Spiritual Reflection
Never Mind the Angels
At the empty tomb on Easter morning, Angels greeted the women
(they were first to arrive) and men who came to see the body of Jesus. Gospel writers also used Angels to announce the coming of Jesus and even had a chorus of them sing at his birth in Bethlehem - but never mind the angels. They come and go in our lives. More important is the community we experience as baptized members of the body of Christ.
Writers say 21st century people are desperately hungry for two things:
spirituality and a sense of belonging. The Church offers both. One which is often overlooked is our need for belonging or community. A healthy parish is one which has a strong sense of community. It is a natural.
There is a line in one of the songs from the Broadway musical Guys and Dolls about “the oldest established permanent floating, crap game in New York.” Before there was the New Testament, or there was a written theology, the Church was community. You might say, “We’re the oldest established, permanent floating” . . . well, you get the idea.
The first Sunday I attended an Episcopal Church service I didn’t know anyone in the parish. At the coffee hour I was by myself when an older man came over and said hello. After shaking hands we started visiting. Turns out, both of us had lived in Iowa. Each Sunday for the next month he made it a point to visit with me after the service and introduce me to others. I felt welcomed and soon at home.
For example, one of the important ways we experience community in the
congregation is when a loved one dies. The priest and staff are there supporting the bereaved and helping plan the funeral. Parishioners call. Following the service there usually is some food where friends can gather and share memories of family and friends. The congregation prays for the departed and family in the Prayers of the People on Sunday. Cards and plants may arrive. Our Church family closes ranks in thoughtful acts of caring.
When our Church provided Lay Eucharistic Ministers to take the Sunday
Communion to specific shut-ins, we grew exponentially in our sense of community and what it means. The more parishioners share ministries, the more our sense of community increases and our awareness of the presence of God in our lives. Whether it is visiting the sick, sending a birthday card or having small groups meet for house dinners, the congregation, here and now, is providing a life line to those who may be feeling isolation.
As we journey to Pentecost remember we are a community who worships weekly, prays daily, learns constantly, serves joyfully and lives generously.
Canon Andrew Rank
