Reflection, Justice and Compassion

I just concluded a very important process of moving towards clarity with my church leadership. It was just about a year ago that we left Tucson for New England (with a grand vacation on a month in London thrown in before starting up the new work). And now, after study, listening, watching, waiting, prayer and cultivating the clues of the Spirit, we articulated a simple and clear way to both define our ministry/mission and speak to our future. It says: In community with God and each other we gather to reflect on our faith, do justice and act with compassion.

It is simple, active, honest and filled with commitment - and our group of 14 leaders left encouraged and hope-filled. There are a few obvious biblical connections, yes?

+ First is Micah 6:8: what does the Lord require but to do justice, share compassion and walk with humility with your God.

+ Second is I Corinthians 12: 12-26: There are a variety of gifts... but the same God who called us together into a body by the same Holy Spirit... for mission and ministry.

+ Third is I Corinthians 13: 12-13: Now we see as through a glass darkly, later we shall see face to face. Now I know only inpart but then I will know fully even as I have been known fully. For now faith, hope and love remain - and the greatest is love.

+ And fourth is Christ's very clear call to his public ministry in Luke 4: 18-19: The Spirit of the Lord is upon to... bring good news to the poor, release to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, freedom for the oppressed and to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor: jubilee.

It will be a challenge, of course, making this commitment go deeper - but there is enough worry for today without considering tomorrow, yes? For now I give thanks and rejoice that we have moved forward in a way that is both true and calls us deeper. As the New England summer begins to subtly shift towards autumn - just ever so slightly - we, too, are shifting in ways that make the inward/outward journey of Jesus real for our times.

Now, I'm not saying that this crew of VERY New England people of faith and questions became as WILD and BOLD as these Jesus Freaks back in 1972... but in their own real, embodied, loving and authentic way... this scene from GODSPELL came to my mind as I drove home and deserves another look. (What's more a woman spoke to me of seeing a production of GODSPELL during her recent vacation AND I have been speaking with a music man about doing it soon at our church. Hmmmm... now we see as through a glass darkly... but later we shall see face to face.) I am SOOOOO blessed to be with this church at this moment in time...