​Small church ministry is very much a ministry of place. We are grounded in a particular place, and in a particular time. For some churches our primary role in this time of disruption will be to hang on to the holiness of this.

Our place is not only our building, but where we are in town, which street corner, which neighborhood. Our place includes all the people around us, and near us, and the roads and yards and woods and lakes that take up that space. Many who are in this place do not know us, and we don't 'know them.

And yet, together, we are beloved by God

Psalm 91 suggests that living in the shadow of God is living in a place of refuge. This is a time that it feels there is no refuge from the chaos and violence being perpetrated on our nation. God's protection does not feel sufficient. We need to do more to recognize God's presence in this place.
One project we might engage in is to focus on caring for the people who are under attack in this location.

If you don't know your neighborhood now is a good time to get out there. Figure out who lives around you and what they are dealing with. Look for people strengths and engage in Asset Mapping (from Asset Based Community Development). This is where you identify who you know, and who they know, and identify strengths, skills, passions, and connections. You are building a web of information about who is available in a crisis.

If you are engaged with a particular part of the community, now is a good time to expand that engagement. What is one more thing you can add. You'll figure out what by asking the community members you already are connected to.

Pay attention also to who is hurting. Immigrants, trans people, people who are poor, and people who have been laid off from Government employment come to mind, but this will be very specific to your community. Remember to focus on these people strengths, skills, passions, and connections, too. No one is only a need, everyone has something contribute.

And consider the strengths of our church. Are you an available meeting place? Do you have leadership with particularly useful expertise and passions? Are your members good community organizers, bringing your neighbors together? Do you have the skills to bring the powerful practices of lament, or the tiny embers of hope to a secular conversation--without telling others how to feel or what to do?

Perhaps your church will start these community conversations, or perhaps you will join the gatherings already happening. Either way the take seriously your role as a church to be part of what makes this local community a refuge, a balm, a support. For God to be a refuge, God's people must step up to build safe community.

Be Here. Now.

The Lukan version of the transfiguration (Luke 9:28-36) is unique among the gospels in at least two ways. (Check out Andrew's Version by Andrew McGowan for background information for your sermon.) Luke emphasizes that Jesus is at prayer, and includes Jesus' conversation with Moses and Elijah about his exodus. Although sometimes translated as "departure", the Greek definitely implies the connection to Moses freeing the slaves in Egypt.

The transfiguration is followed by Jesus healing a boy by rebuking an unclean spirit (Luke 9:42), and then in 9:44 predicting the passion: “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands.” What does it mean to think about the connection of the passion to the Exodus story? To imagine that Jesus' journey is only toward crucifixion is to end the story of exodus at the sea of reeds. Exodus does not end in the wilderness, but in the continued life of the people in promised land. Jesus death, resurrection, and ascension is a journey toward the church--the body of christ--doing God's work in the world.

Which returns us to prayer. In Luke 5:16, 6:12, 9:18, and 11:1 Jesus turns to prayer before and during significant events (McGowan). Prayer is not a private spiritual discipline that Jesus engages to be removed from the world, but rather is preparation for being in the world. It is connection to God that keeps Jesus going. How much more so we must turn to prayer to maintain our connection to God!

Jesus' public ministry begins with a proclamation of the year of the God's favor, as evidenced by good news to the poor, release to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, and freedom for the oppressed (Luke 4:18-19). His earthly exodus is one that ushers in a church called to continue the proclamation of God's Kingdom. In times like these, when the future for the oppressed seems impossible, we remember Moses leading the exodus, and Jesus standing firm against the powers-that-be.
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We must focus on bringing about exodus for the oppressed, departing out of violence of oppression and into God's promise. We do that with prayers to keep us connected to God, and with action to be God's hands and feet in the world. We do that with Jesus, the anointed, guiding us, and the Holy Spirit giving us the power and courage to act.

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