Listening for Spirit’s Call

By Rev. Jeanne Randall-Bodman

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

— Philippians 4: 5-7 —

Once again, there is a lot to be anxious about this Advent season.

Many of us are living in fear of the next presidential administration, afraid of the effects its policies will have on the nation and the world. Scared of what will happen to our immigrant neighbors, our trans family members, our own social security, Medicare or SSI, worried about education and access to reproductive health care.

Some of us are worried about news organizations “obeying in advance” and changing the way they cover the new administration – whether out of cowardice or greed or from a calculated decision to avoid being targeted for destruction so they can at least continue to exist and bring some kind of balance to the media world.

With that as the almost unavoidable undertow I know many of us are also a bit anxious about the future of our beloved congregation, which is thriving in spirit and love, but smaller and less financially robust than in the past.

With this in mind, we will gather in as a community in January 2025 to address the central question, the heart of the matter: to what ministry do we hear/sense/understand the Spirit calling us as a congregation in this moment?

This is always a living question – one that we should be asking regularly, but it feels especially urgent right now, when so much of American Christianity has been hijacked by the heresy of White Christian Nationalism and the voice of the progressive church is so needed.

So we will gather to sing and pray and listen together. Then we will share and listen again to discern a through-line and a direction.

When we feel both settled that we are hearing together and energized, then it will be time to turn our attention to the question of how – how to answer the call we have discerned. We will continue, as a congregation, with a decision process about what practical steps to take to live that call faithfully and joyfully.

Over and over again the message of scripture comes to us – do not be afraid.  We are in the midst of change and challenge, but we are not alone. The God who spoke through the prophets and came to humanity in Jesus the Christ, is with us still.

Wishing you a blessed advent, a joyful Christmas, and a hope-filled New Year!