Folks have asked about the journey that brought us to the place where we are, a place where we become a community of two places. How did we get here? If I say because of God that is way too simple even if it is true. So I thought I’d say a bit more about it.

For years we have wondered about our location at Saint James-Alexandria, wondered that it is at the end of a cul-de-sac, that the building doesn’t always provide us with the tools we need to share the good news in our context with this community and others. We talked about selling and moving which ended up not working out- it was worth exploring but not what God wanted for us evidently, at least not then. Still we (I) had a yearning to go beyond where we are and reach for people who are wanting an experience of the Jesus who accepts us and loves us right where we are, a place where people are free to be who they are, to be authentic (authenticity is one of our core values). We feel we are unique in what we offer at Saint James (every church community is unique in its own ways as well); we feel our uniqueness is attractive to people who might otherwise find church not for them.

How do we get out there? Maybe, I began to think as I prayed, God’s was calling us out but not to move from the Saint James-Alexandria site but to multiply the people we were reaching by multiplying the locations in which we offered the message. I began to feel so strongly that I put it before the leadership team and they were drawn to it as well. That is the abbreviated version of how we got here. Since we were drawn in that direction, God has seemed to confirm the vision in other ways, ways that I will write about in the near future here in the SJ blog.

It is always fascinating to hear reports about a weekend when I have wondered away for vacation or some other event. Almost always, it is a reminder about how things go on with or without me. Things happen and amazingly, everybody copes one way or another. However, recently the reports leave me to wonder about where faith and life connect.

This past weekend while I was camping, Saint James was visited by a homeless gentleman. It is really not all that rare an occurance really but for some reason this time it became a point of contention for a couple of folks who decided to call the police and have him removed. Mind you, I don’t know every detail so me reactions are more raw responses than reports of every aspect of this incident. One thing that interests me is that Erika was preaching that day about not judging one another and the negative effects of so doing (it is worth listening to that message which is available here in the blog section under messages). Seems kind of ironic. Setting that aside for a moment, I realize that in “our world” people who are homeless are perceived as dangerous or at least unpredictable; I am told third hand that the call to the police was related to safety concerns for our children who were playing outside. I do not know whether or not that is true; I know that Erika has suggested a different kind of response for the future, a more loving one.

There was also something amazing that came of the encounter as well, the kind of thing that makes me get chills up my spine. I am told that two of our band members, after convincing the police no one would be pressing charges, sliced some of the leftover communion bread and made a sandwich for this man and apologized to him for our poor treatment of him. Communion bread became real food for a hungry man. Reconciliation became the possibility out of ostracism and exclusion. I am thinking more this week about my response to people different than I am and ways that we are invited to model Jesus at Saint James. And I am thankful to Tom and Everett for being models for me…

My last post was in a whole other month and we’re four days into the new month! Seems a while since I’ve written although I thought about writing all weekend long in the midst of camping. However, the low-tech nature of camping (by necessity for me- I need to leave technology behind periodically for my own sanity) meant that there was no writing, only thinking and praying. Camping was also a bit different this time because we intentionally camped with other people we knew- Linda’s sister and family. There was plenty of time to hang out and do different things but there were also added distractions and fun to be shared. It was, most of all, relaxing which I felt was vital for my sanity. It was a beautiful weekend and the sleeping weather was great. I was able to just let go of a few things that usually hang over my head when I head out. My thoughts are still a bit jumbled and while I set out to write important things (at least in my own mind), it seems they are escaping me even now.

I should be able to get the recording of worship up on the site later today when I get to the office and can edit it… be on the lookout for it… and it is good to be back.