Cheers!

Do you remember the television show "Cheers"? I loved that show. It was about a bar where everybody knows your name. There was a sense of community about that bar where everyone knew everyone and they accepted each other for who they were. Isn't that what the church is supposed to be?

Most of you know that All Souls Mission is meeting in Beth and Tina's home right now. We've had discussions of looking for a building to have church in but everytime we do the words of our archbishop comes back to my mind. He reminded us that we are the church. Wherever we are is the church. He also reminded us that the Celtic Christians, as did the early Church, met and worshiped God in homes.

As we worshiped together this past Sunday it struck me how much our Mission is like "Cheers." We know each others names and we accept each other just as we are. We are a community. When I forget the words during the Eucharist everyone just gives me a smile and we continue on. When our singing doesn't jive with the music we laugh and continue on. When the dog breaks lose from his cage and joins in on the service we pat him on the head and keep worshiping God.

I like worshiping in a house. There is something extraordinary about tranforming an ordinary living room into a sacred place to worship the Almighty. I feel connected with the roots of our Faith and my Celtic ancestors.

In a setting like this there is no room for pretense and no way to hide our foibles and our faults. We are who we are. But part of being who we are together is growing into who God would have us to be together. When I preach in this setting if someone has a question they can ask it. The formality of a church building is gone and the environment of friendship is present. We gather together around the Word and Sacrament as the family of God. As a family we share that Word and Holy Meal in the spirit of unity and openess.

Don't misunderstand me. I love the glorious churches and cathedrals of Christianity. They stand as monuments to the Glory of God and act as visible signs of His Presence among us. But I also love the small gatherings of Christians who huddle in homes, caves, groves, etc. to share their faith. They have been and will always be the roots of our heritage and the backbone of our Faith. Cathedrals don't change peoples lives. People empowered by the Holy Spirit of God change peoples lives as they live and worship in community.

So whether you are going to a formal building to worship God or someone's house, I say "Cheers!" Even if everyone doesn't know your name, God does, and in the final analysis that's all that really matters.