice to their own sense of identity—who they are, and whose they are. It is also important for the community to see where God is working in and through them, what God is doing among them… but then to take it one step further and see what it is that God is calling them to. Part of congregational development also involves the community considering what kinds of principles and values they agree upon as a church community based on the ministries they are already engaged in. Then comes the challenge—to stretch… to stretch into new things, new circles, new neighborhoods. This is God’s call to consider being expansive, incorporating all people… even those that we sometimes feel uncomfortable welcoming into our circle.

Ok, so with those four areas of ministry mapped out, I now turn attention towards this week’s readings. The primary text for this week was Radical Welcome: Embracing God, the Other, and the Spirit of Transformation by Stephanie Spellers. What I really appreciate about this book was how clearly it connected with the areas of ministry listed above. In this text, Spellers lays out the importance of being a welcoming community as the Body of Christ—but this is more than just “welcome” – this is radical welcome. This is inviting new, different, and sometimes unexpected Others into our midst. This is a welcome that goes beyond just inviting people to come, and become “like us,” and to get involved in what we’re already doing. This is a welcome that says, “Please, come in, bring with you all the things that you are, all the things that have made you who you are, and share them with us. Use your gifts, your culture, your being, to teach us and help us learn more about who God is.” This is a welcome that includes a willingness to be changed… that is, to be transformed… by those whom we rarely interact with. Those whom we may feel uncomfortable around because they are different from us. Sometimes, it involves welcoming those who we (or others in our congregations) may view as being somehow outside of the circle. Oh sure, we don’t like to think about that. We all like to think of ourselves as being welcoming. But all too often, we expect others to change to match us, when what we really ought to be doing is using all of those things that make each of us unique to help expand and transform all of us.

Spellers lays out suggestions for how a congregation might move towards becoming a radically welcoming congregation, noting that there are not specific answers, because each congregation’s context will be different. Rather, she provides questions to ask, to think about, to pray over… to “discern.” She stresses over and over again, that not every congregation is ready to become radically welcoming. For that matter, not every congregational will ever be truly radically welcoming. Some congregations may be radically welcoming to certain groups, but not to others. While she doesn’t necessarily call them as such, many of her arguments use elements of the four areas of ministry listed above. She spends much of the early portion of the text talking about elements of context—thinking about who is in, around, about, and outside of the walls of the church. I think that this is perhaps the most important step in developing and preparing a congregation to extend its welcome to those outside the walls of the building where they worship. It’s easy, on a Sunday morning, for people to drive to the church, walk inside, worship, and drive away, without ever really even being made aware of those who live in the church’s neighborhood. As leaders, not only do we need to know who is there, on the outskirts, on the periphery of our vision, but the people need to know. They need to see who is there. Simply putting faces, making it a REALITY for people can be a driving force to encourage further ministry.

But Spellers also notes the importance of community ministries—what is being done in the community already? What are the goals, the hopes and needs of the community? This is extremely important. I served my internship in a congregation that is an urban site, but the members, at least the vast majority, tend to be suburbanite. The congregation held a “block party” one evening, as a way of inviting people in the neighborhood to come, meet in the parking lot, and enjoy desserts and conversation with the members of the congregation. Some of the most important conversations that took place were those that involved the concerns of the community—what it was that the people living there wanted and hoped for their “home” block, what other groups were doing to help fulfill those goals, and ways in which the congregation could become more involved.
Now, this is, of course, not a quick fix. After all, this is just a start to becoming radically welcoming. A congregation must move towards inclusion—although even this isn’t enough. Because an inclusive, “incorporated” community has not yet fully embraced the Other… there has been “no true shift in [the] congregation’s cultural identity and practices” (p. 64). The table that she provides, (p.64), was a very helpful way of thinking about this. What we are called to be in an “incarnational” community… a community that reflects, acknowledges, and uses all of the voices and gifts of the people… including (and perhaps especially) the Other.

Of course, the leadership plays an important role in all of this. Not just the pastor, but the lay leadership. The leaders must stretch themselves, and guide others, to encourage communication and conversation, to discern the congregation’s identity, the goals, hopes and sense of calling of the community. And to encourage the community to stretch themselves.

