I posted this today on Facebook and thought it might worth sharing here:
This past Sunday, along with my friends from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, I worshipped with St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Atlanta. We arrived for a Sunday Eucharist, but we were fortunate enough to stumble upon the church’s College Day, where the adults sported their college gear, and the youth were the focus of the celebration. The sermon was delivered by one of their former youth and a recent college graduate, and a Black History Month presentation was delivered by one of the current youth members. I was moved by the deep, engaging, and effective intergenerational work and witness. The church was simply walking the walk, living into the spirit.
50 minutes into the service, Sydney Singleton, a St. Paul’s vestry member, asked those of us who were visiting to introduce ourselves. (Usually, this is the kind of thing that makes me quite nervous and I try to weasel my way out of, but I could tell from Ms. Singleton’s glance towards us that this wasn’t something we were getting out of!) When the music kicked in, I thought we were just moving into the offertory, but I soon realized that we were being welcomed with song by their entire congregation. I’m pretty sure God’s first language for us is music, and I was reminded of this again. My heart was overflowing with the community’s love. It reminded me that we are being called to love God with all of our heart, soul, and mind, and that the only thing more important is to love our neighbor as ourselves.
All morning long, we were welcomed so warmly at St. Paul’s. (Did I mention the men served gumbo at coffee hour?!) The love was palpable, and I continue to reflect upon how the spirit led me there and how it works in my own life and ministry.
On this Ash Wednesday and throughout this Lenten season, my prayer for all of us is that we slow down to pray more, complain less, acknowledge where God is fully at work within our own lives, and recognize where we may be called to do the work in the kingdom now.
Dust we are, and dust we shall return.
In the meantime, let’s love one another.
Amen.
