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Anxiety might be an appropriate response to all that is going on in the world currently, followed by existential dread. KC Greene’s image of the dog sitting in a burning house with the caption “this is fine” comes to mind often.
I wish that Sunday worship attendance would end those feelings for you… the best we can offer is perspectives on appropriate coping responses. In times of dread, it is comforting to me to be reminded there have always been times of dread. God’s people have throughout our history faced times of anxiety, fear, and existential dread. As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease. – Genesis 8:22 The beginning of the Bible presents early on a story of the end of the world through flood. It seems somewhat appropriate that just as soon as people learn about other people in the world, there is an existential threat that it all may end. Yet, God saves people through water, then promises that as long as the earth endures, so will everything. I have no real idea of all that will transpire in the world, in our community, or even in our congregation. Yet, I know that the days will come and go as they always have. We will have Sunday worship, the Good News of Jesus Christ will be proclaimed and as a faithful community we will respond in love and faith to the needs of our community. God has promised even in the shadow of destruction that all will be one day after the next. Within this newsletter you will find news of congregational information sessions and an upcoming meeting with a vote pertaining to our financial realities. This may cause many questions, and some anxieties, maybe additional existential dread. We will walk through this together, and if you have any questions at all please let me know or ask any member of our congregational council. God bless you beloved ones and know that all will be well. Pr. Erik
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What is a congregation?
Are we a business? Like McDonalds? Sometimes we are like McDonalds- we offer a unique setting and product to the general public. But our sales are measured with engaged people not dollars returned. Are we a service organization? Like the Lions? Sometimes we are like the Lions- we give charitably to community members and endeavors. But our charity is in our identity not our charter. Are we social services? Some of our work together and of our staff take on the responsibilities of social services. But we are not equipped to sustain or intervene perpetually. Are we a social club? Sometimes we are sociable and invite members to mixers and functions. But membership is free and inclusive. Are we a pub? Sometimes we offer food and strong drink for price. But not on a regular basis. Are we a bank? Sometimes we hold sums of money which are invested in community assets, and loan monies for projects. But we do not collect interest or commit usuary. Are we a public service? Like the fire department? Sometimes we respond in emergencies for the public benefit by offering shelter or pastoral resources to those who call. But we don’t have the flashing lights. Are we a library? We hold a great many resources and publications for education and research purposes. But we cannot possibly be the repository for all desirable knowledge. Are we a school? We have a great number of teachers among our number and we gather regularly for lessons and education. But we’ve not the laboratories and studios for study and creation. Are we a museum? We hold a great number of artifacts, historical records, and personal narratives from the past. But we are a ministry of the present not a time capsule of days gone by. Sometimes we are all of these things and yet none of them entirely. We are a collection of people, whose various skills and vocations intersect in wild, fascinating, sometimes challenging ways with the living out of God’s Word called the Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ. Always we are a loved and gathered assembly of people who seek to live in a just and righteous world. What we do is actively work to enact righteousness, goodness, peace and love in the world sorely needing to experience it in the name of Jesus Christ. Anxiety builds in our community when we focus too much on the “sometimes” actions of the congregation and too little on the “always” identity of the congregation. The reason and the need for the “sometimes” is a direct result of the “always.” In so long as we are at all times and place living in the identity that we have in Christ, as people of the divine, who are called to be in this place than we will continue Always in this place. Be at peace beloved ones in the hot and cold of these summer months. Pr. Erik |
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