Expanding Our World

Christ Church Charlotte

Expanding Our World

June 19, 2024 • Joan Kilian

Spoiler alert: I will be issuing you a challenge by the end of this e-devotion.

For some of you, the challenge may be just to finish reading this once you discover the topic: Juneteenth. Hopefully you are reading this on June 19th, or Juneteenth as it has become known. This year, we are hearing more about our newest national holiday than ever before. I hope it is because more people are embracing the thinking and sentiment behind it. More people are acknowledging the inequities and disparities that have long characterized our common life together.

There are plenty of resources for you to learn more about the origins and observance of Juneteenth, so this e-devotion isn’t about that. Instead, it’s some thoughts on how I find this opportunity so expansive and life-giving. The older I get, the more I realize how much more there is to our rich history as a country (and really, well, the whole world).

I’ve done some quilting over the years. Most of the quilts I have sewn utilize long-established, traditional patterns: bear’s paw, double wedding ring, flying geese, etc. And they’ve been made with fairly traditional materials – pieces of old clothing, scraps from other projects, or contemporary colors and patterns on traditional cotton. That’s how I think about the history I was taught: traditional, defined stories and facts deemed by a relative and powerful few to be what is noteworthy, memorable or important.

My very favorite kind of quilt, though, is a crazy quilt, so named because it is a wonderfully helter-skelter, no-consistent-rhyme-or-reason medley (or mash-up, depending upon your perspective) of colors, textures, shapes, and embellishments. Velvets next to tie silks; granny smith apple green next to Royal Stewart tartan; chicken track stitches meld into vines with buds. Each element brings its own history, beauty and gifts to the whole without being subsumed or degraded. In crazy quilts, there is a richness, a depth and texture, a beauty, that is more than the sum of the parts. It’s messy, but I believe that’s who and how we are as the people of God. I believe that’s who and how we are as the people who share the history of this country.

Merriam Webster defines “expansive” as “characterized by richness, abundance, or magnificence.” Why do we need this national observance? To remind ourselves that our mutual flourishing, our communal wellbeing, is not yet a reality, and that it depends on recognizing the richness, abundance, and magnificence of every person, every child of God. One of my seminary professors was part of a group that met each morning for a week or so with the Archbishop of Canterbury. Each day, the archbishop asked them a question to consider. One of those questions was, "If anyone is in hell, can any of us be in heaven?" I would expand that to ask, "If anyone is not truly free because of poverty, public policies, or prejudices, can any of us be truly free?"

My challenge for you: While some of the activities for Juneteenth happened this past weekend, there are still many great opportunities to get out there and participate. Step a little (or a lot) outside of your comfort zone. Step in with (as we say in our baptismal covenant) an inquiring and discerning heart, the courage to will and to persevere, a spirit to know and to love God, and the gift of joy and wonder in all God’s works. And mark your calendar for next year. +

Facing Our Fears

October 30, 2024

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays of the year. As a child, I loved dressing up and going door to door for candy. (Who doesn’t?) We lived on a street with sidewalks and kind older people who were glad to remark on my Star Wars costume or the time that my brother dressed up as Maverick from Top Gun. For years, I held onto the plastic hook that was part of my pirate costume. We moved to Charlotte about the time our kids no longer needed us to go trick or treating. This means that every year, my wife and I get to sit on our porch and welcome the ghosts and the Swifties and the characters from the Marvel Universe. We hand out Fun Dip because nobody’s parents will ever let them have Fun Dip. We chat with neighbors we rarely see. And the kids love us because, did I mention that we hand out Fun Dip? You can read the Wikipedia page or a scholarly article about the origins of Halloween as easily as I can. I only want to emphasize that the haunted houses and the creepy decorations and even the masks that we wear all help us to face our fears. On All Saint’s Day, we honor the saints who’ve come before us, and that also means acknowledging the sometimes scary reality of death. Whatever we’re afraid of – a new job, a new town, a new school, the end of a relationship, or the first Christmas without a loved one – can feel a little bit like dying. “I’ll just die if I don’t have any friends at my new school.” “I can’t imagine going on without her at the Christmas dinner.” Whatever our fear or our loss, these feelings of dread are real. And that burden is lighter when it is shared. In handing out sweet treats (like Fun Dip), our wild costumes, and our neighborhood rituals, we are sharing that burden of our fears. We are facing our fear of death together. In our costumes, we can become the scary thing, or we can play the part of the impervious superhero who is never afraid of the scary thing. We put on a costume hoping to become something that remains just beyond our reach. We hand out candy and we delight in each other’s costumes and decorations as a way to share the burden of our fear. Church is the place where you can face those fears without a mask, without dressing up as anything other than yourself: a beloved child of God. We may revel in our annual Trunk or Treat celebration, but that’s only once a year! Every week, the church invites you to be known: not for your costume, but for the unique gifts that God has given to only you. We want to help you discover those gifts, share those gifts, and celebrate those gifts. We want to walk alongside you in your fear and in your loss. And, we want to have fun together! God is in your whole life. It feels like everything in church begins with, “The Lord be with you.” And he is. God is with you. Not just the perfect you (whenever you figure that out). Not just the holy you (in those moments when you get it right). Not just the happy you and not just the mindful, best version of you. The Lord be with YOU. All of you. Unmasked. No special costume required.

