You and I enter 2013 with two choices: we can coast or we can move forward.
The colonists joined with Henry and they won their freedom. The Israelites joined with Joshua and they built their nation.
Although I am far inferior to both Henry and Joshua, I ask that you join with me in rejecting congregational coasting and in committing ourselves to moving forward as a congregation.
As I ask you to join with me, I also warn you like Joshua warned the Israelites. I warn you that moving forward is the harder of the two choices. Coasting requires less time and less energy, but coasting can only take us downhill. Whereas, if you choose to move forward you need to do so, fully understanding that moving forward is generally an uphill climb and one that requires a commitment of time, energy, and loving openness.
Two months ago in this space, I observed that moving forward will require us to make sure that the "Church of Today and Tomorrow" is as relevant to those coming of age today as it is to those of us who came of age in the last century. We will know we are succeeding only when we hear people of all ages and backgrounds join us in saying with joy, "This is my church." *
Our congregation, of course, has a history of moving forward while respecting and building on its past. It began in a small white wood framed building during the Monroe administration, moved to a larger brick building in the year Lincoln was elected, and then into this building while Theodore Roosevelt was our chief executive.
Now, eighteen presidents later, as we begin the 13th year of the 21st century, it is time to commit ourselves to moving even further so that like our predecessors we can adapt to serving Christ in a meaningful way in the time in which we live.
To do so, will require us to try to look at ourselves as others might see us.
To do so, will require us to envision what this congregation needs to be and to do not just in the year 2013, but 2023 and 2033 as well.
To do so, will take time, reflection, meaningful debate, and, of course, prayer - a lot of prayer.
To do so, will require some changes in how we present and live Christ's message, which I believe is a message for all time.
With that in mind - and despite my natural resistance to change - I intend to take one small step of change after Christmas. I am going to disrobe.
It may be one small step for the church, but one giant leap for Jim Barnes. For on nearly every Sunday since I took my place in the pulpit seventeen and a half years ago, I have preached in a robe. I have done so on days so warm that worshippers urged me to "take it off." Now, I will limit my robing to Christmas Eve, Easter, and the Sundays when we celebrate communion or baptism. The other Sundays, the robe will stay hanging in my office.
In an increasingly more informal world, it is my hope that this will be one little step in conveying to visitors and newcomers that we are not a stuffy, formal lot.
Maybe my disrobing will help me be more open minded about other things and maybe it will help others be more open minded as well. We'll see.
This step is symbolic. By and of itself, it will have little impact, but if it helps me (and if helps you) to be open to moving forward, the it is significant. Significant or not, please be careful about how you tell anyone that your pastor is disrobing for worship.
With prayers for a remarkable and enriching 2013,
Jim
I have used the term "my church" to show joy and commitment to the congregation and its ministry on behalf of Christ. That term should never be used to imply or proclaim ownership of the church. The church belongs to Christ and thus this and all other congregations are more accurately called "Christ's church."
Jim