Getting in and Fitting In

 I loved our Parish Forum on Sunday. Patricia and I had some bittersweet news about our departure, but in spite of that (and perhaps because of it) I felt great energy in the room. The presence of God was in our church on Sunday.

In particular, I loved something James Pettigrew said right at the end. (I love it when someone gets the floor and ends a meeting better than I could! Makes my job easy. Funny how that works- the Lord gives a word to just the right person at just right time sometimes, huh?)  He said, “You get in where you fit in…”

A few people voiced some legitimate concerns.  Barbara talked about how we need to do better with the grounds. We also heard several people talk about how we needed folks to step up and commit to getting things done around here. But James’s pithy statement really summed up how I feel about work at the Church. I think some passion was displayed about some issues- in particular apathy, a few people doing most of the work and the building and grounds. However, in the end, Sunday’s forum was a healthy church on display. Words and ideas were shared with love and with a common vision towards God’s kingdom.  We gathered and were the Church.

The Church is different from other groups. God’s Church is not a civic organization or a social club- she is not a fraternal order or a sorority- she is not even an outreach organization. The Church is the Body of Christ- God’s body! Gathered together-  we make up the very substance of who God is on this earth.  (Think about that for a second.  Whoa….)

I love what the Apostle Paul says about the Church being God’s body. He says, in 1 Cor 12: 12, “Christ is just like the human body—a body is a unit and has many parts;and all the parts of the body are one body, even though there are many.” (CEB)

Some of us are hands that operate weed whackers or lawnmowers, fingers that knead dough, chop vegetables or braise legs of lamb. Quite a few of us are heads: people who think,  have great ideas and share practical skills that are put to great use. Just about everyone here is the heart- we never fail to see great passion for not only the survival of Incarnation but the desire for her to flourish. We are God’s body!

So, when you contribute time and talent to Incarnation, you are doing so for the betterment not of a building or a liturgy or a social event or even a group of really nice people who gather, sing and pray each week- you are doing your part to bring and keep God’s body in good health. Every second you spend here working, thinking, teaching, singing, pulling weeds, pressure-washing, studying scripture (and whatever else you can think of) is a blessed miracle!

I don’t know about you, but I find it thrilling to be able to take part in being God’s visible presence in this world. All of the tiny things you do here are building God’s Kingdom, one tiny act at a time. Every weed you pull, every bean you cook, every blade of grass you cut and every bulletin you fold, you are moving as a part of God’s body.