For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.
Ecclesiastes 3:1

The writer of Ecclesiastes reminds us that there is a time for everything. A time for growing and dying and being born and grieving and praying and singing and being quiet. There is a time for every matter or PURPOSE under heaven.

We have been telling you for a while that were were praying through changes to Revive. And we have prayed and talked and cried and argued and prayed some more. We have listened and worshiped and talked and prayed some more. We have made some big changes! Tim, who has been so instrumental to our worship was called to another ministry, and we said goodbye in a bittersweet farewell. We have moved from our gym to upstairs in a cozier space. We’ve made some basic worship changes to be more inviting and powerful. These changes still haven’t changed the core of who we are, or what we are trying to accomplish. We always want to be a place reaching out to those who don’t know Jesus or those without a local faith community. We want to be a place where people who are struggling with doubts and questions feel welcomed and included. We want to be a place for young adults to come and see Jesus.

Even with the changes, our leadership team felt that something important was still not working. That without a major change, we could not grow or fulfill the call God was placing in our hearts. In the end, we are trying to follow what we are hearing from God and being led to do.

June 1st will be our last Saturday Revive Service. We will end with a HUGE First Feast where we can eat and fellowship together!

Starting July 9th, we will begin to worship on Tuesday Nights at 7 pm.

At the conclusion of our series, “Characters Welcome”, we will take a month off. This will allow us to rest, recover, retool, reset, and rebuilt. We will be looking at ways to change our vision statement, build up our marketing/hospitality, make some upgrades to the worship space, and plan for the fall. We won’t be stopping, and if you will miss us in the interim, we would love to let you volunteer in ANY or ALL of these areas!!!

Please be in prayer for us. We pray that this change will help us all live out our mission. If you have thoughts, questions, comments, or want to help, please let me know! Feel free to email me at emily AT kennesawumc DOT org.

We look forward to the next three weeks, and we know July 9th will be here before we know it! We can’t wait to worship with you!

Blessings!
Emily

We are entering a new phase in life here at Revive. This week will be our first week upstairs in our new space–UPSTAIRS! Because of all the changes, we will NOT be having First Feast so we can concentrate instead on worship.

We are also beginning a new series. Characters Welcome. Have you ever noticed in scripture how many “Characters” there are? From Dancing King David to Jael to Zacchaeus to Lydia there are so many characters. Have you ever noticed how Jesus treated the outcast? Ever realized what Jesus called us to do? Check out Matthew 25:31-46 if you have more questions.

We are called to welcome the outcast. The Sinner (ie all of us!). The clean. The unclean. We are called to make space for the least of these and the best.

Last week we sent out some surveys. We are still compiling the data, but the initial results tell us that including other people is an area in which we can grow! So, we are going to talk about it. Focus on it. Look at it!

Lets make Revive a place where Characters are Welcome. The Kingdom welcomes them. We should too!

Because of Christ–
Emily

When at 5:30 Saturday, my phone shows a missed call from our senior pastor who is on confirmation retreat, I get nervous. I quickly step out of my conversation to call him back–fearful of what is to come! Wallace answers and says, “We’ve got some boys here who want to pray for you. For Revive”. I only hear half of what they say, but my soul is warmed. I am so grateful that they prayed for me. For us. For God to move in worship. I am so grateful my heart is overflowing.

I get home exhausted about 10:00. I plop myself in front of the TV to veg, and my phone rings again from confirmation retreat. Nervous, I answer before the second ring. Our children’s director proceeds to ask me how Revive went and say that the girls were jealous the boys had gotten to pray with me. So, we prayed together. I prayed for them, and they prayed. For me. For the youth candidate. For their trip and their learning and their lives. Again, I only heard bits and pieces, but that didn’t dampen the Spirit’s flame! It was powerful and life-giving.

