Lately I have been reflecting on how much of my journey of faith has been shaped by the invitation of another. In high school, my best friend Susan invited me to an ecumenical youth group that met on Mondays nearby, and I said yes. That became the first of many Mondays spent laughing, praying, singing, and hearing God’s Word with a community of kids from different schools and churches—many of whom are still dear friends of mine today. Through this youth group, I engaged in my first Bible study, first faith retreat, first mission project, and first Protestant worship service.
During my senior year of high school, another senior named Todd was coordinating a special Youth Group worship, and invited me to be one of the speakers. I said yes. Little did I know, that would be the first sermon I’d preach.
I share a snippet of the impact of my own youth group experience in part because we are in a season of celebrating the contribution and giftedness of youth in our church. Yet I also share these stories because I can identify invitations before my teenage years and many invitations since that have shaped my faith journey and my awareness of God-with-me in so many ways.
I can’t help but remember that Jesus’ disciples earned their spot among the 12 simply by saying “yes” when Jesus invited them to follow. (Frankly, I wonder how many people Jesus asked to follow, as he prepared to set out into public ministry, who just shrugged their shoulders, gave him a funny look, and got back to their familiar routine).
And as the Holy Spirit birthed the Church through the voices and actions and decisions of these same disciples a few years later, I am reminded of how many faith journeys involved invitation: an invitation to listen, to share a meal,
to be baptized.
As a people of faith, invitation is foundational to our life together, whether we notice it or not: an invitation to sit in worship near us, an invitation to attend PW’s Bible Study, an invitation to help out. Part of our own practice of discipleship is to extend invitations to others, to extend Christ’s radical hospitality as a gesture of love and inclusiveness, and to engage others in our shared ministry together.
But discipleship not only requires us to extend invitations to others, it calls us to respond to God’s continued invitation to us to be in loving relationships with God, with others, and ourselves. It challenges us to be open to new possibilities, to examine the borders of our comfort zones, to listen to God’s voice speaking to us through unexpected messengers. It invites us to say yes.
As we continue to navigate this transitional season of ministry together, we will continue to work together not only to support our PNC as they discern who to invite to serve as ELPC’s next Senior Pastor. We will together discern what it is that God might be inviting us to say “yes” to—and, likewise, what we need to say no to in return. For God’s invitation is not just for a select few. God invites US, always, to draw near and venture out in service and love.
—Pastor Heather