The Warming Fire of a Christian Community

Copyright © 2008
Gallup Independent
By Roger S. Perkins
Special to the Independent

It is told that, in the early decades of the nineteenth century, the pastor of a rural New England church called on a reticent parishioner who had stopped attending Sunday services. Since winter was fast approaching, the preacher was invited to sit close to the fireplace in the drawing room. His reluctant parishioner began to explain his recent absences, and as he did so, the preacher took the poker and moved a large glowing ember a few inches away from the rest of the fire. The parishioner described how his spiritual formation was well served by home Bible study and regular meditative prayer. As he spoke he noticed that the fire in the separated ember was slowly going out. As he went on, insisting that his departure from his church family in no way diminished his life in Christ, the ember went out completely. The pastor scooted the dead ember back towards the fire, and they both watched as it was rekindled by the heat of contact with the rest of the fire. For several minutes they did not speak. Then the parishioner stood up shook the pastor’s hand and said, “See you on Sunday.”

I, and I am sure many other pastors today, would love to play out this poignant metaphor in the homes of those reluctant parishioners we would like to see on Sunday. But times have changed, and it is to printed words that I must turn in an attempt to bring faltering churchgoers back to the warming spiritual “fire” of their fellow Christians.

Worshiping God and singing His praise in a Christian community has a multiplying effect on the heart that only active participation in a church service can create. Most participants in faith-based churches that sing praise music experience this effect every Sunday. More traditional music can bring out the same feelings as more orthodox Lutherans and Episcopalians know. In an article entitled “Singing with the Lutherans,” author and humorist Garrison Keillor described his experience of this effect from his church-going youth:

Lutherans are bred from childhood to sing in four-part harmony…. It’s natural for Lutherans to sing in harmony. I once sang the base line of “Children of the Heavenly Father” in a room with about three thousand Lutherans in it; and when we finished, we all had tears in our eyes, partly from the promise that God will not forsake us, partly from the proximity of all those lovely voices. By joining in harmony, we somehow promise that we will not forsake each other.

When we come together as a parish family on Sunday, we pray for each other, petitioning God for grace and mercy on behalf of ourselves, our friends or family members. We pray earnestly and out loud, naming those loved ones whose needs we hold up to God in the name of His Son.

As a community of faith we pray in the belief that, “. . .where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them” (Matthew 18:20).

This does not imply that when each of us prays individually it is inconsequential, but that, by joining our hearts and minds together in prayer for one another, we can experience God’s blessings through His response to those around us.

Hearing a Gospel message occasionally presents those attending services with remarkable opportunities.

Sometimes, when my wife or I have preached a sermon based on a Scripture reading, someone will tell us about the message they received from the sermon in words we don’t remember ever saying. They are truly gifted in what they heard even if it is not what we intended. What they apparently needed to hear, and somehow heard in spite of our preaching, is purely the work of the Holy Spirit. It is the kind of experience that can only happen when you put your soles (and your soul) in church on Sunday morning.

The typical Sunday service in an Episcopal church includes a celebration of the Lord’s Supper. This memorial, which Jesus commanded us to keep, is a thanksgiving celebration which reminds us of God’s great gift of Jesus’ life with us, His sacrificial death for our sins, and His resurrection. As we partake of the sacramental bread and wine, our conviction that Jesus Christ abides in all believers and we abide in Him, is refreshed. This ritual, as a concluding act of our worship, is what some of our parishioners tell me makes them feel that they have really been to church.

When it comes to Sunday morning church services, it is like that self-proclaimed agnostic Woody Allen says, “eighty-five percent of life comes from just showing up.”

Showing up on Sunday allows the potential for community worship, praying together, spirit-led messages, and communion with the “body” of Christ – that is, the fellowship of all believers. Showing up and participating in a worship service can kindle in each of us that spiritual aliveness, that glow of inner fire, which so easily comes from putting ourselves in contact with others whose hearts are warmed by their life in Christ.

So, what do you think? Can your church family expect to “see you on Sunday”?

The Rev. Roger Perkins and his wife, the Rev. Lynn Perkins, are co-vicars of The Church of the Holy Spirit, which is located at 1334 Country Club Dr., one block west of Red Rock Elementary School. Sunday Eucharist services are at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Christian Formation class for adults begins at 9:15 a.m. Information: (505) 863-4695.

This column is written by area residents, representing different faith communities, who share their ideas about bringing a spiritual perspective into our daily lives and community issues. For information about contributing a guest column, contact Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola at The Independent: (505) 863-6811 ext. 218 or lizreligion01@yahoo.com.