One of the central tasks of Jesus’ church in the midst of any culture and all the cities is to gather for worship. It is a work of fidelity to our King, but it is also a work of love for our neighbors. You see, every culture is prone towards paganism, towards abandoning what is True to follow after lies. The church gathers and gives testimony to the True and the Beautiful and the Good in Word and Song and Sacrament. We do this every week for one another, in the presence of God and for our neighbors - even the ones who don’t believe.

An interesting part of this new season for Trinity is that we are gathering to do this work about a half block from the cultural and political center of our city and state. Nearly every festival, rally, protest and riot will pass a stone’s throw away (though, please, no one throw any stones.) Tomorrow there are scheduled protests and counter-protests and we will gather nearby, united by an all-encompassing allegiance to Jesus to sing together, to eat Jesus’ meal together and to proclaim what is central and true and real together. In a culture that is currently marked by outrage and counter-outrage, lies and half-truths, we come together to celebrate what is true and beautiful and good. In a world increasingly divided into identity groups and political tribes. We come together. I don’t think there is any more important work and it has been appointed by God that we get to do this work right smack dab in the middle of it all.

May we gather, sing the songs of our King, hear him speak in his word, and feast on his body and blood. We we be reminded of what is truly true and gloriously beautiful and profoundly good for Jesus is Lord and this is a marvelous time to be a Christian.