A Pastoral Message from Christ Church Clergy

October 24, 2024 • Christ Church Clergy

Dear Church Family, As we approach the upcoming election, we know that many are feeling a mix of emotions – hope, anxiety, and uncertainty. In this moment, we want to remind you that our church is a home for all. Our unity is found in Christ and we are called to love one another. We encourage you to spend time in prayer – pray for our leaders, our nation, and for each other. Pray that we may all work together for the common good. Our mission remains the same: to love God, care for each other, and serve the world in the name of Christ. Psalm 46 reminds us that "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." In the midst of uncertainty, we stand firm on this foundation of God's love, knowing that we are held by a power far greater than anything this world can offer. As we move through this season, let us be a church that models grace, love, and hope to the world around us. Together, let us continue to trust in God's presence and in the peace that surpasses all understanding. In Christ's love and service, The Clergy of Christ Church _______ Nurture Your Wellbeing at Election Time On Election Day and the day after (November 5 and 6), the Chapel, the Church, and the Contemplation Room will be open for silent prayer and meditation. There will be a Wednesday (November 6) Noon Holy Eucharist and Prayers for Healing in the Chapel. Also on Wednesday, November 6, we invite you to come and break bread with your friends at the https://christchurchcharlotte.org/events/wednesday-dinner-buffet/ (5:30 - 7 pm in the Blue Room) and feed your spirit at https://christchurchcharlotte.org/events/the-well/, a contemplative worship experience in the Church.

An Invitation to Hope and Wellbeing

October 16, 2024 • The Reverend Chip Edens

In John 5, Jesus asks a man at the pool of Bethesda, “Do you want to be made well?” It’s a simple question, yet profound. Wellbeing looks different for each of us, because we all have unique needs and desires. Where in your life do you need hope and healing? As we approach the https://christchurchcharlotte.org/wellbeing/, we reflect on the many ways we each long to be made well, both individually and as a community. This center is more than a building; it’s a space dedicated to nurturing spiritual, emotional, relational, physical, and vocational/work wellbeing for all who come. We are thrilled to invite you to this exciting journey ahead: Friday, October 18 at 7:30 pm: An Evening of Bach & Haydn: Music in a Time of Anxiety, featuring the Christ Church Choir and the Queens University Chamber Orchestra, raising awareness for https://hopeway.org/, an organization committed to mental health. Saturday, October 19 at 6:30 pm: Contemplative Worship with The Reverend Becca Stevens, followed by a reception and open house for The Center for Wellbeing & Care. A time to reflect and connect, grounded in the peace we seek. Sunday, October 20: Blessing Prayers for The Center for Wellbeing & Care at all worship services. Becca Stevens, our Faith Forum guest, will invite us into a deeper conversation on what it means to live well in body, mind, and spirit. This weekend is more than a celebration of a new space. It’s an invitation to embrace wellness – wholeness – in every part of our lives. The journey ahead is full of possibilities for transformation as we continue to support our mission of wellbeing for all. Together, united in love, let’s embark on this adventure of transforming hearts and changing lives. May we always seek to be made well and to bring wellness to others.