From the Pastor's Desk

February 2007

People of St. Ansgar:

Last Sunday was our first date.  I thought it went pretty well.  How about you?  We made some tentative steps to get to know each other a little bit.  We watched each other move, listened to what each other had to say – or, more importantly for a first date, how we spoke.  We laughed and flirted a little.  You sang some beautiful music for me, and I tried to be the perfect gentleman.  The date ended well with smiles and warm wishes.  On the whole, I’d have to say that it was a good first date.

But a first date does not a relationship make.

The real question is, now what?  How will we be in relationship with each other?  What happens when I do something that annoys you, or you do something to annoy me?  Will we be able to talk to each other about it?  Will we have the similar and complimentary goals?  Will we make time for each other beyond Sunday morning?  Will we give each other the space to do our own thing and pursue our own interests without jealousy creeping in to the relationship?

They only way I’m aware of to address these questions is to spend time doing things together.  I can spend all my time huddled in my office preparing sermons and confirmation classes, or out visiting the sick and shut-in.  And you can pop in on Sunday mornings for an hour or so each week leaving your offering envelope behind, and to the world we’ll look like a very happy couple living together in a lovely house.  But in reality, we’ll both be miserable and frustrated.

I believe that ministry is something we’ve got to do together.  It’s true, I’ve been trained in some very specific skills, but those skills are all directed at equipping you for the work of ministry (Eph. 4:12).  You are people of faith, each with your varied gifts and talents and resources.  But to ‘build up the body of Christ’ as the Apostle Paul speaks about it, we have to be together as community, offering our gifts together, teaching each other, sharing with one another, and relying on each other for edification and support.

In other words, we’ve got to spend time with each other – me with you, and you with one another.  And that’s a huge challenge in our modern society where time is money, and writing cheques serves as a poor substitute for relationship.  Nonetheless, that’s a challenge we’re called to face together.

Perhaps the example of the early church can serve as our inspiration:

All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods, and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. [Acts 2:44-47]

Peace,
Pastor Brian