Why Church??

I think that one of the best things that some churches could have discovered recently, is the ability to stream live into their worship services via the internet.  I admit that I periodically have a St. Mattress worship experience with Rev. Slumbers from time-to-time.  Some of my favorite pulpiteers to drop in on are Rev. Floyd Flake, Pastor of Greater Allen Cathedral (NYC), Rev. Jamal H. Bryant, Pastor of Empowerment Temple (Baltimore), Rev. Otis Moss, III, Pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ (Chicago) and Father Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina Catholic Church (Chicago).

I am so appreciative of my church home, St. Ambrose Episcopal Church: Raleigh, NC and other churches in which I was enriched and have grown spiritually.  I believe that church worship is a multi-sensory journey in which all of our senses are engaged in worship and thanksgiving for all that God has done for us, and will continue to do for us.  Often times I encounter people who are interested in church, but may have been over exposed to it growing up, may have been hurt by a spiritual leader, or even afraid of God.  In a quest for a perfect church, mosque, synagogue or temple, we have to be mindful that the perfect one does not exist.  There may be a community of faith that is perfect for you at this season in your life.  Beloved remember that we are all imperfect beings, broken and marred that are in pursuit of perfection.  We run to the end of the rainbow, only to discover that the glimmery, shining pot that we were running toward was filled with fool's gold.

As I have my St. Mattress worship sessions, the one thing that I cannot experience, is the love of my parishioners, a touch from my pastor, a word of encouragement from my adopted mother, or passing the peace (unless I shake my own hand).  The building is not the church, we who name the name of Christ are the church and the church should be in us.  At times church people don't act like church people.  When you encounter those types, my grandmother said "You just gotta love the hell outta 'em." 

A community of faith is a vibrant place for you to tap into your gifts amd potentially make sense of God's plan for your life.  Any time you have more than one person in a room, there is the potential for disagreements and discord.  We worship to be strengthened and empowered.  At the close of our worship service, my priest dismisses us with this charge, "Go forth into the world to love and serve the Lord."  If you are not connected to a community of faith, find one.  You may have shop around, but when you find the right one, it will fit you just like Cinderella's glass slipper.

The Peace of the Lord be always with you.
Karsten