I’ll admit
it. Being new to the whole thing, I was sorta startled that FCCI
relocated worship the weekend of the Feed My Starving Children
MobilePack. Marcie Bishop mentioned that the sanctuary was used for
group orientation, which does sorta bump into our regularly scheduled
program! In fact, I wandered around considering other places in the
building we could hold a simplified worship service, but a few people
reminded me that the whole facility is filled with activity, and even if
a room would work, it might be hard to hear anything. Duh, David. But
I felt a little strange about relocating. That was probably the
preacher’s proprietary feeling about the primacy of worship in the life
of the church. And maybe a bit of unconscious, reflexive territoriality
that goes with the job! Momentarily.
But then I
realized that the other side of my theology was really happy! Worship
is important, but not the only priority for a community of faith.
Mission is, too. I’ve always known that and pushed for that… duh,
David.
My flitting feeling that the building is being
invaded supposes that our facility is a refuge from the world, or, as
some congregations and some architectures show, a fortress protecting it
from the world. A healthier perspective is that a church’s facility is
a launching place into the world, a base of operations, a
recharging station to have the energy to work the rest of the week for
our neighbors’ well-being. It is the garage, the workshop, the
warehouse, the central depot from which the employees in their service
trucks go out to do the job of faith. The doors swing out.
On this particular weekend is it much clearer to see that spiritual
impulse to pack and mobilize for the good of others, but this
congregation has it all year long. I think that is a good thing. Duh,
David.
I’ve seen a few church sanctuaries where over
the doors is inscribed, “Our worship is over; Our service begins,” as
people leave the sanctuary on their way out into the world and the rest
of their weeks. I’ve always kind of liked such theology. This Sunday,
First Congregational really does that! Sure, I hope to see a
handful of you at Cass Park for our outdoor worship, but I hope a lot of
you support or participate in our literal service feeding Christ’s starving children. Work and worship. They go together.
In Christ,
David
Texts For Sunday Worship:
From the Hebrew Bible Jeremiah 18:1-11
From the Gospels Luke 14:25-33
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