Experiences of Grace

First, Read this article by Dr. Nancy Going at First Third: First Third Conversations: Experiencing Grace.

Second, listen to my reflections.

This is where I am at, and I serve with people who also understand this. But the reality is not everyone understands what we mean. We educate. We teach. We create the space for our students to experience grace, but phew, it's hard to bring others on board. We use things like Sunday School, Youth Group and Confirmation to sneak in these experiences of grace. I admit it, sometimes we realize we really do need to be sneaky when it comes to all of this. We even go crazy and refer to all of this as Faith Formation. Have people bought what we are trying to do? Hum, probably not yet. Will they? If they allow the space in their own lives for expericing grace.

Part of the reality, like Going mentions, is that a lot of people think students are getting these experiences of grace in things like Sunday School, Confirmation and other programming we throw at them. I hate to be the barrier of bad news, actually I don't mind, but I don't think that is the case. Gulp.

Have we solved this issue at the three congregations I serve at? No. Maybe? If anything, we are challenging people to think differently about this all. And one of the greatest gifts is having people realize that this is a real-life issue. But of course, to some, I'm still crazy.

This year, at one of my communities, we are trying something new. We have not been radical enough to throw away Sunday School nor have we sold parents on getting rid of Confirmation just yet, but we are doing something crazy, unique and that cannot be bought in just one curriculum. Are you ready for this? Are you sure? We are spending the next year looking at the Biblical Narrative. Gasp! I know, bizarre.

And why are we doing this? Because parents and people who work with our young people said so. No, really. It came to our attention, from our own parents and Sunday School teachers, even though we were well aware, that young people do not know the story of God's Salvation. What? I know. These young people don't know about the unfolding of God's forgiveness throughout  God's story; our story. But let's be honest, and I need to say this in a whisper, I don't think many adults do either. Yikes. I have to admit, I am no expert.

So what are we doing? We are spending the next year creating the space for all people to experience grace. This is nothing new, and is already happening, but we are being so intentional about this. And yes, we are using programming to create the space, but we will not allow programming to limit the work of the Spirit.

Will we see the life our community instantly transformed? Of course, okay, maybe not. But I am excited to challenge one other to share on our own story, hear the stories of our ancestors, find our place within this mess and have the opportunity to experience grace in our everyday life. And then we are going to do it again and again and again. Why? Because we are not allowing space to experience grace -- and we need to.