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One Body, Many Members

Writer's picture: The Rev. Beth KnowltonThe Rev. Beth Knowlton

“Just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit, we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.” From 1 Corinthians 12:12-31

 

Early on in my ministry here at St. Mark’s, we used the theme of “One Body, Many Members” to get to know one another. One way we did that was through several gatherings in parishioners' homes—named “One Body, Many Menus” (hat tip to George Vassar for the clever name of the gatherings). The conversations at these gatherings remain some of my favorites during my time at St. Mark’s. We reflected together on the core vocation of St. Mark’s. We shared how we experienced Feeding San Antonio with the Bread of Life. We imagined new ways we might continue that work. The time given to reflect in community about who we were and what God was calling us to do in this city was meaningful and demonstrated the real care we have for this holy work.


Like all gatherings, people had different ideas. There was not unified agreement, and our focus was not immediately obvious, but over the course of many conversations, priorities emerged. Most importantly for me, I began to hear stories that were important to our community. It connected me to a past I wasn’t a part of and helped root me in imagining a future together. The stories provoked other memories for those gathered, and we knew more as a whole at the end of each evening.


Those kinds of conversations take intentionality and structure to work well. You need to have a deeper unity that is undergirding the visioning, so the conversation can bear fruit. That unity must be deeply respectful and inclusive. It cannot be forced, and it requires time and repetition. It is not a perfect process, but it is a way of gathering that allows us to be open to the Spirit. The early church understood that kind of discernment, and it is a way of being I long to be more available to us in the public square. Division and alienation of entire groups of people is not God’s vision for our world. And isolation, while tempting, is the worst response to that kind of fear.


The power of gathering for conversation, worship, or service is a balm for our bruised souls. This past Sunday afternoon, we were privileged to host the 38th MLK Interfaith service at St. Mark’s. It included people from many faiths and backgrounds. It was a full house; we heard music from many traditions and speakers who might have never crossed paths if not for this common purpose. While it was interfaith in nature, it was, for me, a deeply holy glimpse of how God sees us and completely congruent with Paul’s vision of us as One Body.


Where are the gathering places that give you hope? Who are the people that help you see God? Make sure you take the time to seek out those people and places. Hope for our future is something we must tend with relentless optimism. It is work we must do together.


Peace, Beth +

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