A New Church
I found a new church.
Its stained glass windows reflect new life,
fresh energy, diversity, abundance, and hope.
Deep greens and piercing blues,
stars and blood red,
bright light and yellows,
figures, both human and divine,
fellowship across time, place, and space,
connected in prayer and love,
in seeking and in trust and faith.
This is a church on the journey,
a church in progress,
striving to live the mission,
falling short on its own,
and thus led again to rely upon God.
Instead of trying to exercise authority,
energies channel toward exercising kindness,
gentleness, mutuality, and community.
Questions, and the people who bring them,
are welcomed in this new church.
It is a church alive today
because it is holy rooted in the past,
yet looking toward the future—
and its vision of the future is not one of clinging
to what no longer beckons life,
but of discovering what life longs for.
It is a struggle.
It is incomplete.
It is open, humble, discerning, and imperfect.
It is a church for today and tomorrow.
It is a church where Christ is no doubt present.
And perhaps it is a church that Magdalene, Peter,
James, Paul, and Chloe would find familiar.