I caught the tail end of choir practice. I’ve not gotten to sing in the choir for more than a year, and I miss that great group of people. I miss the music. Singing isn’t something I do well, and singing in harmony is hard for me. But I love the challenge. The challenge that my attempt to squeak out a notes can somehow be part of something beautiful. Because we all offer it to God together. They were singing a hard piece, but one I’d practiced with them. One I knew. I held back singing, because I didn’t have music or remember the notes, but as I mouthed the words, my heart sang. In the moment of beauty, I realized we were praying. Together. Note by note. Facial expression by facial expression. Cue by cue. Sopranos, Altos, Tenors, Basses, and conductor. All offering our praises and our mistakes and our hearts to God. My heart soared.

What is your prayer life like? When was the last time you got lost in prayer. Maybe you do it while you brush your teeth or while you grit them. Maybe while you listen to music or while its silent as you drift off. Maybe you do it in the morning before you check your facebook page or as you scroll through what happened while you were sleeping. What is prayer in your life?

I know so many people who are scared of prayer or feel inadequate. “Emily, I fall asleep while I pray at night before I sleep.” I grin, remember Miss Lanora who always told me, “Girl, prayer is the best way to fall asleep. The Devil hates it when his people pray, so he puts them right to sleep”. I always wished it was true in my life–but even prayer hasn’t been a cure to my lifetime battle with insomnia. But, its a phrase I love to repeat, because it gives me comfort and has given so many more comfort.

Others feel inadequate because they don’t know the “right” words. “Emily, I can’t pray outloud,” he says sheepishly, “I don’t speak as pretty as you”. “But God doesn’t need pretty. God needs Honest.  Tell God the truth.  Speak one, two, three true things.  Tell Jesus your fears and your failures.  Tell him your hopes and your joys.  Tell him your successes and short comings. ” “Plus,” I say sheepishly, “Maybe we need more shaky voices to teach us to pray”.

I learned to pray as a little girl. My mom taught me to pray, “Now I lay me down to sleep” was a fixture at bed time. And “Komm Herr Jesu”, was our dinner prayer in German most nights. It was prayers repeated over and over. I held onto that as I grew and my prayers always began and ended the same, “Thank you for all you’ve done” “and Keeps us safe until we are together again”. I repeated what I learned over and over. “Our Father who art in heaven”. The words were like a blanket that covered me. Gave me words when I had none. I still repeat them sometimes. When I have no words. I repeat them and they cover me. Or I sing, “O Lord my God”. Or “Lord prepare me, to be a Sanctuary.” Or “Oh, how he loves us so”. or “Your love never fails, it never gives up, never runs out on me”. Over and over.

But I never realized the real power of prayer until I was an adult. I could put pretty words together to sound good, but the real power of prayer I learned around an dining room table holding sweaty hands. In the fall of 2003, I was going through a tough breakup. I wasn’t sure exactly who I was or how God even fit into the picture, but I was faithfully attending church. I stopped by a Sunday School class one day to ask a friend a question, and somehow left having agreed to be in a small group. I went to the first meeting, the only twenty something in a room of older women. One in her thirties, one in her forties, one in her fifties and one in her sixties. We didn’t know what we were doing. We talked and read scripture, and then we prayed. We held hands and prayed. As they prayed the wisdom of their words, and the moving of the Spirit stayed heavy in the air. We prayed for each other. For our families. For the world. I remember the first week reciting the words I’d always recited felt contrived. Not wrong, just contrived.

I went home and began to pray. First mimicking their words, then slowly finding ones of my own. No matter what else we did, every Monday we met and talked, and prayed. The prayer time was the best. The power in our clasped hands. The strength in the words. The way the prayers seemed to last–I finally understood praying without ceasing. I saw things differently. I changed my mind. My world changed. They reminded me of my call, and helped me accept it. They prayed over me, again, and again, and again. And I prayed over them. Over the next decade we laughed together. Loved. And Prayed. I started timidly. And now they ask me to pray. We don’t meet as often any more. But when we do, we pray. And its powerful.

I am who I am because they prayed for me. Because my grandmother prays for me every day. Because my mother prays for me. Because You, my congregation, my friends, my partners in ministry pray for me. Sometimes we pray together on the phone. Sometimes in person. Sometimes I’ll never know it. But I am who I am because of their prayers.

