As the year presses on I'm finding that church life is less about attachment to a church building, but more about meeting others in the middle of life. Faith in Chris happens more at the supper table, at work, and in school than a few hours on Sunday. I, myself, feel more able to call on hands above to lean on in my little apartment late at night than during Sunday worship.One notable frustration I have about church life here in Valparaiso (and certainly not limited geographically) is that the faith is negligible in the most important places life is found: at Work and in the Home. I believe that the work of ministry is to flood others with the Gospel - News so Good that is must be taken back into the intersections of life where goodness is most often experienced. My hope is that the little ones of the church are given homes reflective of what I hope they find at church: responsible, loving care offered by adults who model this behavior towards one another. The hope of most people for our little ones is that they are provided with all of the good things they need in life - food, clothes, home, family, daily work, and all they need from day to day. Interestingly enough, Jesus commands us - even adults - to have faith like a child, so that it becomes the joy of the church to also ensure that these same needs are being met for "grown-ups."
As far as I can see, the best word I can think of for this sort of saturation with care and concern in the name of our common faith is verbal in nature (Lutherans have always been into Verbs... comes with the territory). I see the role of the church as: To Invade
Now, I cannot quite think of another English word that conveys the relationship between church and the home. While the word is so unfortunately often associated with military tactics and hostility, what about rejoining it with images of yeast in bread. Or the pervasive joy a newborn brings to her home. Or the way snow comes to gently blanket our communities a few times a year. Those, to me, are "good" and welcomed invasions. They are gifts dropped upon us without us asking or even knowing quite how it happens. So I look to our role as the church to find good and healthy ways to invade the home, saturating every corner of the faith life with goodness, love, and hope. A tall order, yes. Impossible - well, God doesn't seem to think so. And He says its His job anyway to take care of it, so I guess its not out of the realm of possibility.
Anyhow. Part of the reason why I was thinking about the church and its need to saturate the whole home and life has to do with the Catechism. In Luther's day he had large posterboards made up with the commandments, Apostles Creed, and Lord's prayer on it so that the Mom's and Dad's could teach one another and their children all about the promises of God in matters of life, death, and relationships. Maybe its not the norm for modern living, but I can't help but think it is a pretty good idea. Instead of simply sending the kiddoes off to Sunday School to "get them some morals," it is helpful to have those lessons and gifts invade the whole of life - life at the crossroads of the supper table. I was reminded of this because a friend of mine, Edith Gage, has come up with a really beautiful way of bringing the Apostles Creed into the home:
As far as I can see, the best word I can think of for this sort of saturation with care and concern in the name of our common faith is verbal in nature (Lutherans have always been into Verbs... comes with the territory). I see the role of the church as: To Invade
Now, I cannot quite think of another English word that conveys the relationship between church and the home. While the word is so unfortunately often associated with military tactics and hostility, what about rejoining it with images of yeast in bread. Or the pervasive joy a newborn brings to her home. Or the way snow comes to gently blanket our communities a few times a year. Those, to me, are "good" and welcomed invasions. They are gifts dropped upon us without us asking or even knowing quite how it happens. So I look to our role as the church to find good and healthy ways to invade the home, saturating every corner of the faith life with goodness, love, and hope. A tall order, yes. Impossible - well, God doesn't seem to think so. And He says its His job anyway to take care of it, so I guess its not out of the realm of possibility.
Anyhow. Part of the reason why I was thinking about the church and its need to saturate the whole home and life has to do with the Catechism. In Luther's day he had large posterboards made up with the commandments, Apostles Creed, and Lord's prayer on it so that the Mom's and Dad's could teach one another and their children all about the promises of God in matters of life, death, and relationships. Maybe its not the norm for modern living, but I can't help but think it is a pretty good idea. Instead of simply sending the kiddoes off to Sunday School to "get them some morals," it is helpful to have those lessons and gifts invade the whole of life - life at the crossroads of the supper table. I was reminded of this because a friend of mine, Edith Gage, has come up with a really beautiful way of bringing the Apostles Creed into the home:
She did this with her own hands! I had the good pleasure of seeing this process unfold over a few months. This piece is the Apostles Creed surrounded by Luther's explanations to the articles. This is not lofty, heady theological discourse, but rather the sort of dinner table discussion to bring into your kitchen. This is meant to be graspable by all and enjoyed as a centerpiece in discussion about the clarity of God's gifts and promises available at all times and in all places.
I'm not really into using this space as advertising (Blogs should give us some relief from that world, shouldn't they?), but Edith's work is really wonderful and I would encourage you to think about bringing one of her pieces home. Her work is very price-manageable and high quality. If you are interested, contact her at:
Edith Gage
Engaging Faith
Exploring the intersection of faith and art
egage001@luthersem.edu
(651) 645-7007
1 comment:
Invade is not a bad word to use. There are constant reminders in the Bible of God invading our world in violent means. Elijah taken up in a whirlwind. The heavens torn open when Jesus is baptized. The images of the apocalypse in Revelation.I think that you are spot on about Faith happening outside of the building, and of the responsibility of parents to uphold their baptismal vows to the children. So go on, put on your battle armor and invade the lives of those around you.They'll be eternally grateful.
boB
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