The gospel texts for August show the increasing tension between Jesus and, well, just about everybody. For those who are anxious about their possessions (August 3), he tells a story about a man who built bigger and bigger barns, never dreaming that he would not be around to enjoy his things. Americans spend $38 billion every year on self-storage units. 1 in 10 has a unit, and people pay an average of $91 a month to keep their stuff happy. Hmmm. Jesus’ solution (August 10) is to sell and redistribute the proceeds to the poor. I’m not suggesting this should be government policy. I wonder, though, what it might say to Jesus’ followers? What are we holding on to that is keeping us tied to wallets that wear out, rather than the ones that don’t? The next three Sundays, the gospel texts are about reading the signs of the times. Not meant to be scary or apocalyptic! But meant to remind us to bring our wisdom eyes to what is happening. French author Antoine de Saint-Exupery, author of The Little Prince, wrote, “One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eye.” A family divided, a woman healed on the sabbath, and a wedding guest who becomes a guest of honor, all invite us to realize that following Jesus invites clarity about what is ultimate, which reveals division when what is considered ultimate is different. How might you explore that without choosing an easy binary? Where are the tensions in these stories between good people doing their best and good people finding fault with others doing their best? How might you invite your people to consider their own choices rather than sorting them into groups?
Corridor district clergy will meet for our district set-up meeting on Tuesday, August 26, from 9 am to 1 pm at Orange UMC in Chapel Hill. I promise WE WILL have lunch this time!
If you are considering an alternate leadership structure for your church, please contact me for a conversation about which option will work best for your setting. If you missed the webinar about the Alternate Leadership Structure on July 15, contact Heidi to get a link to the webinar.
Finally, I want to invite you to an event we are hosting in early September called “Water and Wilderness Church” led by Fr. Pete Nunnally, an episcopal priest in Washington, DC. Water and Wilderness is what we might call a Fresh Expression, and a new church start that Pete is leading in the DC area. Pete will be with us on September 3 to offer an immersive Water and Wilderness event, which includes outdoor worship, music, lunch, reflection, and a conversation about the “ecology of God” with Pete. Look for more information in your weekly email. This event is open to all, but registration is essential.
Grace and peace,
Claire