Worship

A Feast of Fellowship

Dear Friends, Our Mission Statement is
" We gather at God's table. We share a journey of discovery. We rejoice in serving others through the grace of God in Christ."

The first, "Gather," refers to bonds of unity and fellowship. Psalm 133 says it with feeling: "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!" The next verse adds: "It is like the precious oil upon the head, coming down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard, coming down upon the edge of his robes." St. George's has experienced both lately: We have had some times of notable dining ("oil upon the beard," if you will) at the Seder dinner, the April Family Night, and the Parish Picnic, each attended by over 100 people. Last week Bishop Johnson was here to celebrate recent "Feasts of Fellowship,"¨ where the oil was the Oil of Chrismation, and was on the forehead, not the beard.

At Bishop Johnson's Visitation, twenty eight persons were Confirmed, Received, or Reaffirmed their Baptismal Vows.

• On May 21, St. George's will present another group of 15 at Grace-St. Luke's, midtown.
• Since January 1, we have received Letters of Transfer for another 25 People.
• Our average Sunday Attendance is about 250, up 27% over last year.
• The names of the folks mentioned above are in "From the Parish Register," in the TIP. (You may wish to learn how people are welcomed into the Episcopal Church by going to "About Us / Membership" in the parish website or call the Bishop Johnson approaches the altar during his visit on April 27.

In these ways we celebrate relationships with Christ and His Church. Increasing numbers are a sign that God in his Word, Jesus, is touching people's lives:"And the word of God was increasing in power; and the number of the disciples ...became very great…” (Acts 6:7). We are members of the Body of Christ in order to extend the power of his Presence, but not as when we become members of a growing club, but as we become the hands, feet and voice of Christ. There is great blessing in being an agent of God, whether in a large church or a small one.

An Orthodox theologian made a telling observation which may unfortunately characterize some Christians’ self-understanding. "We sometimes see the West acting as if the Church were an institution dispensing sacraments. For us in the East the Church is a Sacrament embodied in institutions." Even if our numbers grow, Sacrament, Mystery, Relationship and Mission come before Institution. But on the other hand, our relationship with God, primarily a Sacramental reality, is embodied in institutional, incarnational, ministry: "Inasmuch as you have not done it
to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you have not done it to me." (Matt. 25:44).

We have an unofficial motto at St. George's: "No spectators." St. George's is mission oriented -- we have just created a position of Administrator of Mission and Ministry -- otherwise we would become an Institution first and only. When we make offerings we do so not to meet the needs of an institution, but to fulfill our vocation to serve. We worship not with words primarily, but with gifts, like the Magi: gifts of time, talent and treasure, gifts of service, which represent our selves. We are not essentially consumers of religion; we don't belong to a church primarily "to get something out of it" (although we do receive God's blessing). We gather as givers, as stewards, to learn the mysterious
ways of the Giver of all Good, to extend his touch and the power of his word. We feast on fellowship. We Gather, Discover, and Serve.

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Rev’d Gary K. Sturni