Dear Members, Friends, Siblings, All,

As papers are gently unearthed from the piles in my office (home or church!), some things noted years ago seem to speak to right now in spooky ways. Here’s a note to the congregation I served when we were learning to live with “social distancing.” It is a reflection on a piece written by Walter Brueggemann in 1977 on the evangelical (small “e”) and what he termed “face-to-faceness.”

“[Face-to-faceness] was that practice and that common presence which told them who they were and what they were to do. Without too much romantic jargon, I suggest it had to do with the corporate interiority of sisters and brothers, the space between and among folks in community which provided energy and stamina for faithfulness.”

That was so many years ago and, yet, names perfectly what I have been feeling in these last weeks of sheltering in place and social protocols necessitated by the Covid-19. pandemic.

Perhaps you have heard me say, “I go to church for the hugs.” Yes, the music and the preaching, the prayers and all are good. But it’s the hugs, the greetings, “the space between and among” us; the love that grows, the catching up, the noticing “how you’ve grown!” and even the telltale signs of illness and grief we see on one another’s faces–that’s what Sunday worship has always offered to carry on in my life and this faith.

Face-to-faceness–“it was that practice and that common presence which told them who they were and what they were to do.” Those are my italics, for sure. Congregations are where we learn together who we are and what we are to do, what our faith requires of each of us and us together. That’s why we come. That’s what congregations are for–to work out together who we are followers of Jesus Christ and what we are to do because we are. (NB: it’s not to get it right; it’s to work it out together over a lifetime.)

In our reading for Sunday is John 13:31-35, Jesus addresses the congregation of his disciples because they would be working out the life of faith and could be helped by a few guidelines. And don’t miss this: one of the first things Jesus does after he comes up from the waters of baptism is to gather his congregation for face-to-faceness; Jesus needs a congregation. And then starts the conversation among friends, going along together, as life happens, between meals (sacraments). But I’ve said that before.

Come to church, Streamers online and Gatherers in this sanctuary. This is an important space for face-to-faceness, for exploring who we are and what we are to do. Besides, we’ll miss you if you don’t. And, of course, we’ll look for you next time if the Memorial Day weekend takes you out of reach.

Before I go, a Wonder Question: What does love look like? Do you have a story to tell about it?

Love and hugs,

Rev. Liz