"Head Scratching"

Someday I may assemble a log of the post-service sermon comments that worshippers offer to me. The remarks are normally given in the "receiving line," but more and more in recent years I find that they also trickle in electronically over the course of the succeeding week. There is the generic, "Good sermon, pastor." I get the feeling that this comment is often sort of akin to, "Good to see you today. How are you?" ...or "Thanks. I'll see you again next week." Don't get me wrong. I appreciate hearing this very much and know that most persons are very serious about this remark. It's just generic.

Then there is the "I felt lik you were preaching directly to me today, pastor." In these instances I know that the Holy Spirit has used something in worship to speak to the most needful places of one's soul.

It may sound a bit odd, but I appreciate when someone disagrees with something I say. I particularly appreciate that when the subject is taken up somewhere other than the receiving line, like in a phone or electronic conversation later that day. But such push back tells me that this person was really listening and cares enough about this faith matter (and their own faith journey) not to allow the sermon to end short of conversation.

The final significant post-sermon remark category is the "You made me think today." ...or "that was thought provoking." This is the head-scratching response. It generally suggests that this worshipper still has some chewing to do on these words or topics or texts. The Spirit is doing something new with that person in that moment and isn't quite done with him or her yet. I particularly like this response! It's even sometimes followed up upon a week or two later with a, "The wife and I have been talking about your sermon and... ." Cool.

I have gotten a few of the latter types of responses to the present blog. Missional church seems to promote some head-scratching among traditional church folks. This is good. My deepest faith has not resulted from times of comfort but from dis-ease and challenge.

Let me toss before you a few excerpts from today's reading to see if they might produce a little scalp-massaging on your part...:

"The church exists because there is a mission, not visa versa."

"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea." (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)

"The missional church is not limited by geography or denomination. It is found across the globe in an increasing number of places where leaders have been willing to lose everything to gain something that was almost lost."

"Today most churches struggle with change. As one church leader said, 'Churches are very willing to change. They will make any change necessary to keep things the same!'"

My plans, which seem to change by the minute, are to leave for Minneapolis in the morning. I have contacted the Wilgers and plan to connect with them for worship on Sunday morning. (Some will remember this marvelous family as incredibly integral to the ministry of Atonement for many years. Trudy was organist and the rest of the family was involved in congregational life in just about every way possible.) Then I will bounce like a pinball between several emergent ministry worship services that evening. Count on a descriptive report perhaps with pic's. **

Due to extended family health issues and schedules we have decided to bypass Michigan this time 'round and head straight for the Carolinas for a few days. There is yet another noteable emergent ministry in Charlotte called Warehouse 242. We will experience this community the following Sunday. I'll keep you posted. My hope is to be back in Kansas City to bid Pastor John a "Happy Anniversary" as he celebrates 50 years of ordination on the 27th...and to say, "Thanks for the sermon, John. Was thought-provoking." Along the way I'll see if the Spirit concurs with my itinerary.

(And speaking of head-scratching...what in the world were our Missouri cousins [at this Texas LCMS church] thinking when they erected this sign? Grace? Borrowed it from the website of an emergent church leader. )

Blessings!

(**I will be sure to exercise proper manners and decorum when taking pictures at our worship exeriences. During my May trip to England I snapped the image below of the recessional at Coventry Cathedral. A proper lady behind me immediately reprimanded me for such behavior and suggested that I might receive a "talking to" by the leadership at the church. [Looking again...the fellow in front of the recessional really doesn't look too pleased.] I pointed to the bulletin that noted, "All are welcome at Coventry!" I asked, "So this is true only if you don't bring your camera?" She didn't reply.)