From Alex’s Study

Dear Friends and Church Family, 

With my recent experience in Malawi, many of my reflections and prayers have a certain Malawian flavor. Throughout Malawian culture, and because Malawians tend to be shorter in stature, Malawians have often greeted one another by asking, “from how far away did you see me?”

This question is rooted in our innate, human desire to be seen from far away, to be recognized from a distance, to be tall and familiar to those who come upon us. If we are seen and recognized from a distance, it helps our self-esteem, encourages our living, and shapes a stronger identity.

I think this question is more than amusing. It has significant theological overtones: “from how far away did you see me?”

Ephesians reminds us that we were known and chosen by God before the foundation of the world. Various Psalms affirm that God is our dwelling place, knows our inmost thoughts, watches over our coming and our going forever. God not only sees us from far away but calls forth our best gifts, our very lives in devoted service as God’s people.

            As we move from Summer to September, we might have this same question on our hearts: “from how far away did you see me?” At the heart of this question is the shape of our lives and our faithfulness as we move into a new “program” year. Here are some fresh thoughts that we might ponder as God sees us from far away and as we re-connect, re-commit our lives as members and church family at Second Presbyterian:

v    Let’s strive to make Sunday morning worship a regular part of our week. This is the time to come together in faith, to sing and pray and frame our lives as God’s people. This is the single event each week that centers our common life in God’s love and sends us forth in God’s service. On September 5, our worship time returns to 11:00am. Let’s meet God and one another in weekly worship.

v    Let’s seek to find a Church School class that helps to deepen our faith and increase our connections to one another. RALLY DAY launches us into this new season on September 12. This new season brings opportunities to grow, to deepen our ties to God and to one another.

v    Let’s strive to participate in fellowship moments, in small groups, in meetings and ministries that encourage our faith and call forth our best gifts for God’s service in the world. This is our church and these are our ministries ONLY as we engage our hearts and lives together.

v    Let’s each look for new ways to be involved. Can you help with WALK-IN? Do you want to tutor a needy child? Can you participate in specific mission areas? Can you offer your gifts with our youth, or Church School for children? Would you like to help out at the church with small projects, or as a desk volunteer, sing in the choir, or get involved in a Council? The church is only as strong and healthy as the members are engaged in God’s good work through our church.

v    Let’s each strive, as our purpose reminds us, to be “a witness to and for the world of the new reality that God has made available to all in Jesus Christ. We seek to know Christ and make Christ known in downtown Richmond and throughout the world.”

“From how far away did you see me?” When we ask God that question, we are reminded that God sees us coming, sees us moving into this new season. We seek to be a vibrant, faith-filled, worshipping community. I look forward to all the ways God might use us in devoted service following Christ. See you soon.  Blessings to each of you.  

Sincerely, Alex