May 13, 2021
“…for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.”
- Matthew 25:35-36, NRSV
My Dear Doubters of Great Faith,
Last evening, we held the first meeting of the newly constituted Mission/Outreach Committee at St. Thomas the Apostle, and I have to admit, I think we had a fun time coming together to ponder what outreach means to us, the Doubters of Great Faith, in 2021, on the heels of the great pandemic, racial reckoning, the economic downturn, hunger, immigration, and all the other looming issues that face our community, our country, and our world today. How could any or all of that possibly be fun, or at the very least, enjoyable?
Because we were together! I really had not stopped to consider how it would feel to have our first “in-person” committee meeting, how being together would impact the outcome of our time. Just being together brought joy to conversation that otherwise could be so much larger and ominous than any one Doubter alone might surmount. We prayed that God would stir among us during our time together, and God did! I hope I, we, all of us, never again take for granted the power that comes from presence, because when two or three gather, God is there, and things happen.
In the midst of stirring among the embers of all the wonderful outreach efforts of St. Thomas the Apostle’s past, our group of eight came up with the motto, our mission statement, as it were, for the work that we hope to engage all of you, our community, and beyond. It is:
“Serving our community with joy, without walls!”
If you tease this phrase out, and think about it through the lens of Jesus’ command in Matthew, it can really take you to some interesting and exciting places, places that St. Thomas has already been, and knows well, and places that it has yet to explore! And we considered some of those places, and how we might begin to venture into those places, to open up relationships. Because what Jesus is calling us into, by virtue of living out the call of the Gospel, is to be in relationship with all of those folks who are not us!
Relationship is what will bring joy, the hope of Jesus Christ, to those within our walls, and those beyond our walls, one relationship at a time, one can of green beans or one backpack at a time, one angel tree gift, one reading session at the local elementary school at a time, one life at a time. Being in relationship is the fuel that powers the Gospel message, because that is where Jesus is. Relationship changes each person in the relationship. You know this; you have been doing this for as long as St. Thomas has been around.
You’ll be hearing more about opportunities for involvement in the coming days, weeks, and months. There will be chances for each of us to expand our horizons, expand joy, by being in relationship with each other and the world around us. Our merry band is so wonderfully facilitated by Kathy Carson, and if you want to join us, give her a shout (214.236.4372, kcarson75214@gmail.com). All are welcome in this relationship. We would love to have you!
Yours on the mission,
Fr. Christopher+