Who are you praying for? Maybe its not eloquent or perfect. But its powerful. Who needs you to call them up and pray for them? Who do you need to take aside and pray for? Who do you need to pray over? Prayer is powerful. Life changing, but too often, we let our worries and insecurities block us from entering God’s presence! Don’t let your fear stop you. Pray for them. Pray with them. Pray. Whether its recited or on the spot or written down. Pray. I need you to pray. They need you to pray, we need you to pray. Call someone on the phone and pray with them. Clasp someone’s hand at dinner and pray. Pray until you fall asleep. I don’t know how you’ll do it, but find a way to pray, and enter the presence of God.

I am praying for you. Will you pray for me? For someone else?

Because of Christ–
Emily

When we began Revive, I never would have guessed that we would be here. Almost two years later–I never thought that we would have changed so many lives, had so much fun, worshiped so fully. I knew people would see God. That God would be present. But, I never thought we would have had amazing paintings and so much good food and so many songs and prayer stations and conversations. I never would have thought we’d have had a TV fire or snow on Christmas Eve. It has been a great, powerful, amazing two years. Please be sure to make it on Saturday to help us sending him off and wish him well!

But, as with everything that we do, there are some changes coming. First, we announced Saturday that Tim and Sheena are being called to serve in a different ministry. Saturday will be his last Saturday with us. Two years ago, we began a partnership and friendship that has grown and evolved. I am so proud of the ways I have seen him grow as a Christian, worship leader, and man. Now, God is calling him to youth ministry and worship at Powers Ferry UMC. He will impact their lives as he has impacted ours, and I am grateful to see how God will use him in this new place. We have often talked about him being the “roll” to my “rock”, and I will be sad to see him go but am so grateful of his ministry at Revive and how God will continue to use him.

We are looking at other changes as well. We announced Saturday that as of Saturday, May 5th, we will begin worshiping upstairs in the new building! Its a cozier space and will make set up much easier! We are also prayerfully considering what else needs to be improved or changed.

To this end, we would like you to help us in two ways.

1) If you have attended Revive before, please fill out this survey to help give us feedback: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CFGFRMF

2) Send this to your friends. Post it on your social media. We are interested in when people might be interested in a service. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CPLX7WL

Thanks for all your support of us! We know God is moving and growing and surrounding us in this place. We are so grateful for what God is doing and we are sure that God will be part of this move. We are also grateful for your continued support and prayers. Please, be praying for Tim’s new ministry and for our leadership as we look to discern what God is calling us to do!

God’s love is abundant, let us all never lose sight of that!

Blessings!
Emily

In worship Saturday night, we admitted that many of us sometimes (often!) struggle with why.

Why do some families seem to struggle so much?

Why do bad things happen to good people?

Why are people so evil?

Why do people suffer? Die young? Get sick?

Why do we fail when we try so hard?

Why?

I wish I had good answers. I wish I could pray long enough or study enough scripture to have the answer. I wish God gave me an email address. I would have some complaints for the complaint department.

Sometimes we pray for miracles–and the only miracles that come is that we get stronger. Sometimes we pray for peace–and all we get is more war to make us better at waging peace. Sometimes we ask for relief and all we get are people to hold our hands while we cry. So often this life doesn’t work out the way I envisioned or wanted or asked for.

All I know is that I will never understand God. I will never understand what is good and what is bad. I’ve watched people struggle with death and disease and it suck all the light out of them. And I’ve watched people face obstacles and bound over them like Olympic hurdlers. And I don’t understand it.

Here is what I do know. Sometimes life is hard. Motorcycle accidents happen. And God is there. People get cancer. And God is there. Tornadoes come. And God is there. People set off bombs. And God is there. Our loved ones die. And God is there. Friends turn their backs. And God is there.

