by Archdeacon Claire Phelps
Dear Family of St John’s,
Anyone who knows me, will be very surprised at one of the changes that has taken place in my life recently. It happened on the 20th June when I attended a rugby match… willingly!
My husband, who’s barely any more aware of what’s happening in the rugby world than I am, noticed at some point that the Springboks were playing the Barbarians in PE. Well, he thought, we don’t get the Bokke here all that often… He secured tickets for the six of us (the boys & the girlfriends make up the other four) and off we went. We had a supporter-gear shopping expedition beforehand so we would blend in with the crowd a little, I even had a face-tattoo, a temporary one!
Now, to understand the magnitude of this action, you need to know that even after watching my youngest son play rugby at school for quite a few years, I know virtually nothing about the rules! But, it turns out I was in good company with the two girlfriends who seem to know about as much as I do.
And what a fun time we had, even though us girls didn’t understand half of what was happening and missed much of what was going on!
The energy and level of support (or ‘gees’ is perhaps a better word) was amazing. I loved every minute. So much so, that we haven’t missed a Saturday match since then. There’s a group of us who gather and scream and shout and cheer… my cheers are not always at the right things, I need lots of explanation, and I have my own words of encouragement that I offer the players (loudly) at opportune moments. But, it’s quickly becoming a tradition.
And, while this transformation has been happening in my life, it’s sparked my thinking about church life and the community of believers around the world who confess Jesus as Lord.
One of the things that struck me most at the rugby was the sense of belonging. Thousands of people from different backgrounds, ages, occupations, cultures, and experiences gathered together for a common purpose. We all arrived carrying our own stories and concerns, but for a few hours we were united in cheering for something bigger than ourselves.
Isn’t that, in many ways, what the Church is meant to be?
Every week, people from all walks of life gather at St John’s. We come from different neighbourhoods, different generations, different professions, and different life circumstances. Some arrive carrying great joy; others come carrying heavy burdens. Some have followed Jesus for decades; others are still finding their way. Yet we gather as one family because we share a common purpose: to worship and serve the living God.
The wonderful thing about church is that we don’t gather because we’re all the same. We gather because Christ has made us one. Our unity isn’t found in shared interests, personalities, or even life experiences. It is found in Jesus.
The writer of Hebrews reminds us: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)
There’s something powerful that happens when God’s people gather. We encourage one another simply by being present. We sing together. We pray together. We listen to God’s Word together. We celebrate God’s faithfulness together. And somehow, when we do, our own faith is strengthened.
I often hear people say that they can worship God just as well on their own. Of course, there are many ways we encounter God during the week, and personal prayer and devotion are vital parts of the Christian life. But God never intended us to follow Jesus alone. From the very beginning, the Church has been a gathered community. We need one another. We need the encouragement, friendship, wisdom, support, and accountability that come from walking this journey together.
Perhaps that’s one of the reasons there’s so much joy when we gather for worship. Like the excitement of a crowd united behind a team, there’s something uplifting about standing alongside others who share our faith and our hope. When voices join together in song, when prayers are offered as one, when we come together around the Lord’s Table, we are reminded that we belong to something far greater than ourselves. We are part of the family of God.
And so, I encourage you not only to come to church, but to come expecting to encounter both God and one another. Take time to greet someone new. Stay for a cup of coffee. Listen to another person’s story. Offer a word of encouragement. Pray for someone who is struggling. Celebrate with someone who has good news to share.
The Church is at its best when it’s not simply a gathering we attend, but a family to which we belong.
And who knows? If God can turn me into a rugby supporter, perhaps He can continue teaching all of us new things about the joy of community, belonging, and worshipping together in His name.
With love
Your friend and rector,
Claire