Joyously Gathered
As I stood behind the altar this past Sunday morning, I heard a loud noise from outside. Having heard a similar booming sound in my neighborhood not long ago, I prepared for the power to go out. Instead, weirdly, the various lights in the church, and later I would learn all over the campus, began flickering and flashing in a non-synchronistic fashion. Part of our electrical system had failed. Our service recording system was debilitated (which is a shame because Sarah’s sermon was poignantly insightful). The school had to start late on Monday morning after CenterPoint worked through the night and our electricians fervently hustled to get the A/C back up and running. It was a whole thing.
When the pandemic began and all churches were prevented from coming together in person, I heard some (from places elsewhere) make the point that the Church is not a building but instead the people…that we could still be the Church even as we couldn’t gather. I’ve reflected on this theological proclamation and why it struck me funny. While the Church is certainly the Body of the faithful, the church (note the small “c” denoting the place where we come together) is and has been an important part of how we live out our Christian lives together. Gathering for worship is a central part of what we do and who we are. Growing relationships and community feeds the connections that grow our communal faith and life. The things we share, whether the sacramental feast or a feast of fellowship around tables in the parish hall, whether in person or interacting remotely, create a shared identity that can only be similarly replicated in a few other types to settings such as a family gathered at the holidays. What we do together matters.
And so, I turn back to our Sunday morning boom. It was an event in time and place that we experienced as a community. The Junior Warden was on the phone almost immediately. Our Sextons were evaluating the situation. School administrators were making plans to adapt to the situation. We adjusted as a community. We always do this when something happens, whether large or small. Hurricanes and pandemics can’t prevent us (even if it seems they can temporarily) from doing what we do together. In the fulness of God’s time, the promise that all things will be well becomes manifest in our midst. This is joyful community and we are joyous together.
We love you and God loves you,
Josh Condon+