Yesterday I had a phone conversation with the church council president of the church in Bristol, TN where I am the Synod Appointed Minister. At the end of the pleasant conversation, we were trying to figure out when we would see each other in person: I am at church this Sunday but not next, and he is not in church this Sunday but will be next.
He said, "I'm going fishing. I probably shouldn't tell you this, but that's where I'll be."
I said, "That actually fits in really well with where we are in the lectionary. In this Sunday's Gospel, Peter has gone back to fishing, and that's where he sees Jesus again."
The church council president said, "I'll be thinking about that as I fish."
I was tempted to say, "My work here is done." But I wasn't sure how it would come across over a phone line. In person, I could have made it work.
I'm delighted, of course, when people come to church and find nourishment. But faith formation can take place in so many ways, ways we might not expect.
I love the idea of taking an activity that doesn't seem sacred and finding the connections to Jesus and to the Gospel and to church history and to our ancestors. Let me be alert for other opportunities.
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