Sunday, May 18, 2008

Dearest God,

Applause erupted in your church about six times today. History making! I watched joy come to life this morning. Sitting in my seat in the chancel I could see the faces of pilgrims as our new musician offered his gifts. I watched them as the choir sang.

A new spirit is gaining energy at your church, you know the one on 52nd Street. It has not only taken hold. It's growing like a baby seed in the ground. It's beautiful to see.

Happy faces came through the line to greet me at the end of the service. "What did you think of the music?" I asked. Everything from "phenomenal" to "amazing" came out of their mouths. "How did we get him?" several people asked. "God sent him to us." I responded.

We're accustomed to thinking of ourselves as small, as incapable of doing some things. We don't imagine ourselves as a church of the spirit, a church of power, a church of the possible. We are always surprised when something good happens in our midst.

My prayer is that people will stop being surprised. They will begin to recognize your visitation. They will acknowledge your presence as the source of our gifts, our joy, our laughter, our tears, our community love, our many blessings. My hope is they will enter our common life together with anticipation and gratitude. They will believe the promises of God. They will know that you are at work in us. They will know that our joy is your joy being revealed on earth. How else does it come?

I have labored in the vineyard of your love for nearly eight years in this community. My prayer has always been that eyes would be open to your spirit love, that people would suddenly become aware that the promises of God are true, that eternity is here today, not just at the end of human life. And that people would allow themselves to come to life in a way never before. That church would be this communion of spirits melding together with your spirit, your presence. That people recommiting themselves to the wondrous grace you offer would go out into the world sprinkling love, grace, mercy, compassion, comfort, joy and peace to others, that they would serve the world with the heart of God.

It happened today. A red letter day. A day for you. Take a bow, Great Heavenly Father, for you have come to life in your church. Your people have allowed it to happen. Oh yes, some still hold their cards close to their chest, believe things should still be the way they want them, but even they are melting in small ways. More and more it will happen because you have destined it.

Amazing God,
I saw your smile
today
and I smiled back
like two lovers
discovering one another.
Your light shined,
your love showed.
Your people wondered.
Your spirit born.

Joy-filled, Andrea