Real Mission: Turning the Church Inside Out
When I was a little girl, a Sunday School teacher of mine taught me a very important lesson in Mission.
“Weave your fingers into one another, clasp your hands tightly together, and place your thumbs like you are going to make music with a blade of grass..."
She modeled for us the motions as the lesson unfolded, “Here’s the Church…Here’s the steeple…Open it up…and see all the people!"
This time of physical distance as been, for me, an important reminder that the Church is made up solely of each one of us. Our lives, woven together, interconnected, just like the lesson from our childhood.
We are indeed blessed to have a beautiful building to gather in when our health allows, and our steady steeple reminds us to always be looking upward; but the real mission of the Church lies in being turned inside out.
When we open ourselves up to the world, it is then that we are able to participate in God’s loving plan of reconciliation and restoration.
Being turned inside out can be uncomfortable and altogether too “apocalyptic” as Phil wrote about in his blog last week; but we believe that what will be revealed in our turning is nothing short of Gospel.
There are so many ways to be Church right now, and I hope that you will join me in reaching out to our neighbors who may be struggling at this time, so that our broader community can see all of the amazing people that call Redeemer 'Church.'"
We are currently collecting non-perishable food items and personal hygiene products for children in the Cincinnati Public Schools. These items will accompany the food that the school district is already distributing. Church of the Redeemer has been asked to be a Community Champion and assist with the distribution of these items at John P. Parker Elementary School. Learn more about this program and how you can participate using the Community Champion button below.
Although we are no longer hosting our Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) guests (scheduled for March 29-April 4) at Church of the Redeemer, we will provide food for them during this time. Also, you may consider offsetting the costs of extended stay hotels where IHN guests are currently being housed due to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) restrictions on group housing. More information, sign-up links, and ways to contribute financially can be found using the Interfaith Hospitality button below.
Seniors in our community are some of the most vulnerable among us right now and staying connected with them is essential. If you or your child would like to serve as a pen-pal to a resident of Madison Villa please contact me or our Family Ministry Minister, Brad Gough, for details. The Church of the Redeemer staff will also continue to deliver Meals on Wheels at this time with extra health precautions. There is an opportunity to donate to these efforts financially, as well. Learn more about these Episcopal Retirement communities support opportunities by using the Episcopal Retirement Services (ERS) button below.
