"you are church"...

... the charge that Rev. John Anderson gave mbcc upon its chartering this evening.

i remember writing my faith statement for confirmation class. i labored over each sentence. before the profusion of computers, we wrote them out by hand and then received a typed copy from the church. we read the statements out loud, in front of our classmates, the parents and the elder sponsors. it was powerful to publicly claim our beliefs and join a community where we could embody those beliefs.

yesterday morning, we sat in the mbcc living room listening to beautiful life stories and professions of faith. i felt blessed to be in the circle, to grow through relationships with the people around me. as i heard these statements from my peers, i was taken back to my first profession of faith. i am not sure that my thirteen year old self understood the significance of what i was doing. because i still hold membership in the church where i was confirmed, i have never had to state my faith in front of my peers to join a church. it was a great privilege to be able to be present and bear witness to these steps on these journies. it reminded me why we do what we do. folding bulletins, cleaning up the sanctuary, the most mundane of tasks are all in hopes of encouraging and enabling these moments. engagement in this community has been a gift that has brought me great joy.

today, i stood in the back of the sanctuary as we celebrated these steps and as a community, took a step in our own journey. in the course of one service, mbcc became a chartered congregation of the PC(USA), welcomed 12 new members, ordained its first elders, and installed its first pastor.

and celebrated the third sunday of advent--joy.

throghout the service, i was emotionally, spiritually and intellectually struck by the transitions the community was making and the rituals we were using to mark them. i am still overwhelmed with love for this this community, and gratitude to God for bringing me here.