This week, I have prayed for friends who narrowly escaped the bomb. And for a family who lost their son. I have seen someone who I’ve begged to come to church for years sing along to the chorus and bow his head in prayer. I prayed for a congregation as its 140 year old sanctuary burned to the ground. And I watched Stephanie walk after 8 months of trials. I got hugs from preschoolers and grandmas and teenage boys. I sat in a clergy meeting with 60+ clergy working for God’s grace and listened as beautiful music was made in a building that wasn’t more than a plan on paper 2 years ago. I have seen the highs and lows of life and I have prayed and prayed and prayed.

I think all the whys are different. Maybe the why is that there is evil in the world. Or that we needed to stop and smell the roses. Maybe the why is that we can be a lesson for others. Or that our pride needed to be in check. Maybe the why is that we are being forced to pay for someone else’s sin or just that the light changed at the wrong time. Maybe the why is that I needed to learn to rely on others–and on God.

I am thankful for the lessons I have learned. I am thankful that I see healing and hope. I am thankful that I can still pray and teach and preach and dance. I am thankful. That God moves and breathes and loves even in this cruel, frustrating, thoughless, violent world. That there are people running into the smoke. That even in the worst of days I can see God’s grace.

Are you looking for a why? Then you’ve come to the right place. Come join us some Saturday. Reach out to a friend. Open the curtains a little wider. Read Psalm 23 or John 14 or 1 John 4 or Romans 8. Pray. I don’t know if your question will be answered–but maybe you’ll see the sun shine anyway. Maybe you’ll find someone who needs your prayers. Maybe you will find your why.

In and through and because of Christ–
Emily

I’ve never been known to do anything normal. I was the one who tried to start a straw-free lunch room in 4th grade to save waste. (Needless to say, that one never came to fruition). I never liked, “we’ve always done it that way”. I always asked why and looked for answers. If you’ve ever been to Revive, you figured that out. If you have ever hear me preach, you probably figured that out. Honestly, if you have ever talked to me, you probably figured that out.

So, when we began Revive we tried something different. (Ok, we tried a lot of different things!) But this one, especially has stuck. But its not something I can take credit for. Its not something I came up with.

In most churches, as communion is offered, the person with the bread says, “this is the body of Christ, given for you.” And the person with the cup says, “This is the blood of Christ, shed for you.”

We decided to try something different. As we give BIG pieces of bread, we say, “This is the Bread of Heaven, because Jesus loves you”. And “this is the Cup of Salvation, for you!”

Giving big pieces of bread started accidentally. I don’t remember the exact time we did it first. Perhaps because Gabe wanted more Hawaiian bread. Probably more likely because we only had 15 people and I was trying to get rid of bread, but someone said, why did you give me such a big piece? I grinned and said, “Because God’s grace is too big to be eaten in one bite”. And it stuck! So often we we give communion, we are so worried we won’t have enough, that we get stingy. It happens with our love, our time, our money, and our faith too doesn’t it? But there is always enough at God’s table.

But, where does “Bread of Heaven” come from? In Exodus 16, God sends bread from heaven to the Israelites to eat in the wilderness. Its called manna, and it was flakes from heaven every day that they could make into bread to sustain their bodies. Later in John 6, Jesus reminds those listening that while God gave manna to the Israelites, that in fact JESUS is the bread of heaven–the bread of life–all that we need to be sustained. Jesus gives us something better than bread for our bellies. He gives us bread for our souls. So, when we take communion, we can remember the Israelites in the desert who were sustained by manna and the promise that Jesus will nourish our souls. We remember that God is sending provisions and life and transformation! We remember that we are fed at the table. Our minds. Our bodies. And our souls.

But the cup sustains us too! The cup brings us life. Jesus told the woman at the well that he was living water. But, “cup of salvation” comes most directly from Psalm 116. In verse 13, the Psalmist says that he will lift up the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord. Paul also talks about the cup being a cup of blessing in which we can participate. Saying “cup of salvation” reminds us that while Christ sustains us and makes us whole, that he also forgives our sins and saves us from certain death. Not just once, but throughout our lives. That participating in the cup of salvation each week reminds us that our salvation isn’t a one time event but a journey we take daily, hourly. That we are constantly being saved–and that we can share this salvation with others. That as we take the bread and the cup we are taking Christ’s provisions and salvation into the world.

