It’s September and it’s already time for the West Texas Fair! There is a lure to the carnival lights and atmosphere. For some people it is an annual ritual; a chance to indulge in rich food without too much guilt. Children look forward to the midway. My first high school date was a trip to the fair.
When I was a local business owner I dreaded fair time. We were part of the community that saw the drain on the local economy. Cash flow slows for small retailers. With limited funds it was easy to just stay home. Once I lost a more innocent appreciation, it represented a group of strangers coming to take away part of my livelihood. I lost the ability to have fun at the fair.
While traveling in another state a woman I met recognized the Disciple trademark and shared some of her warm memories of attending a Disciple congregation as a young girl. At times she had returned to the Disciple “brand” when she sought out a place to worship.
“One thing I could always count on,” she said, “if I saw that chalice on the sign I knew what I could expect when I went inside.”
I spent the next week in a new church conference with Disciples. Korean, Central American, Haitian, Cajun French, African American, Caucasian, Mexican, Viet Namese; all Disciple congregations! There was no one dominate language or worship style, and yet none were repressed, only celebrated.
We were reminded that week while many of our congregations are primarily Anglo or African American (the largest congregations in our denomination are primarily African American), we indeed began as an immigrant movement. Many were Scots-Irish who sought the freedom to express themselves spiritually without offense.
I thought about what my friend had said about “branding” and expectations. I couldn’t help thinking how surprised she might be if she followed the Chalice into one of these congregations. If she were anticipating her childhood experience, her expectations might not be reasonable.
If instead she expected to find people seeking the freedom to express themselves in worship and to extend a hospitality toward others seeking the same, then she may have found the right place. If she were looking for a safe place where all were valued she may have the right set of expectations. If she looking for a fellowship willing to shake off labels and celebrate our differences then she may have followed the Chalice again to the right “brand.”
I have always cherished the diversity of the Disciple movement. It is a defining strength in our congregation. Not that we speak a variety of languages, but that we are a family of folks from a mixture of educational backgrounds, earning potential, theological and political persuasions. It is a picture of Unity not necessarily uniformity. It is our respect and compassion for each other that overcomes often polarizing beliefs that threaten to divide us. Our differences are not argued or ignored and most often celebrated, in eldership, service on the church board, and certainly at the table each week. All are welcome! All are worthy! All!
It is true that much fear and discrimination lives beneath the surface of such diversity. Sometimes we may still see others who challenge our beliefs as trying to change what we have worked for or taking from our “spiritual livelihood.” It is not just difference in styles of worship or language and race, but what people believe about the Bible, or who they choose to live their most intimate lives with. Yet here we are! Here is God!
Extending radical Disciple freedom to others requires lavish spending. We should never feel that our banks of tolerance and charity are too compromised to come back to the party like little children or perhaps head over heels in love and on our first date! Who cares what it cost? We are here! Here is God!
When I was a local business owner I dreaded fair time. We were part of the community that saw the drain on the local economy. Cash flow slows for small retailers. With limited funds it was easy to just stay home. Once I lost a more innocent appreciation, it represented a group of strangers coming to take away part of my livelihood. I lost the ability to have fun at the fair.
While traveling in another state a woman I met recognized the Disciple trademark and shared some of her warm memories of attending a Disciple congregation as a young girl. At times she had returned to the Disciple “brand” when she sought out a place to worship.
“One thing I could always count on,” she said, “if I saw that chalice on the sign I knew what I could expect when I went inside.”
I spent the next week in a new church conference with Disciples. Korean, Central American, Haitian, Cajun French, African American, Caucasian, Mexican, Viet Namese; all Disciple congregations! There was no one dominate language or worship style, and yet none were repressed, only celebrated.
We were reminded that week while many of our congregations are primarily Anglo or African American (the largest congregations in our denomination are primarily African American), we indeed began as an immigrant movement. Many were Scots-Irish who sought the freedom to express themselves spiritually without offense.
I thought about what my friend had said about “branding” and expectations. I couldn’t help thinking how surprised she might be if she followed the Chalice into one of these congregations. If she were anticipating her childhood experience, her expectations might not be reasonable.
If instead she expected to find people seeking the freedom to express themselves in worship and to extend a hospitality toward others seeking the same, then she may have found the right place. If she were looking for a safe place where all were valued she may have the right set of expectations. If she looking for a fellowship willing to shake off labels and celebrate our differences then she may have followed the Chalice again to the right “brand.”
I have always cherished the diversity of the Disciple movement. It is a defining strength in our congregation. Not that we speak a variety of languages, but that we are a family of folks from a mixture of educational backgrounds, earning potential, theological and political persuasions. It is a picture of Unity not necessarily uniformity. It is our respect and compassion for each other that overcomes often polarizing beliefs that threaten to divide us. Our differences are not argued or ignored and most often celebrated, in eldership, service on the church board, and certainly at the table each week. All are welcome! All are worthy! All!
It is true that much fear and discrimination lives beneath the surface of such diversity. Sometimes we may still see others who challenge our beliefs as trying to change what we have worked for or taking from our “spiritual livelihood.” It is not just difference in styles of worship or language and race, but what people believe about the Bible, or who they choose to live their most intimate lives with. Yet here we are! Here is God!
Extending radical Disciple freedom to others requires lavish spending. We should never feel that our banks of tolerance and charity are too compromised to come back to the party like little children or perhaps head over heels in love and on our first date! Who cares what it cost? We are here! Here is God!