A few years ago, while I was serving in Houston, a couple of particularly conspicuous guests joined us one Sunday for worship. I may have been the only one in the room who didn’t know them. There was a buzz. Glances shot back and forth across the room.  Finally, someone pulled me aside, pulled me close, and whispered, “That’s so and so. They were leaders. Involved in so many things. Then there was a disagreement, and they left the church. Honestly, we never thought we’d see them here again.”

But those folks had heard that good things were happening, and they missed the community that had been so important to them for so many years, so they came to check it out. After the service, they told me as much, and told me how good it was to be back. I invited them to lunch.

We met the following week. When we found each other at the local diner, there were smiles all around, a magnanimous exchange of pleasantries. My new acquaintances quickly launched into stories of their many years in that congregation – how much they loved the people, had never belonged to such a special community, had hoped for growth and expanded ministry in the community. They also shared about some difficulties and some hard feelings they had carried with them when the left several years before. Many times, I believe, good people just want different things, or make mistakes, or get their feelings hurt. Church is a human institution with a divine spark, but that humanness means we sometimes fall short of the goodness, grace, forgiveness, and love that calls us together.

As our lunch and conversation began to wind down, I could tell that there was something still hanging out there. These good folks had taken a risk in showing up again at church after a long time away; over lunch they had opened their hearts, and in vulnerability and tenderness they were reaching for something that hadn’t yet been said out loud. I think they were reaching for healing, for reconciliation, for connection.

After a long pause, and maybe a drink of iced tea, I looked at them both in their eyes, one and then the other, and I just kind of blurted out the obvious question: “Well, do you want to come home?”

These two new friends looked at each other, smiled really big, and at the same time sighed out in relief – “Yeah, we do.”

They did come home. They started showing up again, reconnected with old friends, made amends for some harsh words and hurt feelings that had lingered for years. It was beautiful to behold.

This Sunday is our day to kick off the new program year. It marks a crossing from the summer season of easy schedules, travel, and rest, back to school and a 5-day workweek and church worship and fellowship on a regular basis.

We’ve been calling this Kickoff Sunday, but now I’m wondering if it isn’t a sort of “Homecoming.” Because the questions to each of us, whether we’ve just been on a break for the summer or have hung back for a few years, is the same: Do you want to come home?

I hope your answer to that is something like, “Yeah, we really do.”

If you would like to get a cup of coffee and get to know one another, let’s do that! St. Michael’s is a pretty big church, and that makes it hard for me to do all of the personal reach-outs that I’d like to do. But I’ve never said no to an invitation to coffee, and I would be glad to hear from you and set something up.

In the meantime, I hope you’ll join us Sunday for worship, including a back-to-school blessing for students and educators (not just teachers!), and for a special coffee hour hosted by the St. Michael’s Singers. (They’re back!)

Come home, and be a part of this wonderful church family.

With you,

Scott+

The Rev. R. Scott Painter, Rector
Email: ScottP@stmaa.org