“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.  For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18: 19,20)

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 28: 31-33)

After many years of steady decline, the share of Americans who identify as Christians shows signs of leveling off – at least temporarily – at slightly above six-in-ten, according to a massive new Pew Research Center survey of 36,908 U.S. adults. (From www.pewresearch.org)

So.  Two weekends ago, we had the incredible gift of the General Secretary of the United Church of Canada, Rev. Michael Blair, come and speak to people in this little corner of our country.  On the invitation of my good friend, Rev. Takouhi, Rev Blair gathered with about 50 or so of us to talk about things happening in the church at a much higher level than I normally am worried about.  Not that I don’t identify strongly with the United Church, I just know that I have enough on my plate in my day in and day out routine to consider much more in my life.  Rev. Blair painted for us a picture of what the mainstream church would look like by 2035; 10 years from now.   It was grim.  The projections suggest that within a decade there will only be about 8,000 United Church of Canada members.

Its not that this is new information for most of us.  We all know that there has been a substantial decline in church attendance even in our own communities.  We’ve all seen programs dissolve and churches  close all around us.  We’ve watched things that we have loved and participated in slowly decline until its they’re longer viable.  We’ve buried the saints of our faith, and now are attending the funerals of people that we have stood shoulder to shoulder with at events, fundraisers, even Sunday school.  Church is not what we remember.

When I heard Rev. Blair speak, and heard the collective sighs of despair as his information sunk in, I also had a moment where  I succumbed to the thinking that all of what I was Called to in ministry was an exercise in futility, and I found myself tearing up thinking that all of what I know and love would be lost.

But then I realized…

These are just numbers.  These are just projections.  They aren’t ‘truth’.  They aren’t even ‘evidence’.

All they are is an exercise in statistics.  And while that’s a good thing for businesses and even other institutions, I’m thinking these days that this weird ‘future orientation’ is not exactly faithful.

You see, what I can tell you, is that Bethel is doing just fine.  We still gather every Sunday for worship.  We still support a ton of outreach.  We still call each other ‘friends’ and strongly identify as a Community of Faith.  Personally, I can’t wait to be back from Restorative Care so that I can see all of your faces and do ‘all the things’ that we do together.  And I know because I know because I know that this is what God has called us to.  We, together, are seeking God’s kingdom; and for that reason and in this really wonderful present, that is Good.

Now, I’m not naïve and unaware.  Just this morning I listened to friend of mine tell me that the church he attends will be closing its doors in about 3 years.  They simply can’t afford to keep their building open and pay for ministry as their community diminishes in size.  That, honestly, is painful to hear.  Because these are good and faithful people, and they’re people who have spoken into my life of faith.  This church is walking right into the stats the Rev. Blair gave us earlier in the month.

But all of this has got me thinking; what if we shifted from this despairing future focus, and instead looked at our present?  What if we let tomorrow look after itself and instead focused on what God has called us to right here and right now?  What if we ‘seek first’ God and God’s right ways, instead of projecting towards a future and feeling the bleak weight that it offers?

Because, at the end of the day,  our faith tells us that numbers don’t matter, that buildings don’t matter, and that worry is unnecessary.  Our faith reminds us that we are called to gather for worship, to “do justly and love mercy”, and declare the Good News.

Firmly in the present.  Not grieving the past or dreading the future.

I know, I know.  Bills do need to be paid, and the biggest bill that Bethel has is my salary.  But at the end of the day, worrying about this is not going to help any present reality.  What will help is hope and faith that God purpose for us is good and Holy, even if there are only a few people left.

(Besides which, the latest research from the U.S. suggests that the ‘decline’ of the church has ‘leveled out’ to about 6 in 10 Americans identifying as Christian.  I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Canadian Stats look somewhat similar.  And at another time I will tell you that I don’t for a moment believe that a decline in church attendance has anything to do with faith; its just fewer people in the pews! )

We are living a glorious, wonderful, faithful present my dear Bethel Friends.  Isn’t it awesome.

Blessings today, and Remember you are Loved.

~Rev. Lynne