Pilgrim Community

From many, to one.

“The liturgy of the Eucharist is best understood as a journey or procession. It is the journey of the Church into the dimension of the Kingdom.” Schmemann, Life of the World. 26

Everyone in the community comes from somewhere else, but all start moving towards the same telos—the same end. Would you rather share a past or a future? An origin story or a destiny? I think this must be why Jesus has more in common with those who are within the sound of his voice (the word), than relatives outside the door. Matthew 12.46-50. All along this journey, Jesus makes us lie down in green pastures and leads us by still waters and restores our souls. He sets us table for us even when threats to our life surround us, taunt us, seek to terrify us. The eucharist is pilgrim food. The flock is our fellow pilgrims.

This last week our community had so many opportunities to enter more deeply into the dimension of the Kingdom.

Doc from Back to the Future.

Oh, just my buddy, David Brewer.

Canadian Thanksgiving. Gourmet meal with great people. Thank God there are Canadians in my life and in our community.

Bunch of the Theta Community went up to Kingdom Come—night of worship and prayer at Vintage Church-Santa Monica.

Brodie and Andrea Taphorn are becoming dear friends. They serve St. Timothy’s in San Diego and hosted our group while we went to Here We Still Stand, 1517’s annual gathering. Here we are with some of the young adults from St. Timothy’s.

A generous donor(s) covered the cost of the conference (including bougie food!) at Here We Still Stand 2022. Amazing fare set out for us everywhere we turned. And, that was just the content.

Finally, Magnus and Gunilla Persson joined us and preached at Trinity’s evening service and spoke afterwards about “Whole Church.” Magnus has broad experience in the whole church, and his talk made me and the other hearers long for the release and translation of his next book about this subject. Magnus is captivated by the same Ephesian vision that I’m captivated by. The church he describes is not either-or, but both-and. It can only be comprehended “with all the saints.” Ephesians 3.18. If some of the saints are silent or missing or excluded, the breadth and length and height and depth of the love of Christ is not received as whole as it is given. Some may say he is a dreamer, but he is not the only one. Magnus is, what the Scandinavians call an inspirator for the EFS, which organizes and inspires gospel renewal in the Church of Sweden.

Having an abundance of products make it hard for Swede’s to make a decision. They prefer the government to make their decisions :) #landofmilkandhoney

Buy Magnus’ last (translated) book Reclaiming the Reformation here.

Find out more about 1517 here.