Surprise

I remember a time years ago when I made a trip home to visit my parents.  On that visit I found a box filled with some of my father’s personal items.  One of the personal items in the box was an old pair of eyeglasses.  I did not wear glasses at that time in my life.  I thought it would be fun to put the glasses on and see what I looked like in the mirror.  I must admit that I was not ready for what would happen the moment those glasses were put in place on head.  The glasses had some degree of corrective vision in them.  The moment I looked through the lenses of the glasses I began to see details of things in the house that I was not seeing before I had them on.  Over the next minute I would remove and replace the glasses on my head several time just to check to see if details were really more visible with the glasses.  Sure enough, I saw better with my dad's old pair of corrective lenses.

That moment was a bit humbling and at the same time helpful.  I must have gone a long time without ever really knowing my eyesight was getting slowly worse.  It was in that moment I became aware I needed to correct my vision permanently to see what I really needed to see.  I remember seeing details of leaves on trees with my father’s glasses and yet only saw a blurred green blob without them.  We never like to admit that our abilities are not what they once were.

The same can be true for this thing we call church.  We think things are fine and all is right with the world while some correction or needed transformation is necessary for a healthy future.  All organizations and churches need moments in which we examine our sight so we can see clearly into the days that are in front of us. 

It is important that we are clear about our church identity and mission.  It is important that we affirm the values and ministry and help us continue to honor Christ.  It is important that we do this work together and not just a few people.  It is important that we be humble enough to recognize we need God’s help more than we know in shaping our future as Christ’s church.  It is important that we be open enough to make adjustments and enhancements to the ministry we are already doing. 

We do not want to someday realize that we went too long without correcting the visional direction of our work together as a church.  As scripture tells us, “we see in a mirror dimly but then we will see face to face.”  Through prayer and God’s help we will form a future story that will create excitement and hope for us as we live into God’s future.

Grace and Peace,

Rev. Dr. Chris Wilson

Approaching and Leaving The Table

Communion is a powerful, theological, experiential, and sensual encounter in worship.  As a Disciples of Christ minister the weekly observance of communion I see as a gift to my weekly faith.  Our sanctuary has only one piece of furniture on the chancel, the table.  It is clearly the center of our worship.  It is clearly through Jesus that we know God more fully.

I think the table offers two valuable perspectives to our faith formation.  First, communion says something about our approaching the table. There is no barrier to this table.  We are invited by the host in whatever state we find ourselves.  We come as needing wholeness in our life.  We have within us the desire or quest to draw closer to God's presence to create depth and value to our lives.  The table draws a great diversity of people, yet in the midst of that diversity we discover the common cause to find peace in our life that is grounded in God through Jesus Christ.

The second perspective is what we do when we leave the table.  The table essentially begs action and a response to the grace God has given to each of us.  I believer grace ignites in us compassion to serve on Christ's behalf.  The world should become a better place because of our increased connection to God and our desire to serve on God's behalf.

The more we engage in this communion cycle of approaching and leaving the more the whole world will be shaped by Christ's love.  The table of God is the beginning and ending of all that is good and faithful.  Let it be so through our participation and response to the bread and cup Christ offers to you and me.

Grace and Peace,

Rev. Chris Wilson