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Adult Formation
January 15, 2006
Delivered by Kristin Peters
Good Morning. I did not grow up in the Episcopal Church, but in a tiny Congregational church in NH. The town I was raised in is small enough that you need a quite detailed map for it to be marked. Needless to say, I grew up in a community of generations and history. We knew each other, we knew each other's families, we knew each other's circumstances, we knew each other's faith. That is not to say that folks there were open and intimate! New England reserve is a reality. Clear statements about personal concern or faith were rare, but we had unity and common ground.
My mother, an active member of our congregation, was such a New Englander. She knew her Bible and how to make what it said matter in her life. She was also prolific and skilled with needles and yarn. As a knitter she was akin to the cook who uses a recipe only for guidance and inspiration. Occasionally to show gratitude or affection, one might be gruffly presented with one of her hand wrought sweaters. My mother was self-effacing, but the recipient knew the gift was an honor.
My mother died in the middle of winter several years ago. Knowing how cold the 200 year old church building would be, the family advised mourners to eschew black pumps and stockings and to come instead dressed in warm sweaters. The sanctuary that day was full of wool and stories. More than a few on the sweaters had been made by my mother. Even the minister left off his robes and stood at the alter in his natural brown pullover my mother had knit. That day, we remembered the life of a Christian woman while worshipping the saviors as one body. It was nothing fancy or overt. We just used our history and understanding of each other and worshipped together. As Congregationalists tend to focus on God's relationship with the individual, this corporate worship was even more moving.
So now I'm at my point: corporate worship and its strength. Corporate worship is a foundation point of the Episcopal tradition: one liturgy, coordinated scripture readings, one Body of Christ. Its reality goes way beyond the unity of spoken word, however. The effectiveness of this form of worship tied deeply to the strength of the relationships among worshipers.
St. Peter's once was a small parish church. The community was not unlike the one I grew up in. I thank all the folks who built this community and allowed it to develop and grow. Now St. Peter's is much larger and its community must be consciously fostered. I personally came to St. Peter's in part because I saw it as the most likely congregation that my children could really lay down some roots. I knew that their history here would only encompass a few years - not the generations I had been included among. Only recently, I realized that I also have started a history here, and I see other parishioners doing the same.
Interactions create memories. Memories create history. Focusing on our spirituality makes it meaningful. Do you see it here as well? Caregivers and outreach. Swim-a-thons for a church member with cancer. Youth mission trips to PA. Men's Bible study. Mother's Group. Choir and choristers. Rite 13. I am so thrilled by the enthusiasm exhibited by the participants of these opportunities. People are making connections, helping and supporting, making friends and above all, quietly sharing their faith in God with each other. Small cells of community are being formed.
Meaningful spiritual interaction among adults can be a challenge anywhere. It is no different at St. Peter's. Interests, Christian understanding, availability and stages of life are so incredibly diverse! But it only takes short forays away from the boundary of comfort to begin to make connections.
One way to tackle so many perspectives is to have adults draw together on a weekly basis with our own Sunday School. Topics and presentation can be modified to all means of interests, learning styles and activity levels. The Adult Forum Committee has discussed ideas ranging from a tutorial on the Red Book to a series investigating perspectives of evolution with professors from Yale. We've entertained possibilities of journaling prayer as well as hikes to see rare plants. We are eager to hear more ideas from you! But this is only the tip of the iceberg as to where Christian education can go at St. Peter's. For instance, did you know that there will be a four week study using photo scrapbooking as a backdrop for learning about the Fruits of the Spirit? Connections and bonds will be made here. What are your interests? Let's make it feasible to achieve these opportunities to grow.
By socializing, praying, learning and growing together in a more casual manner, the bonds among members can strengthen and history will be created. And then, when we are connected such, just imagine sitting in the pews. The relevance of the prayers, scripture and liturgy will extend beyond individuals. More of us may know how another in the room may be responding: with excitement, concern, distraction, amusement. It is those connections that will make our worship truly corporate!
"For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in their midst." Matt.18:20
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