Following our second service this coming Sunday, we will hold the Annual Meeting of the Parish Church of St. John in the Wilderness. This event is not found on any liturgical calendar, but it is an event into which many have put a significant amount of work and one which has great potential to propel us into a robust season of spiritual vitality. I realize that I may be aggrandizing the Annual Meeting in spinning it so, but it truly may be a time of good, honest reflection on the past year as well as an opportunity to discern and talk about where God is leading us next. And so, this year I am saying: “Yes! It’s time for the Annual Meeting!”

As Episcopal Christians, one of the primary sources of authority we use in figuring out our lives is the Bible. We go to the Bible when we need to be reminded of who we are and what our lives should look like.  We go to the Bible when we need help seeing a right path forward.  Now, of course, the Bible is not a blueprint or a topographic map of our lives with God.  It doesn’t work like that. And so, while the Bible doesn’t contain any record of an Annual Meeting per se,  it does contain a number of stories of the people of God coming together for reflection, instruction, inspiration and dedication. 

In the midst of the desert, Moses gathers the Israelite people to explain the ten commandments.  Joshua, upon entering the Promised Land, gathers the people together to remind them of what God has done and to challenge them to recommit their lives.  Peter calls the earliest believers of Jesus together in a meeting of sorts to choose another apostle to take the place of Judas. There is a strong Biblical tradition of the faithful people of God gathering together to ask, “What next?!”

And so, looking to these stories and others when seeking a proper tone and tenor for our own Annual Meeting, we ask the following questions:  Where have we sensed God’s presence and power in the last year? How has God used us to further God’s mission of love? What resources has God given us for which we may be thankful?  Who among us is God raising up to lead us forward into a new year of ministry? What opportunities to spread the good news of Jesus Christ are right in front of us?  

These are exciting questions to consider.  And these are the questions of a healthy, fulsome, Spirit-filled Annual Meeting. And so, I say, “Yes! It’s time for the Annual Meeting!” Come join us this Sunday either in person in the Parish Hall at 11:45am or online at the appropriate link found in the eNews, Facebook and on our website.  God is sure to be in our midst.  I hope to see you there too!

~Father Art