For those in liturgical congregations, this Sunday’s celebration of the reign of Christ will mark the end of the church year. Next Sunday, November 28, we will begin a new year with the season of Advent. As we near the end of this year, I have been reflecting on my journey of faith over the past twelve months. Three experiences have played critical roles in informing and continually reforming my faith:
- Exploring
- Experience: After serving five congregations in lay or pastoral positions, I am currently taking a break from that responsibility. I have taken advantage of the opportunity to visit and worship in a variety of local churches. My worship experiences included those in small parishes and large; with organ and praise band; with teaching/preaching that was theologically conservative to progressive to that which defied any label I sought to apply; led by lay people and clergy dressed in their Sunday best, in Florida casual, and in liturgically appropriate garments; and that was over within the hour or extended indefinitely as the Spirit led.
- Learning: The body of Christ is an incredibly large and diverse family that typically doesn’t communicate well or partner constructively with those family members who are theologically or socioeconomically distant. The road toward enacting the Realm of God is one paved with unity not division.
- Engaging
- Experience: I have devoted more of my time to social media than in any prior year. My investment was primarily in blogs (both reading and writing), Facebook, and Twitter.
- Learning: Christian community is no longer limited by geography. Virtual community is one form real community.
- Examining
- Experience: I am currently engaged in a process of discerning what is next insofar as my role in the life of a parish. This ongoing introspection has benefited greatly from many conversations, considerable reading, and prayerful pondering.
- Learning: God is still speaking and as I take time to listen my vision for ministry continues to grow. While I will always identify myself as a Christian who worships and serves in the context of a parish that may chose to affiliate with a denomination rather than someone who is Presbyterian or Lutheran or a part of any other tradition, I am increasingly open to and actively pursuing formalizing a relationship with a single denominational entity that could last for decades.
So What?
I encourage you to take some time to reflect on your journey of faith over the last twelve months. What are some of the experiences that have shaped this leg of your journey? What have you learned from them?