Dear Friends,

I enjoy a good story. My interest in scripture, faith stories, and all the ways those connect is a big part of why I am a priest. I want to make those connections and show how the big story of what God is doing also includes our stories. There is a difficulty sometimes when we focus on the particular while dismissing the whole. This happens with scripture and in our own lives. 

While scripture can reveal to us the ways of God calling us to follow in a way of love, there are also some pretty rough parts. The authors present violent exploits as commanded by God, some passages call for strict adherence to certain practices and behaviors, and even Jesus speaks of harsh judgement. When I get baffled by those things I remind myself to back up and consider the whole story. As Christians, we confess that God took human form in Jesus and knew human suffering even unto a violent death at the hands of humans systems of power. Jesus was then raised from the dead and we can know Christ in us and us in Christ. That is the shorter version. It definitely matters with regard to how we see other parts of the story. 

Because God in Christ has been victorious over death, we believe that there is nothing God can't overcome, transform or heal. In our stories, there is nothing that God can't forgive and make new. That is true for us as individuals and for all of humanity. The truth that I can be forgiven calls me to show some grace and acceptance to those who struggle to accept this mercy. It may well change the eyes through which we see those who exalt violence, condemnation, and hate. 

I hold up this lens of storytelling as we are telling stories of our past 100 years as a parish. We are a bunch of faithful sinners through whom God has continued to work. We are living our stories in a time when the voices of hatred and separation seem to drown out the love and faithfulness that continues to bring the love of Christ to all. We can tell our stories and name both the good and the bad. When we look at our own stories through the lens of Christ's work we can see that God's love can transform our sins, our wounds, and even our getting hyper focused on the details of our stories. 

Our purpose as a church is to reconcile all people to unity in Christ. Any story we read, share, or live is centered in that purpose. We worship together to give thanks and to name Christ with us. We serve in order to be the bread of Christ to others. We tell our stories with all their joy and sadness to name God's presence. Yes, we raise money to enhance our space so that we can go on sharing the Christ story. People are hungry for that bread and that presence. May we faithfully continue to share the big story of God's love. 

Peace, 

Fr. John Mark