Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers - for leading congregations

Can you be Christian all by yourself? 

If you never go to church and you never talk about your faith and you never mention Jesus in any of your relationships, are you a Christian?

I’m not sure.

To me, the living out of our Christianity requires us to be in relationship with others. These relationships are messy sometimes. They require self-sacrifice, generosity, humor, graciousness. Relationships need the fruits of the spirit – sometimes, most especially patience, but also joy and gentleness.

To bid adieu to summer, we gathered with the people of our church for a picnic and swim. Just in those few casual hours, with kids shrieking down the water slide and adults leaned back in camp chairs, we created new bonds, a new intimacy. I learned about camping trips and house renovations and what I have to expect (and fear) in the coming years from the mother of a teenager.

These weren’t deep and soul-revealing conversations, but they strengthened the foundation of our worshipping community.

Yesterday morning, during coffee hour after the service, conversation turned to the heartache of one family and the paralyzing despair endured by another woman. Throughout both discussions, I thought about the Gospel from Mark: “Who do you say that I am?”

I overheard a friend say the other day that she was going school shopping instead of coming to church.

“God won’t mind,” she laughed. And I did too, for a moment. But then I started thinking that yes, God does mind. God wants us to come together for worship not only to read Scripture and break bread but also to be in relationship with one another – to share our hopes, fears and joys with Christ at the center.

I’m sure that you can have faith without being a part of our worshipping community – but I don’t know if you can truly live it out.