On June 9-10, I had the pleasure of returning
to my first parish to preach for Home-coming. St. James is four miles south
of Chilhowie, Virginia, and is blessed with the most beautiful view of any
church I have seen anywhere. From the front of the church, one looks out
over a lush valley to tree-covered mountains rising to meet the horizon.
Susan, Hannah and I spent Saturday night in the parsonage where I once
lived. It was fun to be in that house again, experiencing the strange
familiarity of a place that has not been home to me in twenty-five years. I
appreciated how well the house had been maintained, making it more
comfortable without detracting from its quirks and charms. The parsonage is
in town, but a walk early on Sunday morning soon had me out in the country,
enjoying a serenade from cows, sheep and spirited little lambs.
St. James is currently served by an interim pastor who has been a friend of
mine and Susan's since each of us first became acquainted with southwest
Virginia. Joe is 77 now. He and his wife, Liz, live about 40 miles away,
near Wytheville. Joe came to the 11:00 a.m. service at St. James via
motorcycle from a 9:00 a.m. service at another church up in the mountains.
He looked the same as ever, with a head full of gray hair and a beard that
matched, wearing black motorcycle boots, black jeans, clerics and a black
leather jacket. To share Homecoming at St. James with Joe and Liz was an
extra special joy.
I missed seeing many people I would have liked to see: some have moved out
of the area and did not make it back this year; others, of course, have
moved on to the Church Triumphant. But I was pleased to see that the
leadership in the congregation is as strong as ever. A bluegrass band
(string bass, guitar, banjo, fiddle and piano) accompanied the choir when it
sang its anthem, "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms'" Following the service,
we enjoyed a potluck meal outside, using wooden apple crates for chairs.
Susan, Hannah and I lingered for two hours, visiting with old friends and
making new ones.
As we headed homeward, we reflected on the
richness of life in the rural parishes we've known: the people are so
connected to the land and to their ancestors. To have three or even four
generations in a family present at church is not unusual, many of whom were
baptized, confirmed and married in the same congregation. Clergy come and
go, but the families belong to the church like they belong to the land. The
roots go deep, nurturing a spiritual identity grounded in the ministry of
the Word and Sacraments that is powerfully connected to a specific place.
To be rooted in a particular worshiping
community in a specific place is a great blessing, regardless of how long we
are privileged to be part of it. Wherever that community of faith is
located, its sacramental life grounds and sustains us; also, the witness of
our brothers and sisters affords us a view of the beauty and diversity of
God's creation. The homegrown saints among us provide perspective, pointing
us to the same God who made us and the everlasting hills, who redeemed us in
Christ, and who continues to empower us for service through the Holy Spirit.
Thank you for being who you are - for all you do to make All Saints' a
spiritual home to which all the saints can return, again and again!
Michael+
