In 1970 the rock group Chicago released their 2nd album. I was 12 at the time and I still remember
going to a friend's house and just being blown away by this new sound. I spent much of the evening by the phonograph absorbing the complex chord changes and rhythms. It was like nothing I had heard before.
When I pondered what to write about this month a song from this album popped into my head, "Where Do We Go From Here?". The title is taken from a TV reporter's comment during the broadcast of the 1969 moon landing. "Well – we've landed on the moon – now what?" Our nation had made this huge political and technological triumph while at the same time the nation was seemingly being torn apart by the Vietnam War. The writer was essentially saying "This is great, but where now?"
I'm sure that when we consider our current situation at Holy Trinity we could ask the same thing: "Where do we go from here? What's next for us Lord? Where are you leading us? Are we being led into the desert again?"
To be honest, I don't know where God is leading us. The only thing I do know is that he is leading us and that he is with us every step of the way. And I have a real sense of peace about all of this. God is in all that is happening at Holy Trinity and I sincerely believe (I have a deep assurance) that he is about to do something absolutely amazing in our midst. My sense is that this is a time of great preparation and transition for us. Our job during this time is to wait patiently while seeking his face and resting in his assurance that although we may not see how things will finally shake out, he is at work. Our current challenges are simply an opportunity for God to reveal his faithfulness to us and for us to grow in faith.
In times of difficulty and uncertainly God has repeatedly told me the same thing, "It's going to be alright". I believe that he is saying the same thing to us as a congregation right now. "Don't worry, I've got this." Let's more forward in prayer and with great expectation that God is at work.
In the book of Deuteronomy Moses tells the people of Israel:
"So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you." (Deut 31:6 NLT)
“Be strong and courageous” is a recurring theme in the Bible. In our flesh the natural thing to do is to examine our resources and then determine if we can accomplish something. In the Spirit we seek God’s will and then we walk in it, leaving the provision up to him. When God gives a promise he always provides the means to accomplish it. He is responsible for providing for his Church. He will never ask us to cross a river without providing some way for us to get to the other side.
Taking a step forward when you don’t know where your foot will land is what faith is all about. In 2008 Christian author Stormie Omartian wrote a book called, “Just Enough Light for the Step I'm On: Trusting God in the Tough Times” which sums this up quite well. We need only take one step at a time trusting in God that he has solid ground for us to step on.
The Israelites spent 40 years in the desert learning to follow God. They only moved when and where he told them and no where else:
Whenever the cloud lifted from over the sacred tent, the people of Israel would break camp and follow it. And wherever the cloud settled, the people of Israel would set up camp. (Numbers 9:17 NLT)
This is God’s perfect model for the Christian life. As a congregation and as individuals we should move only when God says to move and stop when he says to stop. Our every move should be in complete obedience to the Holy Spirit’s direction. Ofttimes this involves waiting. The Israelites might spend days or months in one location only to be told to move on a moment’s notice and perhaps spend only a short time at their next camp. We must be ready to do the same.
We have also entered a time of rebuilding. The Church/church is changing (both Holy Trinity and the Church at large). I’m sure that this too is of God’s doing. In 10 years Holy Trinity will not be the same Holy Trinity we see today. And I suspect the Holy Trinity we see in a year will not be the same as what we see today. And that’s not only okay – it’s good! Because God is in this!
Every Sunday we recommit ourselves to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. We should not be surprised when he takes us at our word! This is God’s church and it’s his to do with as he will.
In closing I’d like to quote some of the lyrics from the Chicago song “Where Do We Go From Here?”
I know it's hard for you to change your way of life
I know it's hard for you to do
The world is full of people dying to be free
So if you don't my friend there's no life for you, no world for me. *
Yes, change is difficult. We like to know what's coming. We like the expected. We want to be comfortable. But to be honest, God is not all that interested in our comfort. He is leading us into the destiny he has for us as a congregation and that process is not always comfortable.. He has plans for us and those plans require us to be flexible and willing to accept his direction. Spiritually, there's only 2 ways that we can go. We can grow or we can be-come stagnant and die. I sincerely believe, with all of my heart that great things are going to happen in our midst. I believe the Lord is saying to us, "There will be a great release of power in this congregation; in and through my people."
The Lord is positioning us to do great things in Plainville. In the mean time our job is to prayerfully wait, seeking his face and then to step out in faith when the time is right. It's coming.
The same year that Chicago released their 2nd album, the Carpenters released the single “We’ve Only Just Begun”. I think this song is a prophetic picture of what God has planned for us. He certainly has more for us and for Plainville. Beloved in Christ, Holy Trinity has just begun!
God bless you,
Fr. Jim
* - Copyright 1970 BMG Songs – Words and Music by Peter Cetera