They came to worship once or twice a few years ago. I sent them an email, noting that it was good to see them, and offering to meet for a cup of coffee and conversation. I think I remember getting a polite "No thanks" in return. Something about not being Lutheran and that they were just visiting around.
They came back, last week. And yesterday they were there again. Trying to remember whether enough years had passed for graduations to have occurred, I came up with names but no dates for that earlier exchange. Stationed at the exit door, I was looking for them when worship ended. I wasn't expecting to be handed a note, with an email address, asking for a copy of my sermon.
I don't want to read too much into this exchange. But as I lay down to sleep I found myself thinking of the casualness with which Sunday worship is approached. It is a gathering time for many. A time to be with long-established friends. I have often said that one of the traits of our style of worship is that we expect everyone to be back next week. We don't push for this particular Sunday to be a watershed event, to be the day on which a decision is made.
But anytime we gather around God's Word and God's sacraments, there is the very real possibility that God will act. There is the very real possibility that God's promises will change lives. Sunday is an encounter with that which has the ability to make all things new. Why does it surprise us when it does?
Regular habits of praying, reading our bibles, attending worship are highly encouraged. Being part of an on-going community of faith is a desired way of life. But let us not forget that each individual encounter is itself an opportunity for God's will to be accomplished. In each encounter, we are being changed, altered, reborn. Sometimes, some of us are just more aware of it.
Pastor Chris
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