Church, It’s the Final Rose Tonight

[Jesus said,] “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name [God] will give you. This is my command: Love each other. – John 15:16-17 (NIV) 

I love General Synod. I love everything about it: educational intensives where the church learns deeply, worship where the church prays expansively, resolutions where the church works collaboratively. But what I love the most is the Holy Spirit acting in unexpected ways. This past Synod, the Holy Spirit acted through…a cheese raffle.  

Allow me to elaborate. 

A colleague won a large amount of cheese in a raffle. This necessitated gathering multiple people to eat said cheese. But one does not simply eat large amounts of cheese silently; it demands an occasion! And on that evening, the occasion was watching the latest episode of The Bachelorette.  This was my first experience with The Bachelor franchise, and I needed a lot of things explained. PTCs and Love Levels, Hometowns and the dreaded two-on-one. There’s a lot going on.   

I was hooked. Quickly, I joined a Bachelor bracket with pastors, rabbis and theologians. The season culminated in a finale watch party at a lesbian sports bar which was—and I cannot stress this enough—absolutely packed for the occasion.  

Strangers became friends, every question raised was answered joyfully by anyone close enough to overhear.  Bread was broken and the cup shared. And though I was a guest, I was welcomed in. It was church. The realm of God is like a cheese raffle leading to found community at a lesbian sports bar.  

Prayer
God, thank you for choosing us and making your good fruit flourish in so many ways.

About the Author
Rev. John Edgerton is Senior Minister and CEO of Old South Church in Boston. He is the 21st Senior minister in the congregation’s over 350 year history.