Extra-Ordinary Living | Part 2
Fall is often experienced as a time of ebbing as the leaves turn color and quit trees, but there is a sense of growth and new life pulsing through Union as we celebrate how the Holy Spirit is working through the OPOP (One Parish One Prisoner) team, people returning to in person worship, a talented children’s team, the launch of the Table --our middle school and high school ministry, Artist’s Way on Wednesdays, small groups beginning, events in our building, ongoing relational connection in our neighborhood, and much more.
Yet, we also know that times of transitions stir up grief and longing.
The words of Isaiah speak as needed and relevantly in our lives as they did it a time of Exile:
I am about to do a new thing;
now it springs forth; do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19
Our 9/11/22 Sunday passage of John 21 is a story of new beginnings for Peter. With this story we begin our fall focus on the story of Peter, stepping out and living in response to the grace of Christ who invites him to a new beginning of participation in God’s dream of wholeness. Where are you being invited to step into a new beginning? A new way of living in response to grace?
Our weekly connection that we call CLIMB ON is an invitation to be attentive to the new things God is doing now – even here and even now.
If you have ideas for how our community may continue to grow dynamically and authentically as we imagine with God a new way, let us know!
Walter Brueggman states this invitation this way:
“The God of the Gospel, however, not only curbs and checks our excessive ambition. We may imagine God doing a new thing among us. Perhaps we are arriving at a new neighborly normal:
Imagine, we are treating prisoners differently, even releasing some who constitute no threat
Imagine, we are mobilizing generous financing for needy neighbors who must have resources in order to survive.
Imagine, we are finding generous provisions for students and their debts.
The new thing God is making possible is a world of generous, neighborly compassion. It is before our very eyes! The God who does this new thing has also said, “Do not remember former things.” We have so much we will do well to forget
We may forget punitive measures toward outliers.
We may forget parsimony toward those in need.
We may forget predatory policies toward the vulnerable.”
And, as James B said on last Sunday, September 4, imagining a new way begins with confessing Jesus, the radical Jesus of the Gospels:
What do you fear about confessing Jesus?
Walking away from religious beliefs rooted in tradition, culture, comfort and into the challenge of Jesus’ character and mission?
Being a sucker? Taken an advantage of?
Losing a promotion, being mocked?
All of those are real possibilities. In the short run.
But we are not living defined by the short run. We are defined by the One Risen from the dead who said, “Behold, I am with you always!” And eternity is a very long run.
There is a stench of a co-opted church in this country. Let’s continue to risk confessing Jesus in a variety of ways and give this land the life-giving aroma of Christ.
What does it look like for us as a church, for you to risk confessing Jesus—not the false Jesus we saw mixed in the crowd on January 6th but the Jesus who went to the cross for the world He so loves, rose from the dead and has changed your life?
What does it look like for us to risk confessing Jesus?
Let’s journey together!