When we read the stories of the early church in Acts, it’s easy to look at the growing church and long for a time when people by the thousands were being baptized and there was an abundance of enthusiasm for this new religion being led by the followers of Jesus. It was an exciting time! But what we forget is that at the same time that the early Jesus Movement was happening, Jerusalem was still being occupied by the Romans, people were trying to figure out if they were Jewish first and then a follower of Jesus, there were conflicts in leadership, and daily living was not easy by any means.
And then we become nostalgic for the times when we remember our own churches being full...and you know where I’m going with this.
So I have a couple of quick stories I’m going to share with you.
When I was in seminary, I chose to do one of my internship at a parish, that was basically what you would think of as a “dying” parish. Average Sunday attendance was 20. The priest was paid a pittance. There was a very small...and I mean 5 kids...youth group. Perhaps you’re thinking that I was there to learn how to close a church, but I wasn’t.
I was there, not so much to be part of what happened on Sunday, but to learn how to be a priest in the midst of the ministry that happened the rest of the week. So this church sat on a corner of a 4 way intersection. The other 3 corners were occupied by various gang affiliated peoples, and there was a lot of poverty, abuse, and fear in that neighborhood. Given that scenario, you might think that the church was a place of vandalism that closed up shop during the week. But that wasn’t the case at all.
In that context, it absolutely mattered that the church was active during the week. On Mondays and Wednesdays, the thrift shop was open. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the food pantry was open. Fridays the fellowship hall was open for after-school tutoring. Saturday we hosted a health clinic with a pro-bono nurse offering basic care. All of this was staffed by volunteers and folks who chose the “community service” option as opposed to going to the county jail for misdemeanors.
During the week it didn’t matter what gang you belonged to. It didn’t matter if you were undocumented. It didn’t matter what your socio-economic status was. None of it matter. What mattered is that when these ministries were happening, all were welcome. What mattered is that even if we didn’t devote ourselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers in the same way that the early church in Acts did, we were praying, and sharing table fellowship in some way, with our neighborhood. And we did it because we were following in the tradition of our early Christian brothers and sisters. Do you get me on this?
Here’s another one for you…
At the end of April, I was privileged to attend the CODE conference. Now I know, none of you here knows what that is (well, except maybe Keith Brown). But CODE is the annual gathering of Canons and other Diocesan Executives. It’s one way we learn how to do our jobs and meet others who also do our jobs. So I was really glad to go because I’m still trying to figure out what exactly a Canon does, but I digress.
And while I was there, I got to learn a lot about what our Presiding Bishop is calling the “Jesus Movement”. And what we have been told, and are continuing to be told, is that as clergy and staff of the diocese, we are to be looking for and cultivating opportunities for the Jesus Movement to happen in our context. Now, the cynic in me, and yes, I can be a bit cynical, is like “great, another program from on high that I have to implement or somehow convince others to get on board with.” But that’s not really what it is.
The Jesus Movement that PB Michael is talking about and calling us to participate in, is a revival of the enthusiasm for caring for and loving each other and our neighbors, because it’s who we are as Christians. Let me say that again...the Jesus Movement is a revival of the enthusiasm for caring for and love each other and our neighbors, because it’s who we are as Christians. Do you hear that? It’s not a program. It’s not a mandate from on high. It’s a revival of enthusiasm for loving and caring for each other.
So while I was at CODE, one of the conversations we had was “how is your diocese living into the Jesus Movement”. And friends, there was silence. People were unsure how to answer the question.
But not me! I quickly raised my hand and said, I am from the diocese of San Joaquin and we are living the Jesus Movement every day. We don’t have the same structures in place that other diocese do, because we’ve been in survival mode for so long that some of that “we’ve always done it this way” stuff has fallen to the wayside. We don’t have a huge staff because not only can we not afford it, but because we have people who are willing to help because they care for and love each other. We are rebuilding and resurrecting on a daily basis, walking in the way of Jesus the best way we know how because we believe we are called to be here because we love and care for each other and our neighbor.
And then I told them of this place--St James Cathedral. And I told them of the deferred maintenance on this place, and how folks have stepped up and given of their time and talent to help us make it home. And I told them of the thrift store, broken windows and all, and that we keep at it because we have something to offer our community. And I told them of the food pantry and how it was making church happen before we officially moved in. And I told them of the school, and the Jewish community that meets in Zoe Eden, and the karate class that uses our space, and Faith in the Valley moving in during the month of June. I told them that the diocese and St James is the Jesus Movement in our context.
Is every seat here full? No, it isn’t. Do we have an abundance of kids to make youth group happen? Not yet. Have we worked out all the kinks of this place? Not even close. And our story is like the stories of so many of our congregations in this diocese. But we’re working on it.
“They devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common…”
Friends, we need to pay attention to the wonders and signs around us. We can’t take our common life for granted. We are the Jesus Movement in our context, which is a lot to be excited about, but it’s also a lot of work. And it’s good work. May we be revived daily with enthusiasm to care for and love each other and our neighbors.
And the people said...Amen.