Friday, November 8, 2024
(click here to listen to or read today’s scriptures)
Church
I rejoiced because they said to me, “We will go up to the house of the Lord.” And now we have set foot within your gates.
We love to go to church on Sundays. In downtown Evansville I visited three churches on Sunday morning: Methodist, Episcopal and the “Gathering” church. The next week in Urbana three more: C-U Church, Mahomet Vineyard, and Vineyard Church of Central Illinois.
Everywhere more or less enthusiastic men and women sang and prayed, listened to the Bible readings and sat through sermons, often with interest. I joined them.
In Austin we spend Sunday mornings at Grace Covenant Church across the street. Four years ago we moved into this apartment complex because it was across the street from Grace. Others in our SS class come from as far as an hour away. We get there early.
I go for coffee, tea, water and one glazed donut hole. One of the greeters, also named Dave, attended Lincoln Christian College in the late 1960’s just before Margaret attended seminary there. Dave gives me a hug. Other guys do too. Another greeter, Armando, made a point a few years ago to give us a cross he made (he signs and numbers these crosses and makes several each week). Armando noticed we were holding hands while we prayed and was touched by our affection. We hold hands whenever we pray, by the way. Ever since then on Sundays Armando and I talk. About everything. Easy.
While I’m getting our drinks Margaret talks to several women she sees during the week at Bible studies. After the service is over, she makes it a point to say hello to people she doesn’t yet know, especially if they look like they might be from another country. This is truly her time to shine.
Lately our pastor Matt and other pastors now and then have been walking and talking with us through the book of Exodus. Matt showed plague and miracle scenes from Netflix’ Testament: The Story of Moses. His sermons dive through Aristotle, Chesterton and Tolkien into innovative and classic interpretations of one chapter after another. It’s not like being there with the Israelites in the desert, but pretty close.
We sit with Andi and Aki, who have been teachers in the New Parents class. They are about to be parents again, for the third time. Everyone knows them. Last week after church we joined hundreds of others outside for kolaches and donuts and drinks and chips. Miles and Jasper ran up to us, out of their Sunday class, hollering.
We spent awhile talking at booths set up by several ministries of the church, including World Relief. If I volunteer with them, I’ll have the chance to pick up folks from other countries at the Austin airport and take them where they need to go. Sounds good to me.
On Ash Wednesday and sometimes during Lent we visit Episcopal and Catholic churches in the neighborhood. Before the last two Christmases we heard The Messiah at a large Methodist church a couple of blocks away. Austin, like most cities, isn’t particularly religious … or is it? There are churches everywhere. Just not that many folks in them.
One of our favorites is the Church Under the Bridge, ministering to homeless folks and whoever else wants to come. Margaret’s friend Shelley is part of that group, adding the Grace Church flavor to what’s already a rich stew.
Many, as I tell you now even in tears, conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ. But their glory is in their shame and their God is their stomach.
If not stomach, at least ego. We are trapped in a materialist culture; I think most of us would agree with that. We can move around in it, but to escape requires community, courage, cooperation, and … church. Church can be a trap too, but just as often or more, it’s the route out. Follow Jesus up the road to Emmaus, and listen to what he says. Invite him in for dinner. Get down on your knees and pray.
Keep the word of Christ, and the love of God will be truly perfected in you.
(Philippians 3, Psalm 122, 1 John 2, Luke 16)
(posted at www.davesandel.net)
#
