It’s now been about 6 months since we have gathered in person in the Grace sanctuary for worship. We keep remembering that last morning we worshiped in person, when we told you that now is the time to do what we are supposed to do best as a church; to be creative as we follow the leading of the spirit through a time that is probably going to push us out beyond what we know. However, I don’t think any of us understood that morning just how much things would be shifting and how much faithful pivoting we would be doing. There was a great adrenaline rush when everything happened at once and everyone was readjusting their lives to what they needed to be. But perhaps that adrenaline is running low now as we continue the uphill climb, navigating uncertainty and all the ways that COVID-19 has affected our individual lives and our life together as a community of faith.
For anyone who has been hiking in the Rockies, you know the loss of momentum that comes from having to take step after step while going up and up. At least on a mountain hike though you get to the top, gaze upon some wonderful views, maybe have a snack and then turn around and go back down. However, in real life these past 6 months, it hasn’t felt like we have been getting closer to the top of the mountain. We are all feeling the steady uphill in our lives as we continue with life and work through this time, as we navigate what it means to be disciples right now and as we continue to be weighed down with uncertainty. For all of you with children, grandchildren or young families in your lives, you are on a steeper climb than all of us as you transition back into the school year and make all sorts of tough decisions.
A long time ago Jesus stood on a hill and spoke about who people of the Kingdom of God are. “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hid.” A city on a hill is as visible in the nighttime with all the light shining as it is in the daytime, but while a hill can make something more visible and powerful looking, there is an exposure in being on a hill. A city on a hill cannot be hid; everyone sees it and there’s nothing to hide behind. In lots of ways this pandemic has come along and stripped away things that leave us feeling exposed and vulnerable. We are missing the connection as the body of Christ that we feel when we are together, and we are missing the ways we have been able to do things before. However, in this time we see people discovering new ways to cultivate relationship and community, like at Dwell Coffee and Drive Thru Summer Adventure. We’re finding out what community means when we can’t rely on gathering in the same ways we did and we’re finding out how to be better stewards of our resources of time, talent and treasure. We’re discovering new ways to be God’s people in our neighbourhood, like in our summer parking lot presence to those who need a listening ear and assisting with the distribution of grocery gift cards to hungry kids in Calgary.
We may be feeling more exposed and vulnerable as a community and we may be feeling tired because of the uphill climb we are on, but what an opportunity we have to “light up the city”! What an opportunity for us to be who Jesus calls us to be. Maybe our momentum in this time can come from how being on the hill, visibly out there with only forward to go pushes us to creatively engage with God, ourselves, each other and the world. Maybe our momentum can come from remembering that being in this visible spot on the hillside means that everything we do and how we do it is telling the world something about who God is. We are on a spirit led adventure and bless you, Grace Church, for how you have followed the leading of the spirit in this time. Thank-you for all the ways you have been caring for one another, and for your faithfulness as our ministry shifts and pivots to embrace the time we are living in.
Peace,
Rev. Christian, Rev. Jake, Rev. Maren
