So here we are home alone. Or maybe you are with a small family core and not alone. In the age of Covid-19, we are all alone in many ways even with people in the same home, or building.
Here are more observations from my viewpoint: 75+ gay couple, married 4+ years, together 20 years. Living in a condo building mixed with leased units; 39 homes, population of 75 or 80. Mixed ages and ethnicities, singles, couples and families with small children. A happy place and nice, too.
Traffic and outdoor activity is positively creepy quiet. We are in a downtown area of a suburb, 30 miles west of Chicago, population 27,000. We have some traffic throughout the day, but the usual hubbub is down to a trickle.
Our church is challenged by the shelter in place order. However, volunteers and staff are working hard to keep the church functioning. To most people, church is a place; theologically church is people. People who come together to learn the age-old teachings of what God hopes and wants from us and for us. This can be done alone, but is best anchored in understanding in group settings.
Never in recent history has this lesson of church been more apparent: The church is people of faith doing the work of God's will. It is not the church doing for us, or a building being the all of who we are.
So, the modern church must re-invent itself. For now, our congregation will continue worshipping together technologically. Four people will be at the church leading the service (Pastor), music (Director of Music), techno geek making it all work, and a volunteer on the camera to live-stream the service. The worship service will stream over our Facebook page at 10:15 am today. That's for Trinity Lutheran Church of Warrenville, Illinois. Check it out if you have the interest.
For the past several months the church has struggled with its theological identity as it deals with financial realities that challenge the historical 'way'. New things must be attempted if the church is to be relevant to people of all ages, cultures and stages of faith. The discussions have been immensely interesting and heartfelt. The trick is to find the new way without throwing out the baby with the bath water. (look up that metaphor on Google)
Whether this church finds its way to continue its 75-year history is still an open story. The challenge remains. One thing will continue: God's Will is his/her's. Regardless of what we do, his/her's will be done. It is up to us to be a part of that or not.
In that spirit our particular church must be openly inviting and inclusive of all peoples. Young, old, gay or straight, with family or none, believing or struggling with faith. All of these must be welcome to do the will of God. Pretty straightforward view. It is not about us; it is about God.
Some of my readers have shied away from any of my God talk. I don't engage in churchy things in this blog. But I am a person of faith. I believe in God. My brokenness is accepted by God and I am able to contribute to his Will. It may not be perfect, but it is honest. I was raised in a Christian home, so that heritage is my guide to understanding God's message. The same God and same message is found in every religion on the face of the globe. The structures may differ, but Mohammad, Abraham and Christ all said or meant the same thing. I'm not a particular believer in any one heritage; Christianity has been a serviceable template for me on my faith journey. That's my choice and shades no other faith. We are all God's people.
Enough of this for one day. You didn't tune in to hear a sermon. However, our shared situation may be the perfect time to consider our faith journeys.
Thanks for your readership. Sorry if I offend or disappoint any of you in this personal matter.
March 22, 2020
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