Over the last several years I have seen lots of individual congregations attempt various ways to reach out to their community and offer a variety of worship services, Bible studies, and classes. All of this is done with great thought and sincerity, effort and prayer, and funds and volunteer teamwork. Yet, on the whole, the church-at-large in our area struggles to make an impact and reach people for Christ. We, the Church, do not merely struggle to reach non-Christians, but in reality we struggle to reach Christians, too, who have stopped regularly participating in the life of the Church. I cannot help but wonder, is this because we, the Church, make too much of a habit of inviting people to programs and events rather than inviting them to live a way of life revealed by Jesus?

If we have to make events and programs to compete with programs in schools, city recreation leagues, entertainment complexes, concerts, adult education programs, neighborhood groups, theater companies and the like, then we struggle to differentiate ourselves as just another “thing” to do. We become one more program vying for attention in someone’s busy life by offering the “spiritual” program. But when you live a way of life, choices flow from that Way.

When you have been invited into a way of life, didn’t that work because of the nature of relationship with someone? You formed a best friendship around mutual affection, interests, and time together– events and activities followed, but “program-going” didn’t determine the friendship. It is the other way around. When people marry and have children, they do so because they are living out the fullness of life– regardless of what jobs, events and activities they pursue. Instead the way of family life and relationship sets the context for all that flows into events or programs to enrich and support family life.

In the same way, Jesus invites us into His Church in order that we would live a way of life with God and each other. He sets the pattern as simple to follow and life-giving. The pattern is also often counter-cultural, and there is the rub. In our culture, “busy” has taken on iconic status. Somehow we have allowed our lives to be so filled that there is little room for another program.

In our next series, starting June 27, we will base our study from Galatians and consider seriously what St. Paul writes as the gospel and way of life which Jesus revealed to him and which the other apostles confirmed. I will write a weekly reflection at that time in case you are unable to be with us for worship. As usual, sermons will be posted online, too. It is my prayer and hope that as we seriously consider the simplicity and richness of this Way of Life, that we will begin to make changes in our church and schedules which flow from the Way as we understand it better.

Until next time,

May God abundantly bless you,

Mark+