Priestly Ponderings…
At a recent Steering Committee meeting, one of our participants made this astute observation: “We won’t be able to figure out what we want to become until we know who we already are.” That comment has stayed with me ever since. Perhaps, “haunted” is a better description. I continue to ask myself, “Who are we at Holy Cross?” And as you can imagine, there are a myriad of answers and thoughts generated by such a question.
My own sense is that Holy Cross is a growing community of Christians that continues to seek ways in which to deepen our love for God and all that God loves. We have a wonderful presence of hospitality that welcomes and includes, invites and affirms, and supports and nurtures all we meet. This is evident not only during our worship services on Sunday mornings, but also, in ministry groups like our Prayer Shawl Ministry, Water Ministry, Committee Meetings, our various group gatherings, and all of the work of our various guilds. But are we more than these?
Our Catechism and Baptismal Covenant teaches us that every Christian has a ministry and role in the Church. We are going to offer an opportunity for every member and friend of Holy Cross to discern their own ministries through a series of classes on “Discerning our Gifts” in September. Some have called this a “Spiritual Gifts Inventory” and it is wonderful place to begin to discover how each of us makes Holy Cross the special place that it is. We are hopeful that new ideas for outreach and inreach will come out of this program.
Nevertheless, if I could describe who we are at Holy Cross in one word, it would be to say that we are simply stewards. We are stewards of grace as demonstrated in our hospitality, but also, our weekly worship together and class studies demonstrates our commitment as stewards of our faith. Each gathering affirms our belief and witness to the redeeming and transforming power of the resurrection in our lives. Using our time and talents to restore and refurbish our facilities (as well as day-to-day care of our buildings and grounds) so that future generations have a place to worship and grow shows that we are stewards of our resources. In the presentation of our weekly offerings –tithes, moneys, even in the offering of bread and wine, we acknowledge that we are stewards of all that we have received, especially that which has been received through the work of human hands.
It is in this Eucharistic offering that we find the great paradox of our stewardship: the bread must be broken in order to be shared just as the grape must be squeezed (crushed) in order to be shared. So much of our giving is done in brokenness and yet, through that brokenness we are somehow, sacramentally, reunited with Christ and each other and made whole. We become the body and presence of Christ in West Memphis.
As we continue to discern the shape of our growing life and commitment to Christ and each other, I invite you to offer the poem that follows this column and make it a part of your daily prayer time. As you ask, “Who are we at Holy Cross?” consider what the Church itself should look like in terms of our stewardship of grace, faith, resources, and all that we are and have.
Yours in service to the Gospel,
Allan+
At a recent Steering Committee meeting, one of our participants made this astute observation: “We won’t be able to figure out what we want to become until we know who we already are.” That comment has stayed with me ever since. Perhaps, “haunted” is a better description. I continue to ask myself, “Who are we at Holy Cross?” And as you can imagine, there are a myriad of answers and thoughts generated by such a question.
My own sense is that Holy Cross is a growing community of Christians that continues to seek ways in which to deepen our love for God and all that God loves. We have a wonderful presence of hospitality that welcomes and includes, invites and affirms, and supports and nurtures all we meet. This is evident not only during our worship services on Sunday mornings, but also, in ministry groups like our Prayer Shawl Ministry, Water Ministry, Committee Meetings, our various group gatherings, and all of the work of our various guilds. But are we more than these?
Our Catechism and Baptismal Covenant teaches us that every Christian has a ministry and role in the Church. We are going to offer an opportunity for every member and friend of Holy Cross to discern their own ministries through a series of classes on “Discerning our Gifts” in September. Some have called this a “Spiritual Gifts Inventory” and it is wonderful place to begin to discover how each of us makes Holy Cross the special place that it is. We are hopeful that new ideas for outreach and inreach will come out of this program.
Nevertheless, if I could describe who we are at Holy Cross in one word, it would be to say that we are simply stewards. We are stewards of grace as demonstrated in our hospitality, but also, our weekly worship together and class studies demonstrates our commitment as stewards of our faith. Each gathering affirms our belief and witness to the redeeming and transforming power of the resurrection in our lives. Using our time and talents to restore and refurbish our facilities (as well as day-to-day care of our buildings and grounds) so that future generations have a place to worship and grow shows that we are stewards of our resources. In the presentation of our weekly offerings –tithes, moneys, even in the offering of bread and wine, we acknowledge that we are stewards of all that we have received, especially that which has been received through the work of human hands.
It is in this Eucharistic offering that we find the great paradox of our stewardship: the bread must be broken in order to be shared just as the grape must be squeezed (crushed) in order to be shared. So much of our giving is done in brokenness and yet, through that brokenness we are somehow, sacramentally, reunited with Christ and each other and made whole. We become the body and presence of Christ in West Memphis.
As we continue to discern the shape of our growing life and commitment to Christ and each other, I invite you to offer the poem that follows this column and make it a part of your daily prayer time. As you ask, “Who are we at Holy Cross?” consider what the Church itself should look like in terms of our stewardship of grace, faith, resources, and all that we are and have.
Yours in service to the Gospel,
Allan+
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