Wild Goose Festival | The Rainbow Railroad |

Friends,

I spent the weekend at the Episcopal Church Province V Big Event. (Province V is Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, and some of Missouri. We met in Kalamazoo.) This is gathering of church leaders grappling with how to do church better. I represented Episcopal Divinity School and offered workshops.

These events always remind me: I really like church. I like the people, I like the structures, I like the worship, I like the music. I wish we did more to repair the world, but the people in church are a lot like me: aiming high and not always achieving it.

We leave this event with more ideas on how to keep at this work of living the faith of Jesus Christ.

-Liz

Risk! Chaos! Jesus is there to help.

Jesus, and then Peter, walking on water (Matthew 14:22-36) is not a story I love. I never know what to do with miracle stories, but this one, on the face of it, is a miracle without purpose. No one's life is made better. It almost seems like Jesus is just showing off. We could argue it saved time, otherwise Jesus would have had to walk all the way around the lake. So Jesus was available to the next group of people needing healing more quickly? But heavens to Betsy, if that were the goal, why not fly places?

Interestingly, it turns out the biblical literalist says that this story really happened (of course) but also that the message is not that we could walk on water if we had enough faith. No, the meaning of this scripture is metaphorical.

But what is the metaphor?

One thing stands out as I wrestle with commentaries: the sea is the place of chaos. Today we recognize the disturbance of a storm, the uncertainty of waves, but scholars suggest that in the first century just being on the water, and away from land, identifies the disciples as at risk. This risk is increased because they are there without Jesus. I certainly want to know what to do in the face of chaos. I certainly feel the terror of a world without order.

Matthew is the one gospel that mentions ekklesia, church, so we it is easy to ready his version of Jesus ministry as a message to church, and to the people of the church. The word is not in this reading, but commentators still think it is a message offering the church advice for resilience in the rocky early years as an institution outside the norms of society.

And church in many ways, and mainline and progressive church especially, finds itself outside of the norms of our nation. It is a place of forgiveness, of connecting people who are different from each, a place of peace, and a place to explore best how to build up the common good. These sometimes feel like values contrary to the chaos of society.

I find solace in the image of Jesus walking firmly, steadily, and calmly in the midst of chaos. It implies a ministry that welcomes all, and that calls all to a more god-focused life. Jesus offering his hand to Peter.

It is also an image of risk taking. When Peter choses to step out of the structured, safe boat/church, he is afraid of the chaos of the water. And, unsurprisingly, he sinks. But importantly, he only starts to sink. Jesus holds him up; he does not drown. I don't have any confidence that I'll ever have enough faith to just keep going, but I have years of experience of Jesus holding me up, and holding up communities. When the chaos is overwhelming, Jesus is there, sometimes as surprising an image as the one Matthew describes, seeing Jesus walking on the sea.

Today's church is called to be courageous. To take risks. And Jesus promises to be right there as we take them. We can step out. We can be the quiet presence in the chaos. We can show up in the mess around us.

The message is not that if we do take risks it will all work out. (If we knew that it wouldn't be a risk!) Rather it is that if we do take risks, Jesus will be there, where we need him, ready to hold us up.

Is your church getting out of the building? Taking risks? Trying something new? Reply to this email to let me know what's happening. ​
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The Rainbow Railroad helps LGBTQIA+ families relocate, or settle into a new, safer location.

I think you want to go to the Wild Goose Festival! It's labor day weekend in Harmony North Carolina. We camp (in our trailer with AC) but this location has hotels nearby as well. It's an amazing spiritual uplift.

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