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On May 24th I attended the Perm Southeast Conference's Spring Meeting, called "A Praying Community." Throughout the event there were workshops on prayer as singing, prayer as knitting, prayer as silent meditation... This United Church of Christ event made real the difference between our church communities, and all our other social communities; sacred communities versus secular communities. At the heart of who we are as Christians is a visioning, praying community!
As Christians, as Church, we are meant to be set apart. God's kingdoni is not of this world (John 18:36), and God's ways are not the world's ways (Isaiah 55:8). Today's world cares about the bottom line. It cares solely about practicality, feasibility, and cost - benefit analysis. Society and its companies, clubs, and social organizations are about their own benefit, position, and survival. There is only room for those who offer the most competitive skills and desirable attributes. The world listens to those who speak the loudest. Individuals vie for recognition, and factions vie for coveted decision-making rights.
However, the Church is different. God sets us apart, an island in an otherwise secular society. For the Church, the bottom line is not about budget or income, but about touching and uplifting the lives of as many people as possible. The Church is about relying on the urgings of God through faith in prayer. Do we at OSUCC value people before the bottom line? Do we listen to those with the loudest voice, or those with the most inspired vision? The Church of Christ is not about power, position, or survival. If it were, Christ - the head of the church -would never have allowed himself to be crucified for our sake. Instead, the Church is about loving one another and sharing the good news of God. Sometimes this means embracing even those whom society deems less skilled or less desirable, because such are still the beloved children of God, Sometimes living in such a radical community can be difficult, but that is why God has given us prayer. If tomorrow we were to lose everything - our building, or organ, or endowments, we would still be a church... A thriving community nurturing one another, and worshipping God. And God would still be calling us to think outside the box, reminding us that God's ways aren't always our ways, and that through prayer, all things are possible.
Blessings, Pastor Leslie
Rev. Leslie Kearney, Pastor * 619 Townskp Line Road * Norristown,PA 19403 * 610/539-7444 * osucc619
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