A Word from Laura: Something Larger

When I saw Washington Post columnist Kate Cohen encouraging people to go back to

church (or something like it), I got curious. Cohen is an avowed atheist whose

upcoming book is called “We of Little Faith – Why I Stopped Pretending to Believe (and

Maybe You Should, Too)”. Not the typical person to encourage in-person church

attendance.

Reflecting on recent Pew and Gallup polls that indicate a continuing decline, Cohen

knows the need for places where people come together for what she calls shared

purpose. She quotes UCC pastor Molly Baskette in describing churches as where we

experience “the participatory transcendence that you get when humans are in the flesh

together” – also known as the Holy Spirit!

And even though people are returning to many public spaces – restaurants, concerts,

classes – the pandemic broke the church habit for a lot of people. Breaking the habit

gave people time to consider what was really important, what they truly valued – or

maybe what simply seemed easier or less stressful.

At the same time – and this is from Cohen the atheist – church and other in-person

communities continue to stand for “something larger.” The larger thing is meaningful,

and valuable, and it’s time to get back in the habit if you resonate with that larger thing.

I resonate with Kate Cohen’s message, even as it gives us at Western some

“homework.” (OK, no one likes homework.) Let’s read it as an invitation to rediscover

what we want to commit to and invest in, what we truly value and believe in. Our

message of courageous community living into God’s love and justice still needs to be

heard.

This month, I’ll be looking at the scriptures with an eye to how they answer the question

of “something larger” in terms of “Why Church?” What is the something larger that

church in general and Western Church specifically have to offer? What is the good news

that we can only find in a community committed to trying to follow Jesus together? I am

interested in how you answer those questions, too – our truth as a church comes when

we answer them together.

If you are able, I hope you’ll join us this Sunday for some “participatory transcendence”

– also known as worshiping and sharing the sacraments. I add my voice to clergy

everywhere inviting you back in-person, so that together we might sense the power of

God’s Spirit.

Hope to see you Sunday,