This was my latest question from my daughters as we have started composing a book on line whose framing is me answering a weekly question from them. They urged me to put my latest answer on my blog, so I share it with you as requested.
My faith in God has determine my perspective on every facet of my life. As Carol Lown drove me home after choir practice last night, we affirmed that an incident last night illustrated that the Church was exactly what we wanted to be a part of.
That, and another incident in my life this week just added to that certainty. Last week, a woman who attends the movement class with me, and uses a walker for her almost bent doubled body, approached me. All I knew was her first name, but she was faithful to the class and always cheerful and upbeat. She asked me, “Ellen, where do you go to church?” I told her and invited her to come. Tuesday, she told me she came and loved it and saw me in the choir. I emailed our co-pastor Ann Pettit and told her to keep an eye out for the woman. I asked Ann, “How in the world did she know I went to church?” Ann’s reply was, “Of course she knew, Ellen, you exude Church!”
Last night, a woman rang the church doorbell, outside the choir room, A middle aged woman came in and told us she was looking for a place to pray, saw our lights and heard us singing, and rang our doorbell. Wanting nothing more than a place to pray, we gave her music and she joined us in singing. We left there last night with both her and our hearts more joyful in just being”Church” to each other.
So Carol and I, and many others, just want to be a part of that. Simply, for me, I follow as closely as I can, the teaching of Jesus. Like Thomas Jefferson, sometimes I want to take my Bible and cut out all the words except those of Jesus. I find the dogma and legalisms of many religious bodies troubling. So I embrace the idea that someone might recognize Jesus in me by my actions. And I love that someone can ring a doorbell and find acceptance. That is Church!
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