Where’s Michael: March

March 6-7

First Christian Church, Edmond

It’s time to learn more

Describe Your Church in 3 Words

It’s Time for Regional Assembly

I can’t explain it
I couldn’t if i tried
How the only things we carry
Are the things we hold inside
Like a day in the open
Like the love we won’t forget
Like the laughter that we started
And it hasn’t died down yet

Let it go my love my truest
Let it sail on silver wings
Life’s a twinkling that’s for certain
But it’s such a fine thing
There’s a gathering of spirits
There’s a festival of friends
And we’ll take up where we left off
When we all meet again
Carrie Newcomer, A Gathering of Spirits, 2002.

Let’s take up where we left off in 2024.  Some of us gathered at First Christian Church in Stroud for fellowship, worship, and business.  Some of us gathered at sea that summer for worship, study, and fellowship.   Let’s lift our voices in song, fellowship, worship, prayer, and serve together at First Christian Church in Edmond this weekend.

As Oklahoma Disciples, siblings in faith, guests, and friends gather for Regional Assembly this weekend, and for worship each Sunday, we carry the tension of living midway through the second decade of the 21st century.  Polarization is all around: economic, political, and religious.  With many media choices and individualized truths, it can be hard to separate fact from the dominant narrative or your chosen team’s narrative.  Gamification has made everything a win-or-lose proposition, even in congregational life, where we once worked for the best solution or the common good.  Our clergy are committed to a representative ministry that is pastoral, teacher, preacher, and always prophetic.

The 20 and 30-somethings I know often remind me that regional war, economic uncertainty, government dysfunction, and politicized religion are all they’ve known.  Some have taken a side.  Some have checked out.  A few have wondered, “What does patriotism mean? Do we cheer, pray, protest, or look away?”  As a follower of Jesus, I wonder which parable is a teachable moment in this situation?  Who is my neighbor?  What belongs to God?  What belongs to Caesar?  Who do I invite to a banquet, and where do we all sit?

Amidst it all, there are good things happening in our congregations through their service and witness of the good news of God.  We are being faithful in our diverse contexts.  We are tending to our neighbors and members alike.  You will hear about some of it at Regional Assembly this weekend.  You will experience some of what makes our expression of Christian faith unique as we embrace the tension of unity, liberty, and grace around a table with a place set for you.

See you at First Christian Church in Edmond!  Stay centered in God’s shalom.

Disciples, you are a blessing.  Be a blessing.