Part of Something Bigger...

Dear Sisters and brothers...

Go anywhere in the world, as evidenced by the commercial, and you can probably find someone who would respond to the following: O H. And their innate response? I O. All over this world of ours, this beautiful and yet seemingly growing smaller world of ours, reminds us that no matter where we go, who we see, what we do, we carry the mantle of being from the Buckeye State, and with that mantel, we carry the torch of pride for all Buckeyes, right?

Before you all exhale in shock that i have accepted and embraced, though i will not cheer for the OSU athletic teams, i do embrace my place in the story of Ohio. I am, at least by my time here, a Buckeye by trade, and i find it refreshing that i can go anywhere and i will find other Buckeyes who can respond to my call. It ties me to a greater family, and that always makes me feel loved and connected, but it also gives me a sense of worth, an identity.

What does being a Buckeye have to do with theology? Church? Jesus? Well though i am sure that most Buckeyes would anchor their narrative well within the Christian tradition, it doesn't necessarily have anything to do with Jesus. But as for theology and church? Well rehearsing the example of O H I O offers more insight into what it means to be the church and follow a God who calls us all sons and daughters. You see, family, we may be a small church, in a small rural area, but we are also part and parcel of a larger denomination. One that extends beyond the borders of Ohio, Kansas, Virginia, or Pennsylvania.

We, as members in the Church of the Brethren, have sisters and brothers in Nigeria, India, Sudan, Haiti, Dominican Republic, and Brazil. We are part of a global network of Church of the Brethren folks which stretches beyond our limited existence into the shrinking world that is ours. IF we find people who know and rehearse the O H I O cheer, think about the power of finding sisters and brothers, worldwide, who share our love for peace, service, simplicity, discipleship, and community. Our ecclesial family tree reaches deep into the narrative of other cultures, and yet, through the cultural differences that are many, the core values of who we are, like those who shout O H I O, tie us together, forever.

And that is a Godly thing.

This Sunday we have a chance to, through the wonderful gift of technology, to join our voices, our prayers, and yes our presence with thousands of other Church of the Brethren folk when we worship, through the webcast of Annual Conference, with those sisters and brothers who have gathered in Grand Rapids to lead the denomination into a new story. And though we will see the thousands at Conference, it is the masses who gather, like us, via webcast, which prove the power of our voice, our community, and our faith. So come worship not just with the powerful core who meet in West Milton, but come worship with those from all over this beautiful land and in so doing, we invite the God of miracles to once again reign down upon us, all. Amen.

Shalom,
jerry