Today was the first day of our VBS, termed in our lexicon ‘Summer Celebration’.  

One of the charisms of St. Luke’s is a ministry to children and not just our own.  We have a goodly heritage of providing exposure to God and the life of the church for many in our neighborhood who are not ‘members’ of St. Luke’s.  Frankly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Too often, it seems to me, we join together outreach and evangelism like conjoined twins and don’t recognize that each of them is a faithful and viable ministry in and of itself.  The purpose of Outreach is to demonstrate to the world that we love them with the love of Christ, just because Jesus said to ‘love your neighbors as yourselves’ (but only after you’ve had an experience of a loving God.).

Evangelism is simply carrying the Good News (the Gospel) around with us as part of who we are not like something that we wear to impress others.  Here’s where the obligatory nod to St. Francis mantra, “Go forth and preach the Gospel, and, if necessary, use words.” makes it’s predictable appearance.

Many times we only view our Evangelization as ‘successful’ if we get people to come to our church (usually meaning a building) or to be saved so that they get to experience heaven at some point in the future.  It seems to me, as I encounter Jesus in the Gospels, that to be one of the Evangel is simply to communicate the love of God in Christ through word and especially action.

This week because we take both Outreach and Evangelism seriously we are opening the doors of our building and the heart of the Church to the children of God of all sorts and conditions in the Tatnuck Square area.  We do it not because we think that it will add to the bottom line, but rather because it is part of the ‘top line’ understanding of who God calls us to be.  So that means that whatever the results sewing the seeds of faith might or might not be, what we do here is a success even if only 5 children show up.

Thanks be to God for Good News and a world to share it with!!!!!!