Archivists & Activists

There was an article on Facebook recently, showing the Inaugural Uniting Church Worship, in 1977. Comments were invited – who was there, etc. I commented, because my grandfather was involved, both in the “uniting” process and as a Scripture reader for the Service. It was a nice moment of looking back, when the world and the church looked vastly different.

Occasionally it’s comforting to look back to what – nostalgia says – was a “gentler” time. Many of us have stories to tell which reflect a history of church, or community, which offer us comfort when these days seem too hard. We can become ensconced in our history and treasure it more than the world in which we really live.

There was another image across the media, of people in a queue for food in Damascus. The queue stretches beyond the photo’s capacity. This sort of moment compels many within the church and without it, to action. The action might be donations, political action, or mission activity. I know that if we look at the net, or watch the news, there will be an issue each week (each day?) to spur us to act upon our prayers, until we become exhausted or desperate, or simply despairing.

It has always been thus.

We treasure much of our history – sometimes to the detriment of the present and the future into which we walk. We become compelled by the crises around us and sometimes our compassion is extinguished by the desperation coupled with the failure to make any apparent difference.

We need the Transfiguration – the moment when the encounter with God outweighs and outshines everything. Is it any wonder Peter wanted to capture a moment that eclipsed the past and outshone the next step?

We need those moments, when our time with God heals, reassures, astonishes and blesses us. These moments are not naïve. This Gospel story is bracketed by Jesus talking about his death – the strength to accept that call and the courage to step into it come from those moments when we are in the presence of our extraordinary God.

There are archivists and activists in every congregation; we balance and challenge (even irritate!) each other on the journey of our faith in Christ. Each and all of us need Transfiguration moments: This my beloved Son! Listen to Jesus! Sit there for a moment and listen to what blessing God’s Holy Spirit has for you.

Grace and peace for this journey – and for your memories