Someday we might go back to a more traditional rendering of communion. We might say bread and body and blood to remind us that Communion is all those things. We might say bread of life or cup of blessing. We might need to be reminded sometimes that we don’t’ have all the answers. But for today, we want to remember God’s provisions. Christ’s salvation. And the Spirit’s sustaining. So we will say heaven and bread and cup and salvation. Maybe today you will hear it with new ears, remember what it means. Allow the truths to save you in new ways. Christ is present. In the bread. In the juice. In your lives. As near as your saving. As real as the bread in your PBJ or chicken biscuit. The question might just be–where have you seen him today. Where are you being nourished? How are you experiencing salvation? Where are you seeing new life?

Have you ever thought of why we say what we say during communion? What meaning do you see?

Peace and blessing–
Emily

“Just don’t tell anyone. Ok?”

“Let’s just keep this between us.”

“It’ll just be our little secret.”

We all keep secrets. Some big. Some small. Some overpowering. Some silly. Some life changing. Some eat away at the lining of our souls. We keep secrets from those closest to us and from those in our every day lives.

But perhaps we must first define a secret. A secret isn’t a surprise. I’m not good at surprises. I’m not good at surprises–just ask the sweet Revive crew who tried to surprise me with a special birthday cake last year–not one of my finer moments. But there’s a difference, right? A secret–when used for good–when used to help and designed to be set free isn’t a secret.

Those aren’t the secrets I’m talking about. I’m talking about the manipulative. Ugly. Dark. The ones that we are forced to keep. That imprison us. That keep us from growing. The ones that keep out the light. The ones that we use to protect those we love and to keep ourselves from being loved. The depression that is eating us alive. The addiction that we hide in the closet. The things that happen to us as children that left scars along our hearts and souls and bodies. The hurts that only we know.

Scripture talks about these kinds of secrets and how they can destroy us, our families, even entire countries. Look at 2 Samuel 13. It tells the story of King David’s children: Tamar, her brother Absalom, and her half brother Amnon. Amnon fell in love with his sister and plotted her rape. After he raped her, she hoped that he would marry her–the only option to keep her from being disgraced since she was no longer a woman. But despite her please, he sent her away. In sadness, she turned to her brother Absalom for help.

“Tamar’s brother Absalom said to her, “How could Amnon have done such a terrible thing to you! But since he’s your brother, don’t tell anyone what happened. Just try not to think about it.” Tamar soon moved into Absalom’s house, but she was always sad and lonely.” (2 Samuel 13:20)

Absalom decided to keep it a secret, and take matters into his own hands. The secret and the anger grew in him, and two years later he plotted and executed his brother. Then he waged war on his father King David, even taking over control of Israel for a short time. In the end, his own pride and wrath caught up to him, and he died by getting his long hair caught in the trees. In the end, secrets catch up to us. Capture us. Ensnare us.

What secrets are you keeping? Who is asking you to keep silent when you should be speaking out? Adultery. Binge eating. Cutting. Rape. Assult. Past Abuse. Past relationships. Pregnancies. Addiction. Bullies. Stealing. What are you keeping in the dark that is eating you alive?

Jesus reminds us that he is the truth and the life. That he is the light. He reminds us that “The truth will set us free!” (Luke 8:32). Yet, we would rather hide. God knows our truth and loves us. Not because of who we are, but because he created us, saved us, and sustains us. Because we were bought for a price and because we are worthy of love. We are worth bringing light to the darkness, stepping out in truth and peace and grace.

It is not always easy to tell the truth. There might be some who are angry or disappointed or upset. There will be fall out. There will be pain, but by letting people in powerful places convince us to keep secrets we give them power that should be God’s. That should be ours. Secrets can only be dealt with in the light. We can only get better by fighting the darkness with light. Shining the light on the disappointments, embarrassments, and sadness is the only way to heal. The only way to learn. The only way to grow.

