That they may be one…

Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope, spent Thanksgiving in Turkey. One might find some humor in that choice of location for his first papal trip and its name similarity to the traditional meat of the holiday. But he chose Turkey, not for some fun turn of phrase, but to join patriarchs from the Orthodox Church in Iznik, Turkey on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Together they commemorated the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and the document that gathering of Christian leaders created. Often in our fast-paced world, such a nod to history is a quick footnote. In the Philadelphia Inquirer, the article on this trip was buried far from the front page, below the fold. But for Pope Leo and the other religious leaders gathered that day, this nod to history is a reminder to the faithful of Jesus’ prayer for his followers.

To understand the connection between the ruins of Iznik and the Christian church today, we need a quick history lesson. In 306 CE, Constantine became the ruler of the Roman Empire. It took years to settle the civil war that threatened the fabric of that empire. When the dust settled, Constantine was left with the challenge of uniting a diverse realm that spanned across Europe, western Asia, the Middle East and northern Africa. The empire embraced a vast array of cultures, languages and traditions. How to unite the people under one rule?

Constantine made many strategic moves to unite the empire. He redesigned the government, deployed his army strategically around the region, and solidified the currency of the empire. But perhaps his most notable move was his approach to Christianity. In 313 CE, Constantine issued the Edict of Milan, making Christianity legal in the empire, thus ending centuries of state-sponsored persecution of believers. He ordered the Church of the Holy Sepulcher to be built on the site of the tomb of Jesus in Jerusalem. He commanded his army to be baptized into the Christian faith. [As story goes, he told them to hold their sword arms out of the water, saying, “You belong to Jesus, but your sword arm belongs to me.”] In 325 CE, Constantine convened the Council of Nicaea with Christian leaders from around the empire to draft a creed that would unite the Christian world- the Nicene Creed.

For 1700 years Christians have declared their faith using those ancient words. Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox Christians still use that creed in their worship and their study. The clear declaration of the faith in that creed has survived one church division after the next, proving that the core of our faith is our strength and our source of unity. Jesus prayed for our unity when he sat with the disciples the night before the cross: 

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me
through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me
and I am in you… I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity.
Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them
even as you have loved me. (John 20:17-20)

How God must grieve the way His children snipe at each other, choosing division when unity is the call. At Iznik, Pope Leo stood with the patriarchs of the Orthodox church and with other church leaders to declare their commitment to unity over division, founded in the central tenets of our faith.

I believe in one God, the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth…
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God…
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life…
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic church.

May Lenape Valley stand strong as a Christ-centered church, declaring the faith that has come to us across the ages. May we be a place where all can come to meet Jesus and learn to walk with Him.

So glad to be with you on the journey,
Anita

Giving Tuesday
Black Friday… Cyber Monday… Giving Tuesday…

How fascinating that giving comes after a frenzy of spending. In the Bible, we are taught to give before we spend. When we give after spending, we give what we have left over (which nowadays is not very much, especially after a splurge on Christmas gifts). When we give first, we take a step of faith that there will be enough left after giving to cover the essentials. At Lenape Valley this Christmas, we have the opportunity to bless our neighbors. Every gift you give, every penny sacrificed, will go out to our neighbors in need. The Philadelphia Inquirer offered an article on giving in their Business section today- “How to Avoid Charity Scams during this Season of Giving.” I just want to assure you that Lenape Valley’s Christmas Outreach is the real deal. 100% of every donation goes to those in need. No scam, just a mission of grace. Remember, Jesus said, “whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me.” Have fun buying Jesus his birthday present this year!