Ultimately, I really appreciated this text. While some things will work, and others will not, depending on the context of the congregation, it has been very helpful in thinking about the ways in which we are called to reach out, and welcome, and be transformed by others. Regardless of whether it is urban, suburban, rural… The important thing, is that I believe we are called to the Other. We are not called to remain enclosed, wrapped up in ourselves, just clinging to survive, fighting to remain as we are, to stay the same, to keep our culture, our values intact and unchanged. God calls us to step beyond ourselves, to live out the Gospel, to transform and to be transformed by the Other. We are called to change and to be changed. And in so doing, to carry the gospel with us, that others may know the love that is for all people, regardless of ethnicity, race, culture, social status, economical situation, gender, sexuality, or any other human concept of division.


We were also assigned two short articles to consider and review. The first, “What Would Jack Do?” by Jeff Chu, speaks to the need for strong, knowledgeable leadership. Chu holds up the ministries of Willow Creek church, one of the fastest growing congregations in the country. The main element that has driven the church to its growth has been the importance of preparing church leaders (and also helps to educate and prepare other leaders around the world for church leadership, particularly pastoral leadership). It focuses on how there is a need for congregational leaders, pastors, etc. to have business skills—organizing, planning, administration—along with their skills to preach, lead worship, visit the sick, preside over the sacraments, weddings, and funerals. But, interestingly, many of those who are also prepped at the educating seminars are not just church leaders, but political, business, and educating leaders. The strength of Willow Creek is that it sees the value being aware of context, and using the hopes, goals and values of the community to grow and welcome others. But it also recognizes the value of strong leadership that is well-versed in the “business-y” end of congregational mission, ministry and development. While I do appreciate the point that this article makes, and I realize how important leadership is, I also have to say that I don’t think there was enough focus given to being theological leaders. Theology is what makes the Church the Church. Yes, other leadership aspects are important. But theology, God’s love, through Christ is ultimately the greatest gift that the Church has to share with the world… and maybe this is where “radical welcome” is important. So yes, well-equipped leadership is extremely important, but I would have liked to see more about the ways in which a congregation might use the leadership to extend welcome and include the Other—how it might be that a leader take this knowledge and use it to lead congregations into understanding their identity and their call to move beyond themselves and welcome others.

The final article, (and I promise to bring this to a close, for those of you who are thinking “long post, much?”) “The Parish as Place: Principles of Parish Ministry,” by Harvey S. Peters, Jr., is, as it says, helpful in thinking about being called to serve and “do ministry in, with and for a particular place” (p.53). Ultimately, the Church finds its identity in God’s Word, guided by the Holy Spirit. It helps us to know who and whose we are. God calls us in service, and God calls people of every time, place, culture, and background. God’s mission calls us to “identify” with the hopes and needs of those who on the “outside” (the Other). I would take this one step further. We are called, not just to identify with, but to stand in solidarity, to work alongside, and to build up the Other. But I also agree with Peters’s statement that “Parish ministry is geographical and integral to its setting” (p.55). The congregation is visible, and ought to be a part of the community in which it is located, sharing concerns, working with the neighbors, and working to include the cultures and values of the community. As with Radical Welcome, Peters also states the importance of welcoming the Other (including and welcoming the gifts of all people). It is also important for congregations to realize that we are all working together as the Body of Christ.

My final thought on this article is that, for me, most importantly, the congregation, the leadership, etc… all need to remember who it is that calls us to serve. The examples of Christ, calling us to minister to the sick, the poor, the needy also tells us what is it that we are being called to as the Body of Christ. Our context is important. We are called to be the Body of Christ, but we are also called to a particular time and place, and knowing the communities to which we are called are essential for carrying out the mission and ministry of God.

And with that, I will end this entry. Perhaps for future journaling, I will break up entries into smaller units. But to those readers who have managed to “stick it out” to the end... thanks! And I hope that you will share your own thoughts and comments at the end!

Thanks be to God for calling us to be God’s people in the many and various places and contexts where we find ourselves!

Whoops

Ok, so it's only been almost a year since I last posted an update. Needless to say, I fell behind, and decided not to continue posting my sermons. Ah well. Such is parish life!

