As we celebrate the season of Advent and anticipate the anniversary of Church of the Redeemer’s tenth year of public worship, I will be sharing the primary themes that arose from our summer discernment meetings* and how they are shaping the vision for where God is calling us as a church. This week’s focus is communities that we are best positioned to serve.
Youth and Newcomers
Our church is most whole when we’re all gathered to “keep the feast” together, and one of my favorite moments in our worship service is when the children return to the sanctuary before Holy Communion. You can hear them coming as they gather in the hallway or narthex (thank you for your patience Kids of the Redeemer volunteers!). I especially enjoy the expression on visitors’ faces as 50 or more children come marching in.
In this summer’s prayer and discernment gatherings, we asked participants to consider what people or communities we are best positioned to serve in light of the gifts present in our body. Two communities that the Lord brought to mind were young people, and new arrivals to our city. We considered teenagers and young adults presently in our midst, and also the many children among us who will soon be entering their teens and twenties. We also remembered newcomers to our city and state, those like the Htoo family who arrived from abroad as well as those who come here from other parts of our country. Youth and new arrivals have their own unique characteristics, but something that they share is experiences of transition: transitions to a new climate and culture, new vocations and identity, and new possibilities and responsibilities.
Church of the Redeemer is a church gifted in practical compassion, reaching out in love to those in need; and we are quick to offer hospitality, opening our homes and tables to one another. In light of these gifts, in the coming years I believe that Church of the Redeemer is uniquely called and gifted to serve and support youth and new arrivals to our city. Children making the transition from youth into adulthood need mentors and extended spiritual families who can encourage and equip them in their Christian life. Similarly, Christian hospitality is a powerful gift that we can offer to newcomers and a way for us to remember that we who were once strangers and aliens have been joined into a new spiritual household through Jesus Christ. Whether transition centers around a new home and job, or a new school and maturing into adulthood, our church body has resources to support one another in our life in Christ.
For youth, this year’s confirmation process builds upon the strengths of Kids of the Redeemer and junior youth activities, and will serve as a springboard to future discipleship activities. In the years to come there will be increasing needs for prayer partners, chaperones for missions trips (summer 2020!) and retreats, and volunteer leaders. Discipleship between generations is a mutual blessing as the benefits of fresh perspective and depth of context are brought together, equipping all of us for Christian life.
In serving new arrivals to our city, we recognize that the transition to a new place involves much more than simply finding a home but also connecting with community. A relative of mine recently shared about her experience of moving from her longtime home to a senior apartment in another part of the city. She admitted her initial worries about the move and envy of friends with children would help them. As she prayed about her situation, she heard the Lord remind her: “You don’t have children. But I have many children. I will care for you through them.”
As Jesus taught his disciples, His body provides us with a multitude of spiritual family. So whether our nuclear families are large or small, near or absent, the body of Christ is a far greater and richer society. I am blessed to see how our church is reaching out in acts of service, comfort, encouragement and hospitality. I am proud to see how our Refugee Life Team and the Htoo family, and our Together For Good team and associated children and families have walked together. I am thankful for how you share joys and sorrows together, being a faithful presence to one another in both the shadow of death and in the hope of celebrating new life. I am encouraged by how you are living out the daily commission to do the work that God has given you to do, to love and serve as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord in your varied relational and commercial vocations.
Brothers and sisters, continue in Christian service and presence with one another, especially in doing good to young members of the body of Christ and to newcomers to our cities. May our spiritual family be a witness to the world, and a community of counsel and care for those who are navigating challenging life transitions. Invite a friend to join you at our upcoming Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner Epiphany parties and experience the household of Christ, or contact our Together For Good or Refugee Life Group leaders to find out new ways to live out your identity as a member of the household of faith. Encourage our youth as they serve in public worship, pray for them, and consider how God may be calling you to give of your time and resources for their good. May young and old continue to delight in keeping the feast of the Lord together, and may Church of the Redeemer be a family that is obedient to its baptismal vows to do all in its power to support one another in their life in Christ.
*This past summer, three discernment gatherings were convened to consider Church of the Redeemer’s work and mission, and pray about what God might be calling us to in the next few years. Three small groups of church members prayerfully reflected on who we are, where our strengths lie as a congregation, what communities we’re best positioned to serve, what work we’re best poised to take up, and what resources we might need to further that work.