Who have you asked to keep your secret? What are you pretending never happened? Where are you angry or damaged or broken because you refuse to let the light in?

God is offering you light today. In the dark places. That doesn’t mean that everyone needs to know. That doesn’t mean you have to shout your pain to the world–but even a crack of light can cause the demons to scatter. Tell someone. Find help. Make a difference. Perhaps if Absalom had not kept silent, or forced Tamar to be silent–she could have healed. Perhaps if we let people in our broken places, they can speak light to our sadness. Perhaps if let people see our vulnerability, they can help lift us up. Perhaps if we admit to our secrets, we can find help, and grace and forgiveness. God already knows–perhaps its time to let our communities surround us. Hold us. Grow with us. Perhaps in calling out to God to heal us–all he is asking is for us to shine some light.

I have my flashlight ready and my candle and my kleenex ready. May we all find ways to open up. To let the light in. To banish the secrets and the darkness away. May the light and truth of Christ shine in all of us.

Because of Christ–
Emily

We can’t always see it. We can’t always feel it. But we are always changing. We are growing and shrinking and transforming and becoming and aging and travelling and unbecoming. The process so often happens so slowly that we miss it. And days, weeks, years, decades later we turn around and look at what is left or what we have become and wonder how we got there. One day we wake up and our kids are grown or our childhood is gone or college is but a memory. One day we wake up and the places where we stretched our souls as children have died and been forgotten. Or we wake up and the places that we so long thought were empty are now full and complete and whole.

Change happens.

Growth happens.

Death happens.

And we are caught in this cycle of not noticing. Of being unintentional. Of our life happening to us instead of because of us. Of our reality happening without realizing or knowing it. But it is happening. We are growing, or we are dying or both.

In the next several weeks we will look at our growth. We will look at the seeds of our faith–the things that have to die to be resurrected. We will look at the roots of our faith–the things that give us depth and grounding. The trunks–that which supports us when we otherwise might fall. The branches–the ways we grow out and around and reach out. The blooms and seeds and fruits–those things that prove our growth and health. And finally the falling leaves–the ways we have to change and rid ourselves of those which no longer help us.

Where in your life are you growing? Where are things changing? What needs to die? Where does your faith need some more support? Where are your roots digging deep? Where are you blooming? We will ask all these questions and more!

Come join us to examine the growth in your life!

Lets grow together.

Because of Christ–
Emily

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
–Psalm 139:14

A visitor once asked why in worship we sang so many songs about how terrible we are. Why we were always so down on ourselves.

I laughed and said, we didn’t. Then I started to listen. And many many of our songs talk about how we are weak–but God is powerful. About how we are sinful, but God forgives us. About how we are small but God is big.

And when the Board asked me what I thought the biggest theological dilemma of my lifetime will be–I said a reliance on self over God. That we think ourselves big and God small. That we rely on people instead of on God. That we think of ourselves over others. That we rely on humanity instead of on God.

And I believe these things with all my heart. It gives me strength and courage to know that when I fail, God is there. That when I am imperfect, God is perfect. That God triumphs over all. I believe we are often proud and put ourselves above God. That we try to do it all ourselves, instead of obeying and surrendering. But sometimes, I wonder if all this talk leaves us in an equally bad place. If all this makes us forget other parts. Makes us forget that when God finished making us that He stepped back and said, “And it was GOOD”! That we are fearfully and wonderfully made.

But I wonder if we believe that part? That although I am not God, although I am imperfect and sinful, that I am beautifully and wonderfully made. That I honor and praise God. That God loves me. No matter what. I believe that you are wonderful. That you honor and praise God. But what about me?

I must believe it. That I am worth it. Beautiful. Fearfully and wonderfully made. I believe it. That we are beautiful. That we are handsome. That we are worthwhile. That we are loved beyond measure.

