A Bold Witness
Saturday, Lenape Valley hosted an event seldom
seen in our sanctuary these days. A wedding! That’s
right, a real, honest-to-goodness, bride coming down
the aisle, groom standing with bated breath, even a
sweet little flower girl leading the bride to her groomwedding. Such events used to be commonplace in our
churches. Couples wanted to get married in the
church. It was expected that they would get married in
the church. Even if they weren’t very religious, the
church sanctuary always seemed like the right setting
for a wedding. And the Lenape Valley sanctuary, as churches go, is a rather lovely setting for
such an important moment. Most of all they wanted the blessing of God.
But somewhere along the way, the church, not just Lenape Valley, but rather the church of Jesus Christ has fallen out of favor. Now couples opt for the beach, or a barn, or a garden for their special moment. Let me be clear, God is not constrained by location, so I am willing to go anywhere to bless a couple as they begin their lives together. I have even done a wedding under the boughs of the weeping willow tree on the side of the church. While I will go anywhere to bring Jesus into the beginning of a marriage, often these days the officiant is a friend who has bought their ‘license to marry’ online. I try not to take this choice too personally, but I do worry about couples who take such an important step without any premarital counselling. And I grieve as couples start their lives together without centering their lives on the One, the only One, who offers us agape love.
Saturday, a bride and groom offered a bold witness to their friends and family. They chose a sanctuary and a Christian pastor. They chose Bible readings and a Christian message. They invoked the name of the Trinity as they gave rings to one another. They even asked for communion to be servedoffering an invitation to all their friends and family to share in the table of grace that Jesus provides. Sarah and Alan have chosen to center their lives on the One who gives us life. They know that their marriage will be stronger if they seek the love that only God can give. They know that they cannot make this marriage work without God. Saturday, this couple chose to be married in the church not just for show, not just to give them a pretty venue for pictures. They chose to be married in the church with a Christian pastor and Bible readings and prayers as a witness to their friends and family that God is the essential center of their lives.
Years ago, a young couple got engaged. They decided that the first thing they needed to do was find a church. Not just a pretty sanctuary for a pretty wedding. They wanted to find a church where they could grow up in the Lord, and raise children in the Lord, and find friends in the Lord. In their search, they found Lenape Valley. They stayed when the pastor left. They stayed through the interim years. They stayed to be part of the next chapter. They chose to dive in and be part of building that next chapter with an all-in kind of heart. They invited their family to join them at church filling a whole pew with those they love the most. They taught Sunday School and shared in church dinners. They involved their kids in children’s choir and Push the Rock. The wife became an Elder to help guide our Christian Education. For that choice, they found strength for their faith journey and encouragement for their marriage. They found a safe place for their children where they are loved for who they are. They found support when their child was in the hospital and for all the subsequent challenges that have come over the years. They found a place of joy where they are part of a family of faith. In a world that is fractured, they found home.
How many others need what we have found at Lenape Valley? So why do we keep this treasure as a closely guarded secret? I feel like singing- What the world needs now is love sweet love. But instead, what the world needs now is for the church to be the church as Jesus taught us to be… to be a safe haven… to be a place of grace in a graceless world… to be a pace of welcome in a world of divided loyalties… to be a place of healing and forgiveness and love… Most of all to be a place where people can meet the Healer- Jesus!
In a month, our Kick-Off events begin… a Kick-Off Potluck Picnic (try to say that 5 times fast!) on Sunday, September 7th right after worship… and a Kick-Off Concert on September 21st at 6pm with a dessert reception. Both events are easy invite opportunities. Both give you an opportunity to share the treasure you have found at Lenape Valley. Most of all, both events give you a simple way to share Jesus with those you love. Imagine the joy in the house of the Lord if each of us brought one!
With you, invitation at the ready,
Anita
But somewhere along the way, the church, not just Lenape Valley, but rather the church of Jesus Christ has fallen out of favor. Now couples opt for the beach, or a barn, or a garden for their special moment. Let me be clear, God is not constrained by location, so I am willing to go anywhere to bless a couple as they begin their lives together. I have even done a wedding under the boughs of the weeping willow tree on the side of the church. While I will go anywhere to bring Jesus into the beginning of a marriage, often these days the officiant is a friend who has bought their ‘license to marry’ online. I try not to take this choice too personally, but I do worry about couples who take such an important step without any premarital counselling. And I grieve as couples start their lives together without centering their lives on the One, the only One, who offers us agape love.
Saturday, a bride and groom offered a bold witness to their friends and family. They chose a sanctuary and a Christian pastor. They chose Bible readings and a Christian message. They invoked the name of the Trinity as they gave rings to one another. They even asked for communion to be servedoffering an invitation to all their friends and family to share in the table of grace that Jesus provides. Sarah and Alan have chosen to center their lives on the One who gives us life. They know that their marriage will be stronger if they seek the love that only God can give. They know that they cannot make this marriage work without God. Saturday, this couple chose to be married in the church not just for show, not just to give them a pretty venue for pictures. They chose to be married in the church with a Christian pastor and Bible readings and prayers as a witness to their friends and family that God is the essential center of their lives.
Years ago, a young couple got engaged. They decided that the first thing they needed to do was find a church. Not just a pretty sanctuary for a pretty wedding. They wanted to find a church where they could grow up in the Lord, and raise children in the Lord, and find friends in the Lord. In their search, they found Lenape Valley. They stayed when the pastor left. They stayed through the interim years. They stayed to be part of the next chapter. They chose to dive in and be part of building that next chapter with an all-in kind of heart. They invited their family to join them at church filling a whole pew with those they love the most. They taught Sunday School and shared in church dinners. They involved their kids in children’s choir and Push the Rock. The wife became an Elder to help guide our Christian Education. For that choice, they found strength for their faith journey and encouragement for their marriage. They found a safe place for their children where they are loved for who they are. They found support when their child was in the hospital and for all the subsequent challenges that have come over the years. They found a place of joy where they are part of a family of faith. In a world that is fractured, they found home.
How many others need what we have found at Lenape Valley? So why do we keep this treasure as a closely guarded secret? I feel like singing- What the world needs now is love sweet love. But instead, what the world needs now is for the church to be the church as Jesus taught us to be… to be a safe haven… to be a place of grace in a graceless world… to be a pace of welcome in a world of divided loyalties… to be a place of healing and forgiveness and love… Most of all to be a place where people can meet the Healer- Jesus!
In a month, our Kick-Off events begin… a Kick-Off Potluck Picnic (try to say that 5 times fast!) on Sunday, September 7th right after worship… and a Kick-Off Concert on September 21st at 6pm with a dessert reception. Both events are easy invite opportunities. Both give you an opportunity to share the treasure you have found at Lenape Valley. Most of all, both events give you a simple way to share Jesus with those you love. Imagine the joy in the house of the Lord if each of us brought one!
With you, invitation at the ready,
Anita
Posted in From The Pastor
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