This is why we're here
Holy Week reminds us what church is
“What we call the beginning is often the end,”
T.S. Eliot reminds us in his poem ‘Little Gidding,’ ‘and to make an end is to make a beginning.’
It’s the beginning of Holy Week.
The beginning of the end of the life of Jesus of Nazareth. The end of the beginning his saving work.
It’s the beginning and the end of everything we believe as Christians:
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
I love to talk about re-imagining ministry: what church could be, what church will be in the future.
But this week - Holy Week - reminds me of what church is.
It’s not the building
It’s not the budget
It’s not a set of programs
It’s not the clergy
It’s not even the members
… or what we believe, who we welcome, or how we worship
It’s this:
The love of God redeeming the world. The Son of God giving his life for us.
And how that changes everything.
And how we can’t stop gathering to remember, gathering to mourn, gathering to celebrate, gathering to witness to our faith. And sharing it.
Everything that is the church is this week.
It’s all we need.