Sometimes leading up to Holy Week, we spend so much time soaking in the guilt. The guilt of falling asleep in the garden. The guilt of betraying Jesus. The guilt of denying Jesus. The guilt of crucifying Jesus. That we forget that he chose this for us. That he loved us enough to choose earth over heaven. To choose to save us. That he went willingly because we were worth it. It wasn’t our perfection that made us worth it. It wasn’t our beauty. It wasn’t our goodness. It was our inherent worth. We are worthy because of our creator. We are worth it. No matter what. No matter what.

Do you know your inherent worth? Do you know the savior who came to Earth to love you, to save you, to be with you? Do you know that God loves you–all of you. Or are you still wondering? Still searching for the loveliness inside of you. Still searching for your worth?

You are worth it.

You are enough.

You are beautiful.

Not because you are handsome or cut or skinny or curvy or your hair is curled or gelled or the right color. Not because you are successful or famous or talented. Not because you have children or haven’t had children or are married or are engaged or in a relationship. Not because you are healthy or differently abled or kind or sweet or smart. You are enough. You are beautiful. You are enough, because of the One who made you. The One who saved you and is saving you and will always save you. The One who abides here with you. Loving you. Sustaining you. With you.

You are worth it because of Jesus. I wonder how life would be if we all walked around knowing we were worth it. Would there be as many rapes? Would there be as many people drunk or addicted or in jail? Would there be as much divorce or child abuse? What could be stopped if we told every child. Every teenager. Every adult. Every senior that they were worth it, and then treated them that way? We could change the world.

You are worth it. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. You are beautiful. Smart. Important. Lovely. Prized. Loved. If you forget, come back here. Look up Psalm 139. Bookmark it. Find my twitter handle (@pastoremj), and I’ll remind you. Find a friend. Make them remind you. Don’t forget it. Find someone to tell. Tell them loudly. In public. Often. Don’t forget that you are worth it. And they are too.

I praise YOU, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. And so are you.

God loves you-and so do I.

Because of Christ–
Emily

What is the church to you?

Our creed says the church is “One, holy, universal, apostolic.”

That means, that no matter what we do or say or how many denominations or non-denominations we break up into, the church is one. One group under Christ. That we are one. Because we all follow one Lord.

That means it is holy. No matter how unholy we try to to make it. It is holy–for the Lord is holy. That we are set apart. That we are going onward toward perfection.

That it is universal–it is for everyone. It is in Guatemala and Mozambique and Alaska and Kennesaw–it is for everyone.

And apostolic–a big word for being sent to to make disciples. We are trying to grow, trying to tell people about Christ.

But sometimes we have a weird view of all this. We think of buildings with steeples. Or with praise bands and rocking music. We think of the little building in the vale where our grandmother goes. We start to yawn, because we assume church is boring. Or cover our ears because it is loud. We start to look for our fanciest clothes and heels, to be sure we look right. Its the place where we played silly youth games trying to shove marshmellows in our mouths and the place where we made paper crowns as small children.

For some people, church is the place that hurt them. That called them names and told them they weren’t welcome. For others its the place where they were kicked out, told they weren’t enough, asked to leave. Some people will never set foot in our buildings because they have been so hurt. Some will never come because they were told they couldn’t think or reason–that someone else’s “truth” would trump their questions–their searching–their journey.

I wonder what will happen to this institution. In so many ways we are dying. Our numbers are declining. We are getting older and older. Some want us to throw off all we are to create something new. But I’m so afraid of throwing out the important stuff just to fit into something new. At the same time, we can’t keep doing what we are doing and expecting different results. We have to find ways to stop hurting each other. To start loving more than we ever thought possible. We have to start finding a way to make church bigger than buildings and youth games and bands. Bigger than obligation or pot lucks. To make church about living a life. About finding community. About feeling Christ.

Something has to give. Something has to get better. Something has to grow out of our brokenness. God triumphs when we fail–sometimes even better when we fail. God works through resurrection. What will it take to resurrect us? Any great ideas? What SHOULD church look like? Be like? Do?

Prayerfully, and humbly yours–
Emily