I have always been fascinated by the Amish tradition of barn-raising.  It is so strange and alien to our normal way of navigating life, and yet, I wonder whether the tradition may help us as we engage rebuilding our lives still in the throes of a pandemic.

I suppose that the most unique feature of Amish barn-raising is its communal nature.  Barns, clearly, are an essential part of an agrarian lifestyle.  Some equipment must be stored inside; animals must be sheltered; some work must be accomplished with protection from the outside environment.  Barn-raisings occur when a family is in need. Either the family has never had a barn or, more often the case, the family barn has been destroyed by a storm.  It is then that the community comes together and quickly and efficiently “raises a barn” for the needy family.

It takes a shockingly small amount of time to raise a barn when many hands are at work.  Of course, the amount of time has much to do with the size and complexity of the barn, but, as an example, a group of 30 men can put up a 32’ by 40’ barn in roughly 12 hours. Many materials are acquired through barter rather than outright purchase, and the builders are compensated either with free barn rent for a year or simply with the knowledge that their families will be helped should the need arise.  Of course, the entire community understands that it also benefits economically when all families have the ability and wherewithal to provide for themselves. In short, the Amish seem to understand and truly live as if the identity of an individual is found by his/her place in the community.

If one carefully reads the Bible, one will notice that most often God relates to God’s people in the context of community.  Certainly, God lives and moves and has being within each individual, but, in general, like the Amish, people in the Bible find their identity in the context of community. And so, the concern with much of the Bible is the transformation of community because as a community is transformed, so is each individual within the community.  

And that is why the Church holds so much promise for us.  The Church, when it is true to its identity, is that body in which individuals may find a place and become the people God has called them to be.  Church is what can help us on our journey of life.  When we are strong, it is the place where we can learn to give to others.  When we are weak or broken, it is that place where we can learn to receive from others.  At all times, within the Church we are reminded that the good and loving God of the universe is with us, always with us.  

For the past several weeks, we have been doing our own barn-raising of sorts.  We have been engaged in our annual stewardship campaign.  We have come together as God’s community to put together a structure of time and talent and treasure that will serve as an agent of love in the year to come.  Our annual stewardship campaign binds us together as one community, committed to the God who loves us and committed to each other as we learn to love one another and the world. I hope that you have discovered joy in pledging and giving to the Church.  I know that God will take our offerings and use them in powerful ways in the days to come.

So thank you for showing up to the barn-raising and lending your aid.  God is glorified by your offerings. And as we continue our life together in the barn, may our lives and our community be transformed into the greater image of Jesus our Lord.

~Father Art