![]() Introduction Be Church Now! Today, this week, this month, this year. Now is our chance to be the Church. Of course we have always had this opportunity, but the it feels particularly clear that United States congregations need to find their voice in this time and place. Most of us will not get to speak at Washington National Cathedral. That doesn't mean we don't have work to do. There is friction int the air, and friction and fear of friction can keep us from moving. Some of our challenge is that we just don't know what to do. And so I am starting to write about ways to Act as Church right now. This conversation is not about individual actions that Christians could or should take, but about what we should do as a congregation. As the body of Christ. If we are God's hands and feet, what would God want us to be doing? This is about living our faith as a community. As such it requires that we talk to each other about our fears for the future, about our hopes for change, and about what is realistic for our action. No project should be owned by one person, each task should be realistic, and we must build in supports for the work individuals volunteer to do. Here are topics I expect to cover: 1) Care for our congregation members. Share money and resources, protect those who are at risk. 2) Care for your neighborhood or town. Work with others who are protecting people at risk. 3) Engage government leaders at the local, state, or national level. As for protections for people who are at risk. 4) Encourage individuals to run for office and work with organizations that are dedicated to building a government that is focused on caring for the least these, our siblings and neighbors who are poor or oppressed. 5) Building resilience as a way to have strength to stand up for what is righteousness. If your church is doing something to create a loving and radically welcoming community, please let me know at [email protected]. I may include your story here in this conversation. Other topics we'll need to address is figuring out how to take risks and how to work together as a congregation when fear and friction is in the air. How do we discern the holy spirit's breath around us? We'll talk about how our churches struggling with survival can find the strength to act. I want to hear your stories about those things that keep your congregation from acting. I'll include ways to care for ourselves as we take on this journey. As the average church is well under 75 members, it is probable that you will be able to do only one of these ideas. If you aren't talking about what to do now, consider creating a study group to explore what actions might help your congregation to Be Church. But don't study it to death! Figure out something within your congregation's grasp and try it out. See how it works. See how the community reacts, and whether you have the energy as a group to keep going. If it works well, keep it up. If it doesn't work well, try something else. Static friction is what makes it hard to start sliding a heavy file cabinet across the room. But once it's moving, the work required is less. Don't let static friction keep you from getting started.
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My ThoughtsFor my organized thoughts, see my book Five Loaves, Two Fish, Twelve Volunteers: Developing Relational Food Ministries. In this spot are thoughts that appear for a moment--about food programs, mission, church, building community, writing, and whatever else pops into my head. History
February 2025
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