Encountering Christ in Community

 Mennonite Church Alberta has embarked on a three year action plan to help us focus our thoughts and activities around priorities discerned by those gathered from across the province in 2019.  The focus for Year Two (2021) is to Encounter, Embrace, and Embody Christ in Community.  Here are some of my thoughts on what each of these verbs could mean for us as a community of faith.

How do we encounter Christ in our community?

Do we see Christ in the joy and innocence of young children? Can we see Christ in the curiosity and adventurousness of our older children?  Do we see Christ in those who are patiently and lovingly parenting children of different ages? Or leading the congregation through the branch system? or leading a worship service? Or sharing their wisdom in meetings? Do we see Christ in those with whom we disagree? Where do we see Christ within our own community?

Do we hear Christ in the words we share during foyer time?  In the music and words of the choir songs and congregational singing? In the Scripture readings? In the children's feature? In the sermon? In the prayers? What about our congregational meetings? Do the words and the sentiments they express also help us to see Jesus as present among us? Can we hear God whispering through our deliberations, letting us know we are not alone, we are loved, God is present? How does our our community help us hear God speak?

Do we feel Christ in a handshake, a hug, a touch on the arm? Touch can have so many different reactions in different people - but God is reaching out to touch each of us in a safe and loving way. Maybe we feel Christ's presence in the feel of a pew, in the warm embrace of a blanket gifted by our quilters, or the sensation of holding a Bible or hymnbook.  Or maybe it is the feel of a breeze on a hot summer day that helps us feel the presence of Christ.

Do we smell Christ through baking bread? or the delicious aroma's wafting through the sanctuary when we have a potluck or soup and pie lunch waiting for us following the service? Perhaps it is the smell of flowers, or salty sea air, or of coming snow that opens our senses to God's immense goodness and presence. Is there some way that being in community, too, opens our senses so we can even smell God near?

Do we taste Christ in the communion bread and cup?  Does that carry over to the next time we have those elements in a regular meal? When someone gets a recipe just right, so it tastes like home - does that help us sense the love and security that God brings to our lives? How does our community help us taste God's presence?

How do we experience Christ in our community?

The Scripture reading for this Sunday is Matthew 25:31-40 - the story of people being divided "as sheep and goats" and Jesus telling one group that they are blessed for all they had done for him and their replying "when did we ever do something for you?." Jesus' response is "when you have done it for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you have done it for me." (v40 CEB) Neither the "sheep" nor the "goats" recognized Jesus in the people around them yet Jesus was there in "the least of them". Christ can come in unexpected ways. Are we open to encountering Christ through others? through group discernment? through group worship?  One thing this passage emphasizes is that we often do not realize when we encounter Christ.  Christ may be speaking to us, reaching out to us, calling to us in ways we do not recognize.

This passage reminds us that Christ is with us. This is a reassuring thought and can be quite comforting. It is also, however, quite challenging. If we do not know when it is Christ in front of us, then we need at all times to consider that the person in front of us could be Christ.  Maybe that person with the wild idea is actually someone God is using to send us a prophetic word.  Maybe the aggravating telemarketer calling at supper time is actually Christ calling us away from our comfort zone. It is a bit nerve wracking to consider the possibilities, the idea that anyone could be someone placed in our path by God to teach us something.

Generally I don't think God works that way.  Generally, I think this passage is a call to treat others, no matter who they are or what they believe, with the same respect as we would ask. A quote from Richard Rohr came across my Facebook feed the other day: "Jesus tried to change people by loving and healing them.  His harshest words of judgement were reserved for those who perpetuated systems of inequality and oppression and who, through religion itself, thought they were sinless and untouchable." I think this is a call to open our eyes to see what we are doing and that we can do better, as well as a call to open our ears to hear God speaking in so many different ways.

So how can we encounter Christ in community? I think we start by looking at each person as worthy of love and respect. I think we need to take seriously the words of each person within our community, not dismissing anyone because they are too old or too young or too quiet or too verbose. We need to listen and not assume we know what they are REALLY saying. I think we need to reach out when someone is hurting. Let the person know we care. If we see a need, I think we are called to address it. I have to admit I struggle with this.  I find it overwhelming at times. I do, however, find reassurance in the fact we are in this together. The beauty of community is we do it together.  None of us can do it all - but we can all do our part.  Can we, together, learn to take time to listen, take the effort to express our care and concern, find ways to help those in need, take space to pray for each other, take the risk of being open and maybe even crying in front of each other?  Can we, together, help people who are struggling know they are not alone? Can we, as a community, be a fuller expression of God's love than any one of us?

I also think we can see/experience Christ if we really look at what others are doing in their efforts to follow Christ. I see Christ in the woman quietly providing rides to the hospital or meals to those going through difficult times. I see Christ in the man showing up to fix someone's furnace, or help mend a fence, or mow a lawn. I see Christ in people opening their homes to Summer Pastoral Interns, or visiting speakers, or those new to the city. I see Christ in a group of friends reaching out to include someone who does not exactly "fit" their demographic. I see Christ in people choosing to spend their holiday time serving others. I see Christ in the young child who moves over during children's feature to make room for a shy newcomer. There are so many more examples of amazing people of all ages doing things they may not even realize are out of the ordinary. These are but a few "Christ sightings" within our congregation. Christ is among us and working through us. We need to be aware of that and build on that.  Each one of us needs to be open to encountering Christ within our community, and to responding to the call to be Christ to someone else, maybe in a way we had never considered before. 

So let us look to encounter Christ as we gather, be it in small groups, via Zoom, or, eventually, all together in the sanctuary. Let us look for ways God is present with us, and ways we can help others feel God's presence with them.

May God be with you and open your senses to experience Christ all around you and in you. May God fill you with the joy of knowing you have seen the risen Christ.