One of my best clergy buddies is fond of saying, “All church is local.” That is, Christ is most present in small communities of faith that share their lives together. Two events in the past 24 hours reminded me of this truism.
The first was yesterday’s email from Episcopal News Service announcing that it would cease publication of its two remaining printed newspapers at the end of the month. I wasn’t surprised; a similar attempt had been made about a year ago, but the decision was deferred over protests from a number of dioceses.
However electronically interconnected many of us have become, print remains the best way to reach a significant number of the significantly graying population of Episcopalians. And while we can live with not learning where the PB went last month, parishioners will be much the poorer for not being able to read and see what other congregations around the country have been up to. Sure, you can find it on the web—if you know where to look—if you remember to look. That’s not the same as having it dropped at your doorstep.
The second reminder came in a Christmas card that arrived today—a letter written by the husband of one of my cousins. He’s pastor of a Covenant (Swedish Reformed) congregation in southern California. He wrote:
I’m convinced more than ever that the local church is God’s “Plan A” for the world. It’s here in small local settings where hope is made tangible and where love breaks down barriers. Here is where grace extends across the divides of age and income, ethnicity and education. Here is where the Gospel happens or doesn’t, and I’m thankful to be part of that.
Amen; blessed Advent and a joyous Christmas.
