Dear Tab family,
No one loved Pastor Katie’s soccer team metaphor more than my spouse Gina, who is currently obsessed with US women’s soccer (and college women’s basketball). For some of us who aren’t on team sports, we have the opportunity and privilege to practice the skills of being on a team at Tab. This past Sunday Pastor Katie said this,
“Church is a training field where we as teammates come to practice the gospel. And the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, is about embodied love and justice and liberation…The goal of being the church is not perfection, the goal is not to fully embody the kingdom of God, because we can never do that fully until Christ comes again in glory! The goal is to show up for practice. You’re not expected to get it all right in church, in fact mistakes are welcomed here, because we’re encouraged to be brave enough to try out new loving practices that are part of this gospel game…. There is no church without a team.
I like the idea of church being a school for love, a place where love is practiced and taught. Living through a pandemic, we have learned that church isn’t the building; we are the church and it is through our practice of love in the playing field that we act like the church. As we show up to practice, to think, speak and act in the ways of God, when we get on the field together, knowing that we are flawed and mistakes are welcomed, we can learn from and about each other and develop trust, because we know we are playing the same game – the practice of love and justice.
This is an invitation for you to become a minister of the gospel. As Pastor Katie preached, “When we become a part of a church we are becoming a part of a team, we are choosing to leave our small world and our small family, to join with a larger family. You are joining a team that you would never dream of handpicking. It’s a team that is formed in Jesus. That’s the church, a team that is formed in the life and ministry of Jesus. There is never a day when you are not wanted to play on that team. In the family of Jesus, there are no paid professionals to carry out the ministry of the gospel. There are only people who show up for practice.”
As the leader of the newly renamed “Welcome and Engagement” Team, our hope and prayer is that you choose to become a part of Jesus’ team and show up to practice in our school of love, and that we as the church continue to increase opportunities for connection, engagement and service to one another and to the broader community.
Reflection Questions
- How are you embodying your faith in the playing field?
- There is no part of our life that we aren’t asked to step into ministry. Where are you being asked by God to step into ministry?
- How can you be a part of our school of love? What gifts can you practice with us in community?
Please feel free to email me at lanenalinda@gmail.com with your reflections. I would love to hear from you.
Sana DelCorazón
UTS Seminary Student & Member of Tabernacle United
“Let’s stop talking about it and do a little doing, with love.” Taylor Silvestri
