I am indebted to the the following sermon “I Dream a Church”, Acts 2:42-45 and 4:32-33
by Anne M. Cameron given on November 11, 2007 at Lake Highlands Presbyterian Church.  Her words resounded in me many years ago and I have adopted much from that sermon to create my own vision or dream for the church.

I Dream a Church

(based on Joel 2:28, Matthew 16:13-19)

About halfway through his ministry Jesus questioned the disciples about who people thought he was.  And then after a variety of answers he asked them directly, “But who do you say I am?”

Simon, son of Jonah, answered immediately, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God” and with that answer, Jesus renames him Cephas or Peter which means “Rock” and declares that upon that Rock he would build a church.  But what really was that church supposed to look like, feel like, be like?  How was this church going to be any different from the religious institutions that had gone before it?  How was this new church supposed to respond to the ways of the world, the teachings of Christ, and the new vision of hope, grace, mercy, and love?

When Jesus was arrested, crucified, and resurrected from the dead, only to leave again, the disciples probably wondered about this new future church even more.  They waited, they prayed, and they dreamed of what the new Church Jesus envisioned would be like.

          Plans didn’t quite go the way they had envisioned them.  Jesus was not seated on the throne of Jerusalem; hailed as king of the Jews.  They were not part of a new government, formed to bring about peace and prosperity for the Jewish nation.   But in spite of the chaos that followed Christ’s death and resurrection, a new dream emerged.  They dreamed of the promised gift of the Spirit, they dreamed of the future and their place in it, and they dreamed about what the continuing presence of Christ might mean for them and their world.

As it shaped the longing of the disciples, God’s Holy Spirit shapes our human longing into a holy longing and our human dreaming into holy dreaming.  As God’s love is poured out upon us our longing and dreaming is brought to perfection by that same Spirit.  To dream is to invite God’s Holy Spirit to enter into our broken lives, wherever we are, in whatever state we find ourselves, and ask for the wings of the Spirit to unfurl in our dreaming.  To dream the Church, to dream the Kingdom, is to invite God’s Holy Spirit into our humanity and shape our dreaming and longing into a Christ-like longing for the reconciliation of the world to God.

I, also, have a dream for the church. 

I dream a church with doors flung wide open, where all who enter meet the living God.  A church with vibrant worship, powerful preaching, and marvelous music.   I dream of a church that transforms broken people into whole people of God.  I dream of a place that is less like a club with a membership, than an ever-widening circle that welcomes everyone.

I dream a church that honors the past, lives into the present, and embraces the future.  Honoring the great cloud of witnesses that have gone before us, their contributions that have made possible our present reality, we give them thanks.  I dream a church that works side beside one another in mission and outreach, in programs and the work of the church.  I dream a church that isn’t afraid of the future, but instead listens to the voices that are emerging as you dream together to shape and mold what your future shall be.

I dream of a Church that has no fear or reservation in making the Gospel of Christ, the story God’s reconciling love, known to a hurting world.  You can start by taking that message with you.  There are hurting people just down the street or around the corner.  Start right here; at home.  And how do you make the gospel known?  You live it; every day.  Work for justice, show compassion, serve others, pour out God’s love and grace on others as it has been poured out on you.  Above all, be forgiving.

I dream of a Church that turns to God again and again in prayer and listens to what the Spirit is saying to the Church.  Do not just pray for yourselves and your family.  Do not just pray for those whom you know, but pray for the stranger.  Pray for our communities.  Pray for your neighbor.  Pray for the people you don’t know well.  Pray for those who have nothing but a glimmer of hope.  Pray for those who have lost even that.  Pray for those who have everything, but God.  Pray for the world around you.  Pray for the things that are happening in society.  In all things, turn to God in prayer.  The more you pray, the more you’ll hear God speak.  So, I pray that you learn how to listen, as well.

I dream a church that challenges the mind, opens the heart, and feeds the soul. A place of learning and inquiry for everyone, from the very smallest to the very eldest.  I dream of dialogue and struggle, of laughter and tears, of growth and maturity.  A church that says “yes” more often than “no.”

                                                     
I dream of a Church in which all the children of God are welcome, and not turned away because of human prejudice or human fear of those who are different.  Embrace the outcast.  Forgive those who have hurt you.  Do not put yourselves in the position of judge, but rather that of a fellow traveler.  We all have more in common than we have differences.  Welcome the orphan and the widow, the single mother, and the struggling dad.  Encourage those who have doubts and are full of questions and fear.  Do not have all the answers, but walk beside them as they discover the answers for themselves.

I dream of a Church that has the courage to stand up to the injustices and prejudices of the world around us, and champion the voice and cause of the dispossessed, the marginalized, and the forgotten.  Taking that one step further:  Don’t just welcome them into your midst, but champion their causes as your own.  Make their life struggles your mission to help end injustice and prejudices.

I dream that God will journey with those who have left the Church, and yes, even abandoned their faith in light of the ways that the Church has hurt so many in our history.  So always be ready to be the voice of reconciliation to those who have been hurt by destructive voices in the past.  Be the one voice that stands out and says, “That wasn’t right.  And I’m here to prove to you that it can be different.”

I dream of a Church of courageous people gathered under the banner of Christ who stand together and say no to the dark forces of this world that would have us believe that our human value is rooted only in what we can buy or what we can sell.  Life isn’t about things.  It’s about people and our relationship with one another.  God created us all in God’s own image.  Be courageous and stand firm in acknowledging the dignity that every human being should be offered.

I dream of a Church that proclaims a resounding “no” to the selfishness within us and around us that leads us to destroy, rather than nurture and care for God’s good creation.  Be more careful of the resources you use and consume.  Be good stewards of the earth’s rich bounty.  We have been given the task of being caretakers of God’s creation, so herald the causes of those who work to protect it.

I dream a church like the 1^st Century Church, a church filled with hospitality and healing, generosity and giving.  A place where needs are met and good things are shared.  Where the lonely find support and wise advice.  Where those struggling with chronic illness find comfort. Where the able-bodied work and play and sit at table alongside those who need more tending.  In my dream of a church, I see a grateful church, a church serving the bread of life and the cup of joy.

And I dream of a Church in which every one of God’s children know and feel the healing and reconciling love of God in Christ, no matter how broken they are, no matter how defeated they are, no matter how sick, depressed or demoralized, I dream that God’s love will be known to any and all in need.  And I dream that we, each and every one of us, can be the people to carry that love to the world.

This is what I dream for the church.  It is what I long for.  What is your dream for the church?  What is your holy longing?  It’s time for men and women, young and old to dream dreams and share their visions that God might shape our collective dreams and our collective visions into the vision of his kingdom.

Thanks be to God, AMEN.