The service this morning was enjoyable. I realize that statement is thin. To enjoy a service a lot can be involved…those who plan the worship, the presentation of the word of God and those who come ready or not to receive it. I really don’t know what state I was in as far as ‘ready’ is concerned but I enjoyed it nevertheless.

The reality is, no matter how much theology you throw at people and how many well crafted articles about how much joint effort is involved in coming to worship people will generally come as they are.

It is a good thing God can be a God of the gaps because we leave lots of gaps for God to fill be we pastors or participants. This is ok. God came to earth whether we were ready or not and so I think God knows us for who we are…God understands.

There were some great texts read today out of Luke, 1 Corinthians and Romans. I would like to park on Romans for a bit. In my mind perhaps the peak of the New Testament but that says more about me than the Bible. I love Romans. I will never be able to unpack Romans.

Romans 8:14-17 says –

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.  And by him we cry, “Abba,” Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

We are children, we are heirs, we are adopted, we are family, we are free…we are bound together by these things. We are not heir, nor called child but heirs and children. There is no isolation or sense of aloneness…only community. Family.

So these are the texts, the word of God and yet there persists without a doubt a very real sense of ex communio…outsideness from the family of God by many, many people. The feeling exists even in those who insist that faith means simply “being there” or “serving there” wherever there may be.

Why when we are clearly bound is community so difficult to find? Genuine, loving, forgiving, patient, selfless community. We crave it and are wired for it.

Perhaps one of the secrets to being in communio is to remember and embrace the reality that the church is bound together not by humanity, not by attendance, not even by faithfulness although surely we are to be faithful. Rather the church is bound together by the spirit of God.

I for one yearn for the passionate worship expressed through singing, word and prayer and I receive it on a Sunday morning however briefly. But it is not enough. Perhaps the trick is not to convince yourself that community only exists one hour on a Sunday morning amidst the trappings of a four walls and a select group of the saved, apart from the world rather than a part of the world.

Perhaps one must try to pray and becoming increasingly aware of the communion of saints that bear witness to who we are and are ever-present with us. To know that we are in communio even when we are apart from our sisters and brothers for a time be it the six days till next Sunday or whatever the space may be.