Walter Brueggemann (has) suggested that the primary challenge facing the Christian Church in North America in the 21st century is that for most of our people, God is no longer a primary actor in the story of their lives. Don?t get me (or Walter!) wrong: it?s not that our people don?t believe in God, it?s just that apart from church they don?t think about God all that much.
Ouch!
What does it mean to be the Church - the Body of Christ - in North Bay, in 2016, from Monday to Saturday? ?Is it enough to be a friendly place where all who enter can feel at home? ?Is it enough to be a place where we worship in familiar surroundings with beautiful liturgy and proclaim the Creeds that have summarized our faith for thousands of years? ?All of this is important and precious to us, and it should be! ?All of this is a welcome part of our lives as the Body of Christ gathered on Greenwood Avenue. ?But is there more? ?Over the next few weeks we will explore this question.
What questions do you have about what it means to really be the part of this local congregation - and to be part of the Church Universal - God's people of every race, nation and language ? Share your questions here or email a note to Rev. Marie so we can explore this together (revmarie1952@icloud.com). ?Or drop into the Thursday "Coffee and Conversation" time at 10:30 where we will be discussing this in a free and open conversation over the next weeks.
The promise? ?There IS more, and it is wonderful!