Well, internship is officially completed for me. It was bittersweet to leave the church. I loved every minute of my time there, built some fabulous relationships, and am sad to no longer be working every day with a fantastic staff and supervisor. At the same time, I am excited to have returned to campus to prepare for the start of my senior year, which will lead to graduation and hopefully a first-call! I've already had the opportunity to reconnect with some of my fellow classmates, which has made the transition a little easier--and more exciting! I'm looking forward to the end of the month when most of the rest of my class will have returned to campus, and we'll all be back as a "family" again.

Things to look forward to: I leave for Tukuyu, Tanzania, Africa in just 3 days. I'm excited, and a little nervous, too. It will be a fantastic trip, but despite our many meetings and planning sessions, it still feels like there is so much that I don't know. When I went to England, I at least had some idea of what to expect. When I went to Rome, I had some idea of what to expect. This time, I have no idea. And I guess that's a good thing. No expectations! But that also means a lot of uncertainty. And as we all know, I'm a crazy capricorn... which means I'm slightly anal/obsessive compulsive... and I like PLANS. I like to know ahead of time what's going to happen and when. So this will definitely be a step outside of my comfort zone in a lot of ways. Oh, and did I mention there's an 18-hour plane ride? Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE to fly... but I don't like 747s. I hate jets. Single-engine planes, F-16s? FABULOUS! Jets? Yikes. 18 hours of being on a jet plane. Flying to Europe was rough. The last 2-3 hours of the flight, and I was starting to get antsy... I was feeling trapped. And now I'm going to be on a plane for 18 hours? What was I thinking?! (I'm thinking this would be a good time to get an Rx for valium and sleep the flight away! Too bad it's too late for that!).

But in all seriousness, I am also very excited for all the thing that will happen when we get there. It's an amazing opportunity, and I'm very much looking forward to meeting the people and continuing to build relationships with our brothers and sisters around the world. Praise God for His awesomeness! (And yes, I do realize that I just made up a word).

Finally, I promise to make a better attempt at keeping up with blogging, although I doubt there will be anything else to add before I leave. So a final request to all who may read this: Please keep me and the other 10 members of the delegation from the synod in your thoughts and the people that we will meet in your prayers over the next few weeks, that relationships may be formed and strengthened, and God's goodness and amazing love may be made known.

God bless and keep you all, and look for a post of our return!!

Pretty Please with Sugar on Top?

So I sat down this morning with the intentions of having an almost-sermon put together by this time. Instead, I have been quite successful in failing to come up with anything even remotely interesting for a sermon. You'd think that at some point along this week, the Holy Spirit would have wanted to guide me a little bit... right? Well, now that I finally think that I've found a direction, I just need to find some way of getting started along that road. So here it is... here's what I'm thinking about...

The Gospel lesson for Sunday is John 6:35, 41-51. It is a continuation of the "Bread of Life" sermon, which began two weeks ago with the feeding of the 5000. Here we here Jesus again tell the crowds that "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." Well, as fantastic as this is... umm... what to preach on? The people grumble, because they misunderstand. Jesus has already fed them with REAL bread, but who does he think he is, claiming that he has come down from heaven? "The Jews" don't get it. How can Jesus claim that he has come down from heaven, when they know his parents! This is a common Johnanine misunderstanding. They are blinded by the physical, and have missed out on what is going on, what Jesus is saying, what Jesus is doing. And what is this whole, "bread of life" talk, anyway?

Well, I think that what Jesus is really trying to say, and what the people are thinking are two different things. The people WANT bread that they can see, feel, and consume... bread of this earth. Why? Because it meets their physical needs, and since Jesus has already shown in the feeding of the 5000 that he can meet their physical needs, they want to make him king. But they wanted to make him an earthly king. Kings were expected to care and provide for their people. Jesus can do that!! But Jesus leaves them, because he will not be made king according to their intentions for an earthly ruler. This passage beginning in v. 41 continues to show the disconnect between what the people think they need, and what Jesus KNOWS they need. Jesus is saying that if they hear (and hence believe), then they have eternal life. It is already theirs! Yes, they will die an earthly death, but they have eternal life. Jesus is saying, "I know you think that this is what you want. But I'm telling you and giving you what you really need! ME!" It's an exchange of sorts. We are being given something bigger... something better!

