Christ Church Wayville

SERMONS

Sean Gilbert –28/2/10

A Redemptive Space Luke 13 Christ Church 28/2/10

Weather-wise, it was a stellar day but more than that, much more. At the time of painting, there was a hive of activity going on around me. Twenty to thirty people were either inside or outside, experimenting with paint, sketching, drawing lines, circles, you name it.

As with these ELC events, there were people I knew well, and many I knew not. Around the encouraging, imaginative artist we had come to create. For someone like me, I had come to try something very new and somewhat intimidating. I remember pausing and looking down the hill toward the church and being filled with deep satisfaction and pride. As a community we were well and truly open for business; we were open to the stranger, open to conversation, open to new things arising from the old and familiar. In that timeless moment Christ Church/ELC shone with colour and vibrancy, something that in my own rudimentary way made it on to the paper. In fact one of the group said to me when I had finished. “Well, you know, that’s a church I would want to belong to.” ‘Yeah”, I said, “and I gladly do.”

The 12 years of ELC are like a ceaseless cavalcade of significant people and events.
Too many to mention, each contributing not only to our own lives, but the lives of many, many people well beyond these communal walls. And it is those nameless voices I want to try and honour a little this morning, because it is their enthusiasm and feedback that I think will enable us and encourage us in our re-imaginings. The point being, we have been true and vital within our mission, and while we can be our harshest critic, we need to accept and celebrate our own significance; our own small but unique contribution to the well-being of the society in which we live. We continue to do very well. Over and over again we are thanked for our hospitality. And by hospitality, this is by no means a vague and meaningless sense of friendliness. No, it is hospitality with real content; an unconditional regard, in other words – a glad acceptance of people whatever their story. A suspension of judgement, and of our own need to have them tell their story. It is a giving of all we are without strings, without expectation, and much more to the point, without anxiety. Not surprisingly, such an expression of hospitality touches people deeply, and for many, causes them to rethink, or re-imagine, many things, not least of which is the role and place of the church in their lives and in society in general.

In the wise words of Henri Nouwen:
So we can see that creating space is far from easy in our occupied and preoccupied society. And still, if we expect any salvation, redemption, healing and new life, the first thing we need is an open receptive place where something can happen to us. Hospitality, therefore, is such an important attitude. We cannot change the world by a new plan, project or idea. We cannot even change other people by our convictions, stories, advice and proposals, but we can offer a space where people are encouraged to disarm themselves, to lay aside their occupations and preoccupations, and to listen with attention and care to the voices speaking in their own centred

Closely related to hospitality, is the abiding sense of mutual respect. The mission of our wider community is two way then! And to trace and explore the history of ELC within this growing faith community is to realize just how much we have been changed by our own outreach. I wonder do we sense and know that? Do we realize what a gentle and not so gentle revolutionary force has been at work at times , through ELC exposing us to people, ideas, images and creative possibilities, that in all honesty, could not have happened within normal church structures. I think it would surprise many, hopefully not disturb - as to what a vital catalyst ELC has been to our spiritual and social growth as a body of faith – me very much included. Jack Spong, Mark Burrows, but to name only 2 linch-pins in the shape and form of who we are today.

A place and space then for mutual and abiding respect. The valuing and the honouring of the complex and broad human issues of everyday; an unfolding conversation around human matters that really count. a happy coming together for the sake of a common future.

Finally, and here the gospel for Sunday more than connects, the feedback we receive is often in terms of a compassion that upholds and equips, not shelters and disempowers. Effective living, no less, not a paternalism or materialism, for that matter. In the words of one respondent this week to our dot point question.

ELC (in theirs and others’ experience) is analogous to unconditional love. People get a warm experience, and it stays with them and if the time comes when it is right, they come back. Christ Church lets you find your own way, like a supportive parent, rather than a controlling parent.

It is really heartening to hear such an encouraging word because this lived reality of grace was the basis of our dreaming all those years ago. A (sacred) space for reflection, learning, new beginnings, vitality and joy. A truly redemptive space – intentional in both its desire and practice to imbue a fullness of spirit and renewede life possibilities. For in the end, ELC is not a function of Christ Church, rather it is a creative expression of its very being, its heart and soul; its wonderful and interesting people! To re-imagine then, we need not think necessarily big or grandiose, or to radically reconstruct, but from the rootstock, to help re-shape, re-form, re-direct all that is good, all that is life-giving to ourselves and to others.

And so may God continue to bless our spirited work in Christ’s redeeming name.

Amen