Stepping into parish leadership can be daunting at the best of times and particularly challenging in today’s climate of less financial resources, competing priorities and people weary and frighten from the chaos in the world. Leadership transition arising out of vestry meetings is more or less complete now, and new wardens, treasurers and parish councils are down to work. Bless each of you in new roles. May you know God’s calming and energizing presence as you serve.
Archbishop Shane Parker was in the diocese in May, and I had the pleasure of hearing him preach twice. Each sermon was different, but the common thread in both was his plain and powerful words reminding us that in Jesus, God is with us and we are transformed by this love; in turn, we participate in the transforming work of God when we offer this love to others. As Archbishop Shane has written: “If you pay attention to Jesus, you will see that the way to God is found in living your life with kindness, courage, gentleness, justice, faithfulness, compassion, mercy, self-control, generosity, goodness, prayerfulness, forgiveness, patience, trustworthiness, peace, hope and, above all, love.”
People of God, what do we need to live into the way of Jesus in our leadership situations? How do we offer loving hospitality to the preschools in our basements? To the AA and NA meetings we are honoured to host? To the dance and yoga classes, to the grieving, to the hungry, to those whose behaviour doesn’t conform with our expectations, to the volunteers who don’t do the tasks, to those who do too much—how do the ways of Jesus get embodied so that deep, real, healthy love is truly the centre of our churches?
A non-exhaustive list of things we need to live into the ways of Jesus:
- A reminder that people, not buildings, leases, gardens or efficiency, are the most important thing
- Skills to listen deeply to each other in non-defensive ways
- Courage to speak up when things do not feel loving
- Ears to hear life giving critiques
- Knowledge deep in our bones that we are loved beyond all measure by God
Rest, dear ones. The ways of Jesus are not found by working harder, thinking faster or feeling overwhelmed. Rest in love and work from that love. May it be so.