I saw a Nooma video with Rob Bell last week, and I've been thinking about it ever since. And I think it kind of fits with what is going on in this passage. In the video, Rob tells a story about how he and his wife had taken his 2-year old son to the mall. While they were there, they walked past a kiosk that was selling various toys, and one of these toys was a small ball, attached to a string, which then ties around your wrist (perhaps this is not the point where I admit that I had one such toy sometime ago!). Anyway, the vendor convinced Rob to try this toy out, especially when his son kept admiring them. So Rob put it on his wrist and gave the ball a toss--only to have it come back and hit him square in the face. Rob, with his pride now injured began to walk away, while his son cried out that he wanted one, ending with a whiney "But I NEED it." You see, Rob's son was convinced that this was a great toy, that he now needed. But Rob, knowing that this was most definitely NOT the best toy for his son, took him away in spite of his protests, promising to get him a more suitable toy... one that wouldn't bounce back and hit him in the face. So Rob took his son to a sporting goods store, walked back to the kickballs, and allowed his son to walk out with a shiney new kickball in the color he had picked out. Now, Rob didn't tell this story to talk about how he showed his love for his son by buying him a new toy. The point is, Rob's son thought he knew what he wanted, but Rob knew what it really was that was best for him.

In our gospel lesson for Sunday, we hear about how the Jews think they get it. They think that they know what they understand-- that Jesus is a man, not the "bread of life"; the son of Mary and Joseph, and not "come down from heaven." And they think they know what they want, what is best for them. Real bread. But Jesus knows better. He knows what it is that they really NEED. He turns to them saying, do not complain about this! God already fed your ancestors in the wilderness with manna, but they still died! I am the GOOD bread, the Word of God, and only with me and through me can you know God and live forever. If you eat this bread (aka hear this Word) and believe, you will be raised up forever!"

A friend of mine, in talking about this, reminded me of the Rolling Stones. "You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes you might find you get what you need." I don't know about the "trying" part, because I'm not sure that in our world of broken humanity and susceptibilty to sin if we can even try to get what we need. Because after all, it is only God who truly knows what we need. But what I do know is that while we may not always get what we want, God does know what we need, and God provides. And what we really need is Jesus.



So... is this sermon material? I don't know... I suppose we shall see....

Another Time, another town, another everything

Well, I have officially survived my first sermon at my internship site. Go me! :-) I have had positive feedback, as well as some great advice to help me improve my sermon for the next time I preach... aka, two weeks from Sunday. I did, however, break the cardinal rule of preachers, and somehow found myself preaching a stewardship sermon for my first sermon here (I didn't begin the sermon intending to preach stewardship... it just kind of grew into that on its own). Luckily the congregatins seems to have understood that I was not so much pointing towards giving, as much as trusting that what we little we do have and are able to do, is more than enough when offered to Christ.



Anyway, it was a wonderful day. A good friend came to the second service, and I had a chance to catch up with him a little bit before he leaves to begin his internship, and then two of my other bestests came over for me to cook them dinner and spend some time catching up with them. Yesterday, I hit the gym with yet another friend from here, and it was outstanding. I have missed the opportunity to head to the gym, since being away from seminary, and had almost forgotten how much I love the feel of being on a bike or going for a long run, or pushing my muscles to the brink. The endorphins were racing by the time I was done, and I feel amazing. I'm not even nearly as sore as I kind of expected to be! I can't wait to get back... hopefully tonight, and if not, tomorrow early morning for sure!



I also need some advice for how to help a friend in need. It's a difficult situation because I want to be able to be a friend for him, but the situation that he is in, (and the fact that he wants a relationship with me) makes me wonder if my friendship and support may hurt him more than help him... Your prayers for guidance and God's mercy on him and myself would be much appreciated.

Great Strength of Feet

Well, I have officially done it. I seem to have finally moved into the world of being a truly responsible adult. If you know me well, you know that I am the kind of person who always gets her work done on time. There are no exceptions, short of me being in the hospital that will prevent me from turning in an assignment on the day and time it is due. Now, does this mean that I will get the work done far in advance so I can get through the days without pulling all-nighters? No, most definitely not. I'm a skilled procrastinator, and in fact serve as president of the procrastinator's club, because of my amazing creativity in avoiding work. But hell must have finally frozen over, because I actually completed my sermon YESTERDAY--as in FRIDAY... and not even Friday at midnight, but Friday at about 5pm! I know this might sound like a small thing to most people, but I usually just accept the fact that I will be awake until 3am Sunday morning finishing up my sermons. This is a huge feat for me!

