Formative Church Visit - Silverwood Mennonite Church

I began serving as associate minister at Silverwood Mennonite Church about the same time as I entered seminary studies full-time.  This was a period of deep pastoral formation in my life and Silverwood proved to be the right place for me to develop a professional understanding of pastoral vocation.  In the interview process I was impressed that the congregation planned a major ministry responsibility for me to be youth ministry - particularly since there were only four high school age youth in the congregation.  It was the congregation's goal to be "ahead of the curve" in building a youth ministry for the many young children who were growing up at that time.

Our years with Silverwood were sweet and our leaving was difficult, so there was a bit of nervous apprehension for BJ and I as we walked the few blocks to worship Sunday.  But what a blessing it was for us to be welcomed so warmly.  It is awkward for a pastor from across town to drop in for a visit and people did want to know why we had come.  However, the embrace we received on Sunday felt the same as the one we received two decades ago.

Following a rather disappointing video commemorating the events of September 11, 2001 in which we were assured that "one nation under God" will always find the resolve to rally in the face of crisis, the act of worship was clear and inviting.  I looked through to the other side of the sanctuary (designed in a way I still appreciate) and recognized Linda looking unchanged in the 14 years since I saw her last.  Then I noticed two young women next to her who bore a striking resemblance to her and I realized that her little children are nearing young adulthood.  Then the congregation's 9th graders were invited forward for a presentation - a very large group with some named who could not be present!

Twenty years ago, the congregation was predominatly young adult professional.  Now, it is indeed growing up.  What a blessing to see the congregation maturing as a vital community of all ages.

May God bless Silverwood Mennonite Church with the gifts of discernment and grace as they grow in diversity and wisdom.  May God bless Ron, Janice, Aimee and Jeremy with harmony and strength as they continue to lead in the way of Christ.

Formative Church Visit - Ninth Street Community Church

I was not always excited about worship as a child.  Still, when it came time for our family to make its monthly trip to Saginaw for worship at 9th Street Mennonite Church, I was ready.  It was not so much for the Sunday School because the teacher often kissed my face.  My attraction to Ninth Street was the way they expressed so much enthusiasm for praising God - it was so different from all my other experiences of church.  In my my memory still plays the recordings of people offering spontaneous prayers, constant sermon affirmation ("Amens" and "Yes, yeses") and testimonies of God's goodness from the congregation.  The memories may be over-sentimentalized. Yet, there is something in me that longs to worship in a congregation that that believes their participation is essential.  It wasn't until I was in high school that it occurred to me that the Ninth Street Mennonite Church was predominantly African American.

On Sunday, I was full of anticipation as BJ, Andy and my Mom and Dad drove to Saginaw for the worship that begins "sometime after 11:00 a.m.," as we were told.  We parked in the back of the building like we always had, but then decided to enter the building in front since we were, after all, guests.  "Oh come on into the sanctuary, there's still some time left for Sunday School," we were told, so we did...awkwardly aware of how out of place five white people were finding seats mid-way through Sunday School.  The teacher stopped teaching and the class of about twenty turned and applauded - just their way of saying "welcome."

Immediately following Sunday School ("sometime after 11:00 a.m.) the reunion began.  A number of people from Delores to Pastors Bill and Rex, to my former Sunday School teacher Geneva came over to say hello with handshakes and hugs.  Geneva claims it was her sister Grace that liked to kiss my face when I was a child, but I really think it was Geneva since she went down the row of us kissing each one down to Andy (he seemed uncomfortably ok with it).

With a little Sunday School report and music, worship was underway and we were all called to join in.  As typically ill at ease I am with being vocal and physically active in worship, at Ninth Street the worship atmosphere is naturally hospitable.  The theme of Bill's sermon ("If God makes sure birds have enough to eat, what do we have to get all worked up about") matched my memory of the congregation's focus.  Clearly, this is a congregation whose financial picture has been set in the frame of a rusting city, so Bill's statement that  "the rich people have as many money worries as the poor" called us all to recognize the care of God in our lives.

There is a rich stream of gratitude flowing through this little congregation.  They exemplify the healthiest people I know, whose lives express a deep gratitude for everything and everyone that has reached across a boundary and border to enrich and embrace them.  Their gratitude is offered to God for every simple grace in life ("I thank God for the gift of living another day") to appreciation for relationships with other people.

Thank you, Ninth Street Community Church for your witness to me of life lived with a faithful God.  Thank you for offering the way of following Christ to your community as shown in the welcome of Michael, a new believer, on Sunday morning.  May the peace of Christ sustain you and strengthen you as a community of the Gospel of our Lord.

Where do you go to church?

[The following is a conversation I had with a man I met today.]

"Where do you go to church?" 

I fumble for words to tell the guy about my congregation and, at the same time, correct the idea that church can be fixed to a place or contained in a service.  Now, I know that this fellow did not mean to enter a theological conversation with me; however, his question ignores the real and radically necessary essence of the church in our world.  If "church" is as innocuous as a place or even an activity, then our witness, our life together, is very small.  

"I am a part of the East Goshen Mennonite Church," I responded.

"Where is that?"

 Now, I am stuck.  How can I dismiss the core nature of our faith community by restricting it to an address definable by Google Maps?  No, really...  If he can find my "church" with his car's GPS, then it is so much less than I thought it to be.  

"Our building is on Lincoln Avenue, just east of town."

"What time is your church service?"

We are drowning in a sea of misunderstanding.  God save us from defining ourselves by place, time or even gathered activities such as singing from hymnals or communion by intinction.  Jesus himself, who shook off established religiosity to define himself as the proclaimer of a kingdom without a throne, is the clearest model of the Christian community.  If Jesus characterized the kingdom as "the way" of liberation and abundant life, then I had better find a new way to introduce people to my part of it.

"We worship at 8 a.m. and 10:30 on Sundays... we often eat together, and attempt to follow Christ in all of our living."

"Ahh... Oh."  [Conversation ended.]

We need to find a new language for identifying what it means to be followers of Christ.