A Soul Food Fest

This was a good day in God's house among his people, ending with a Nowthwest Conference Meeting in the evening at historic First Covenant in Minneapolis, one of many planned by Conference leaders this year in celebration of its 125 years of ministry and outreach.

It was a soul food fest, drawing my spirit as I participated back to childhood days when churches would gather all over the north side of Chicago to worship and celebrate God's goodness. Only now the souls gathered and fed were more diverse, as is the Covenant everywhere these days.

What touched me most deeply was the intergenerational nature of the food served up--soul food in the best sense: children's and congregational singing, various ethnic groups represented in the reading of Scripture and the preaching, a witness from our camps in the conference, and a marvelous story told by Dr. Philip Anderson of our Seminary in Chicago of a pioneer pastor and huistorian among us who even while dying wanted to share with his peers in ministry and anyone else who would listen the importance of staying focused on the good news of God's grace.

Topping the evening off was a passionate message by Efram Smith of Sanctuary Covenant, reminding us all from 1 John 4 of what we already knew but are often in danger of forgetting, i.e. that our future is tied to our past and may be, as David Nyvall once said, the nearest path to our future. "We are as a people the overflowing of God's grace in this world," Efram said, "Mission Friends who care about the communities and world in which live. We are called to love one another, and warned that such love must be evidenced by our faithfulness to core values in our history such as not only sharing Christ with the lost but promoting justice and mercy in his name on behalf of the least."

Something came together in the spirit of the whole evening that fed my soul. From all I could gather it fed the souls of others as well. Is God leading us into a new springtime of joy in believing and belonging, even richer now for spanning the diversities that are making fellowship and communion with one other in Christ's body daily more rich?

If Efrem is right, as I believe he is, there is more than enough reason to be hopeful going forward if we remain true to who we are in Christ. In this assembly of believers every one has a place to serve and be honored and noone can claim to love God who refuses to love and care for their brothers and sisters and holds back from witnessing to their neighbors.

Thank you, God, for a great day among your people. I am content now to go to bed for the rest I need. I also anticipate awakening in the morning more fully alive to both the challenges and opportunities that await me as a Christian and a Covenanter called to serve you and your people and your world.