Now don't get me wrong, I am also of the firm belief that a sermon is never really... complete. It can always use improving, but to actually have a full manuscript that is ready to be preached this soon in advance is simply beyond my comprehension. So now I wonder... is it being vicar that has turned me into a responsible adult? Or have I simply grown weary of functioning on so little sleep.

Regardless, I now get to have today to read through it a few times, work out what I'm going to say for my children's sermon (and pray I manage to stay on track with it!), and spend the evening cleaning and relaxing in prepartion for Sunday afternoon.

On another note, I am looking forward to my supervisor's return from New Orleans. I have a lot of things that I am looking forward to discussing with him, and there seems to be tons of planning to do for the next few weeks when he'll be away again. I was originally a little anxious at the thought of being left alone so early in my internship, but now that it comes down to it, I'm feeling far more confident than I ever thought I would, and think that maybe this was just what I really needed to grow into my role as vicar.

At any rate, it is sad that it is a Saturday and I am in the office again, when I should be out enjoying my day off, and this beautiful weather, so I suppose I shall wrap up my work here and head on home, first to clean, and then perhaps to enjoy this gorgeous day, either with a swim or by reading a book on my balcony.... Pax to you all... and depending on how the sermon goes tomorrow, maybe I will even consider posting it for further discussion :-)

A gift of bread

So I've been sitting in my office all morning, contemplating what to say for my sermon. Now, don't get me wrong, I have finally reached a decision as to what the main point of my sermon will be. Heck, I've even got my Law and Gospel part figured out. But I'll be darned if I can get the actual sermon flowing.



I went home last night still pondering the gospel lesson for the week, and felt pretty certain that I was going to approach the text from the standpoint of abundance... the miraculous gift of abundance that Jesus provided for the thosands in the feeding... and it wasn't just the abundance of a spiritual gift, but the abundance of something that the people really truly needed to survive--he provided the hungry masses with what they needed most: food. Not teachings and words of solace and comfort, not words to feed the soul, but real, tangible food. But this approach left me feeling uninspired, because the truth is, there is not an abundance of the things which we need, and while the argument can be, and has been made that it is humanity's fault--that if we were willing to share more and take less for ourselves, then there would be more than enough for everyone. God provides, but we take too much for ourselves. While this might provide some explanation, and make it a little more "ok" (not that it really is, but you know what I mean) that people do not have enough, I just don't find this satisfactory.

At any rate, I've been playng out a sermon that would follow this kind of thinking, and I'm just not... inspired. Truth be told, it feels like a lie to stand up and say that. So where to now? Well, here's what I've been thinking (and if I come off as full of crap, then so be it, but it has helped a little to think of it this way). What if it isn't so much about needs being met as it is about the small, seemingly insignificant boy (translated from the Greek literally means, "the smallest of children") giving all that he had, and how Jesus used the gift to bring about a miracle? What if it the message is telling us that what reallymatters is the willingness to give to something, and in our giving, God is able to take our small offering and turn it into something wonderful?

And then there's the whole matter of the testing of the disciples.
Jesus had already performed a miracle of abundance before this, at the wedding at Cana. He has already proven that he can take something small and insignificant (aka, water, although arguably not small and insignificant) and turn it into something marvelous. Yet the disciples, who have certainly witnessed the many things Jesus can do, fail to understand that Jesus can provide what is needed. First Philip fails the test. You can almost hear him laugh at Jesus question: "WHAT? You want us to do WHAT?! Buy bread for over 5000 people? You're nuts!" And poor Andrew, he comes so close, pointint to the boy with the loaves and the fish... but then he too fails, as he turns and says, "yeah, we've got those things, but they're a little boy's lunch--nothing compared to the nuber of people here to feed." So really, what is our lesson here? Is it about the giving? Or is it about having faith that God will provide through Jesus?

And so there it is. I don't quite yet know what to do with it, were to go with it, or how to really make it work, but at anyrate, this is what I've been thinking about. Let us hop that something will come out of these ramblings and mind-wanderings by Sunday... and preferably something good, guided by the Holy Spirit...