Fr Robert Hendrickson

But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many members, yet one body.

Dear Friends in Christ,

One of the things that makes churches thrive is the assortment of gifts they bring to the world around them — the assortment of gifts they offer to the glory of God. Each member, ultimately, is called to offer something of Christ’s own, whole ministry, to the community.

Some can teach, some heal, some offer intercessory prayer, some serve in various ways, some work for justice, some be agents of reconciliation, and so much more. We can look at the ministry of Jesus as our model and find within the many ways he brought hope and healing some way we too might use the gifts we have to be his hands and feet and voice in the world.

Churches are challenging places to serve because they are one of the places in our culture where we don’t get to choose who is serving alongside us. On social media, you choose who you want to hear from. In our recreation, we choose who we spend our time with. More and more, we sort ourselves by who we agree with about politics or the like.

Churches though bring all sorts of people together. The challenge we find is that often people with other gifts than the ones we have annoy us! If we’re prone to be very feelings oriented, then the cerebral pew-mate might aggravate us with their seeming lack of empathy. If we’re cerebral, we get confused by people who seem to make emotional decisions. If we love music, or outreach, or children’s ministry, or historical architecture, or traditional liturgy, or well manicured gardens, or whatever else it is that moves our spirit, it is confusing when others seem to place little value on those things we deem so moving and important.

Ultimately though, the Church needs us all. It needs all of our passion and excitement, all of our gifts and graces, all of our insight and joy, all of our prayers and hopes, and so much more. We need the people who see the world differently because none of us sees with the perfect sight of Christ. None of us can serve in all the ways Christ calls us to. None of us is sufficient by ourselves to be the Church — to be the Body of Christ alone.

So if you find yourself a bit annoyed by someone, give thanks for the diversity they bring. They may be that challenge we need today to see, hear, and know the breadth of God’s grace and the promise of the many gifts we share in this place to the glory of God.

Yours in Christ,

Fr Robert