Trust and obey?, by Tom Letts

Serra Retreat Center, Malibu, CA

Welcome back! I want to start by saying how cool it is that we continue to get lots of hits on this blog every day (from a high of over 100 to still over 70 each day!). And be sure that the next few weeks will include posts on the fallout (good and bad) of GA.

So, I'm in LA at the PC(USA) Missional Preaching Seminar (year 2). Twenty-four of us are studying and practicing issues of developing and leading congregations in worship, preaching and mission (mostly preaching). This much is becoming clear to me/us. Everything has changed. We live in a world that is nothing like our grandparents' world. Among the biggest changes are issues surrounding trust and authority. Let me explain.

There are, in Anchorage, two kinds of people: 'church people' and 'not church people.' Most of the time these two don't understand or trust each other. Before I go any farther I want to make it clear that, from where I stand, Trinity's 'church people' are pretty free of this fear of the 'not church people.' So I would like to spend time on how 'Trinity people' are perceived by our 'not church people' neighbors.

Here is the rub. We believe, really believe, that we all were created in God's image, broken and in the midst of being healed. We believe that something really special happens when the 'covenant community' (remember your membership vows, and the sacraments?) gathers to celebrate God's presence in their lives. We believe that if our 'not church people' neighbors could see what we see and know the Love that we have known, they would be deeply enriched.

So for the next few days I would like to look at our 'not church people' neighbors. What do they think of 'church people?' And what do they think of 'Trinity people?' Mixed with this, we'll look at 'Trinity people' and how we live, speak, and engage 'not church people' in ways to introduce them to the Love in Christ we know. More tomorrow.

God is good. Love you all, tl