by the Rev. Julie Luna, Curate
I’ve been pondering our journey together this past year as I’ve served at St. John’s both as a Transitional Deacon and as Curate, and how so many of my experiences have been ones of building Beloved Community.
The Episcopal Church, with the guidance of Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, uses the promises found in our Baptismal Covenant as a guide to building Beloved Community.
Baptismal Promise: We will persevere in resisting evil, and when we fall into sin, we will repent and return to the Lord.
All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. (Acts 10:43)
Each week I witnessed and participated in the St. John’s community coming together to proclaim our faith by listening to Scripture, confessing our sins, receiving forgiveness, and sharing a Holy Communion meal to remind us that we are part of the body of Christ.
Food is a really important part of my life and that of my family’s life. I was pleased that St. John’s offered so many opportunities to eat together and to eat really good food together at the New Member lunch, the Chili Cook Off, the Christmas gathering, and the Sabbath dinner meals. My favorite food gathering was the sabbatical ice cream social in the parking lot with the farmer’s market! Gathering for a meal is an act of reconciliation as we leave our grudges at the door and enter into the sharing of food in Christ’s name. It is a time to reconnect and re-learn why we love and our community and in that act we forgive one another and we again become the one body of Christ. We practiced this each week as we shared the Holy Communion meal, and St. John’s shared with me the art of extending that Sunday meal to other times in the year when we could be a reconciling and loving community through sharing a good meal.
Baptismal Promise: We will proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ.
By pouring this ointment on my body she has prepared me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her. (Matthew 26:12-13)
St. John’s is a living example of the good news, modeling by example the Good News of God in Christ. Each Wednesday morning, I arrived at the church and headed to my office in the Gathering Space. Twice a month, I was pleased to be welcomed by the prayer shawl knitting group. One morning I had the honor of blessing a prayer shawl that our pastoral care team would take to a person in need of the prayers lovingly knitted into each stitch of the beautiful creation. I liked to imagine that when a person draped themselves with the carefully crafted and blessed shawl they were experiencing the same feeling of love and compassion that Christ did when the woman anointed his head with oil. That each shawl was like oil flowing with the love and prayers of our St. John’s community.
Baptismal Promise: We will seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbor as ourselves.
Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; 30 you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31)
I arrived at church each Sunday about 7:00 am to set the altar for the 8:00 service, make sure the readings and prayers were in the binder, and check on last minute details. Each week, I was not alone. There were others there with me to serve Christ in all the people of our community, and to love them as Christ. Two consistent souls came early to make coffee—a much-appreciated gift for clergy and lay leaders as they began their day. The altar guild faithfully appeared to clean up the 8:00 service and set up for the 10:00 service. Many of these important tasks may go unnoticed and yet they are acts of love and service to our neighbor.
Baptismal Promise: We will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.
…learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow. (Isaiah 1:17)
In the warmer months when I arrived at church Sunday mornings, the farmers were already setting up the Farmer’s Market. I was excited when I saw them and couldn’t wait to see what seasonal fruits, vegetables, and flowers with which they would surprise me. I often wandered out there between our Sunday services and bought fruits and vegetables for my weekly menu (the one I made up based on what I bought!).
I also had the opportunity to visit Hallie Q. Brown and learn about its programs. My family and I spent an evening with several Project Home families. My favorite memories are that of three little girls combing and styling my daughter’s long hair, and my son running and playing with other children while they played ball with our family dog.
St. John’s is filled with compassionate people supporting one another, and the broader with its many local and international ministries. Each of these ministries helps build justice and peace and respect the dignity of all God’s people.
I am grateful for the love I have received from the St. John’s community and the ways in which we have engaged in and fostered Beloved Community. And now, it is time for me to take what I have learned and spread my wings in a new faith community and learn to live into Beloved Community with new people and new challenges. I take you with me and know that the love I’ve received from St. John’s will always reside in my heart and guide me in the ways of Beloved Community. Peace and Love to All of You.
