4th Sunday after Epiphany-Year A

4th Sunday after Epiphany-Year A January 29, 2023 “Consider your own call, brothers and sisters,” Paul writes to the divided church in Corinth. And it’s not unintentional that in the first chapter of that letter, Paul talks about “call” 6 different times. For Paul, the church is those who are “called out” to represent Jesus in the world, and his letter to this young, church in Corinth shows all the ways that they are struggling together to understand what it means to be the church, the body of Christ in the world. I am thankful that we at St. Thomas do not find ourselves in a time of conflict. And yet, as followers of Jesus, we are always called to wrestle with what it means to be the church, those who are called out into the world to share the news of God’s love through the person of Jesus. Our Book of Common Prayer reminds us that the mission of the church is “to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.” It teaches us that “the Church pursues its mission as it prays and worships, proclaims the Gospel, and promotes justice, peace, and love.” And it reminds us that “the Church carries out its mission through the ministry of all its members.” i. Church isn’t just a place, a building, that we go to on Sunday mornings. Church is us, and we are called to ministry beyond the walls of this place in ways that are inspired by God’s Holy Spirit working in, among, and through us. This year, we are celebrating 100 years as the worshipping community of St. Thomas. We have lots of celebrations planned, and we also want to look back and remember all who have come before us and the ministry that they carried out in this place. It is also a time to ponder who we are being called to be in the next 100 years. How is God inspiring us to be a reconciling force out in the community beyond the walls of these buildings? To that end, I invite us to begin conversations today around listening for where God is calling us this year and beyond. I have three questions that I’m going to invite you to reflect upon at our Annual Parish meeting today or in an electronic format. It is my hope that these questions help us get to the heart of where God has been working in and among and through us this past year, and may give us an inkling on where/how God is calling us into the future. The questions are: 1. Where have you encountered God in life at St. Thomas in the last year (2022)? 2. When was St. Thomas at our best in representing Christ in this past year? What made that possible? 3. What aspects of our church are we being called to let go of to create space for new life and growth? I invite you to take some time pondering these, which I’ll reflect on more in the Rector’s report at the annual parish meeting, and to share your thoughts in small groups with vestry members at the meeting or via an online survey that was shared on social media today and will be in the email tomorrow. In conclusion, I’ll pray one of my favorite prayers about church and calling. It comes from the ordination of a priest and is also found in our Good Friday liturgy. Let us pray. O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquillity the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were being cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. i. Book of Common Prayer 1979. P 855 (from The Catechism—under The Church)