The regular miracles of St. Paul's
What small churches know
When I’m celebrating the Eucharist at St. Paul’s, the lights above the chalice reflect in the wine as tiny red jewels.
Every so often - for no apparent reason - those red jewel lights come together and form a perfect heart.
It is so startling when it happens that I usually bring the altar server over to see it - to verify that this is not a trick of my eyes!
The miracle of Jesus’ body and blood present in the sacrament of bread and wine is such a regular part of our worship that we can forget how astonishing and transforming it is.
The appearance of the heart - the way it comes and goes of its own accord, utterly out of my power - highlights the power of God’s presence.
I’ve also come to believe that it’s the presence of a member of our congregation.
Mike used to help me at the altar, and he died several years ago. I truly feel that the heart is his way of being present with St. Paul’s - and his beloved wife - and a sign of his closeness with Jesus.
I’m not saying that this kind of miracle doesn’t happen at larger churches.
I am saying that at a small church, it’s easier to see that this tangible reminder of God’s presence is actually what we’re doing here.
This week’s announcements
We all know that 20% of the people do 80% of the work in any organization.
When your organization only has 30 members, 20 percent is not very many.
The 20th century institutional model assumes all congregations run the same way: we just create ‘micro versions’ of the kind of organization that thrived decades ago. The version that even larger congregations struggle with:
A church board oversees the running of the organization, financially and practically (keeping the lights on - and working)
Multiple committees and schedules and roles to keep worship, formation, hospitality and service happening.
Many hours of volunteer work to keep everything going - and not enough money to pay for help getting it done.
Fewer people in the pews - and fewer who are available/interested in taking part in the work.
The assumption that everything is paid for by ‘giving’ to the church - but those who give are maxed out and fewer and fewer are in a position to give.
This framework is exhausting even the largest organizations. And it’s collapsing for everyone.
Small churches feel this first - which is actually a gift. Even when it doesn’t feel like it.
‘Do we have a future? Can we sustain ourselves as the system collapses?’
These are the existential questions, but they’re not really what’s on everyone’s minds.
In faith communities - especially small ones - it goes more like this:
I love God and I love these people and I love this place and I’m giving everything I can to make sure it stays the same, and I can’t give any more than I am now.
and I’m exhausted.
and I’m afraid.
It’s hard to see past what is collapsing.
It’s harder still to see that we can let it go and still be a thriving church. Maybe even a more thriving church.
St. Paul’s has always had a ‘special sauce.’
The Holy Spirit is present in the most amazing and powerful ways. Those who are drawn to it - and into St. Paul’s community - form a tight bond of love and care, despite being very different kinds of people.
But St. Paul’s is not immune from the institutional decline that is affecting pretty much every church.
What St. Paul’s has - that may be easier to see because there aren’t as many layers of ‘stuff’ that goes along with church - is the core spiritual intimacy with God and one another.
St. Paul’s is not growing in number. In fact, it feels like it has gotten a little smaller lately.
It may be time to let go of doing some things the way they’ve always been done, in the name of not over-burdening the faithful leaders. And that’s scary.
But every so often, God gives us a sign that he is right there with us in that place.
And every time two or three or gathered, we know this is true.
That’s all that is strictly necessary to be the church. And the one thing that matters most.
Are there still practical questions that must be answered to keep everything happening?
Yes. And there may have to be a new definition of ‘everything’.
What small churches know is this:
God shows up. God will see us through.
When we least expect it.
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