One of the wonderful gifts of being MCC is that we "tap into" the rich traditions of Christianity, while also re-imagining them. . .
One of these traditions is the "liturgical seasons" - many of us are preparing for Lent.
Lent is the original Christian "penitential" season - a season of turning to God with all our hearts. Some of us grew up in churches that paid no attention to such traditions. Others of us grew up with many visceral reminders of Lent - more church services (masses) to go to; giving up something we liked or treasured. It was associated with sacrifice, being reminded of our "sinful" nature, of our mortality - something that would intensify until the glorious Easter Day would arrive.
In preparing for Lent, I have been thinking about our MCC emphasis on leadership, especially in the last several years - there has been a global focus on our new Governing Board, taken to heart by our Senior Leadership Staff - it has resulted in a proliferation of church summits, training opportunities, leadership mentoring retreats, Young Adult opportunities, a Lay leadership certificate program . . .all of these signal our belief that nurturing trustworthy, capable leaders is key to MCC living into our calling and destiny. All of these are bearing fruit among us every day.
But this Lent, I feel compelled to remind myself, and all of us, that as people of faith, we live in the paradox that to be spiritual leaders, we must be followers first. We must know Who we are following, and why (the "where" and "how" will then begin to take care of themselves). I would like this Lent to be a time where we in MCC are reminded of our commitment to follow first. We are better leaders when our leadership is grounded in our faithful following.
I have been impressed by the ways in which, every day, people around the world contact us, longing to connect to MCC, to our message and ministry. They don't really care that much about our structure - unless it is in the way! They care about their own liberation...and the liberation of their brothers and sisters, wherever they are. They care about connecting to people who understand their hunger for justice, their longing to claim faith for themselves. They want to follow their hearts and the heart of a God of love and justice! We know we are called to reach out to so many around the world who are being led by the Holy Spirit to embody the same life-giving gospel we now know!
I also find myself praying for people in smaller cities and towns in the US and Canada that also long for MCC: we need to renew our passion to find ways to locate them and connect with them - to open our imaginations and envision to how we might, even with lean resources, see a revival of that amazing founding narrative of MCC. Even as marriage equality makes great strides at this moment in history, young people are still being kicked out of their homes, bashed at school, called names, and told that God cannot love them. "Modern families" of all shapes and contours long for a place to meet together at the table of radical inclusion. There are so many who don't know, even today, that there is a church like MCC - and that even if we are not yet in their neighborhood, we are only a "click" away on the internet.
In order to become a revival of liberating joy and hope, in order to reach out with more authenticity, we have to first deepen our discipleship, our "follower-ship." As we draw from that well that "never runs dry," we are strengthened for the next great thing that God is calling us to participate in together.
Lent is an invitation to join a young Jesus in the desert - who faced his demons and his doubts, who fasted until he knew for sure what the Source of his strength and message was, and who returned from that desert free to live, love, serve, die, and be raised again. Jesus learned to follow in that desert - to follow the God who had prepared him for his moment in history...that would change history forever. Jesus returned from the desert to call his followers, to find his band of outcasts who longed to be transformed into a community of courage -- who needed to share what they knew of a God of amazing grace and radical love.
I invite you this Lent to do three things:
- Try a spiritual practice that is new to you - a new way of praying, of seeking God's face and presence, so that you might be a better follower, even in your leadership;
- Pray for a renewed passion to "find them" - those in our world today who, if they only knew, would be overjoyed to connect with MCC; and
