Rallying Around Christ's Church

 

Mt. Lebanon Church in Henryville, IN.

Scripture

Psalm 122

¹ I was glad when they said to me,
    “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
² And now here we are,
    standing inside your gates, O Jerusalem.
³ Jerusalem is a well-built city;
    its seamless walls cannot be breached.
⁴ All the tribes of Israel—the Lord’s people—
    make their pilgrimage here.
They come to give thanks to the name of the Lord,
    as the law requires of Israel.
⁵ Here stand the thrones where judgment is given,
    the thrones of the dynasty of David.

⁶ Pray for peace in Jerusalem.
    May all who love this city prosper.
⁷ O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls
    and prosperity in your palaces.
⁸ For the sake of my family and friends, I will say,
    “May you have peace.”
⁹ For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
    I will seek what is best for you, O Jerusalem.   (New Living Translation)

 

Devotion

 This Sunday is Rally Day at my church.  I really enjoy Rally Day, but when friend who is not familiar with this tradition asked me what it was, I stumbled to find the right words.  It didn't sound quite right to say that this is when we celebrate everything coming back online for the fall, because it wasn't as if all our services and programs had shut down for the summer.  It also wasn't entirely accurate to say that we were celebrating the beginning of a new year in the life of the Church; that happens at the beginning of Advent.  Eventually, I landed on saying that on Rally Day, we celebrate the ways God brings us together as a people and ask for God to bless our people and ministries as we look forward to all the ways God will move among during the next 12 months.

What I love about Rally Day is how it reminds us to be glad when we are go to the house of the Lord--and not just because this is the Sunday when we get to eat hotdogs and ice cream.  Like the Israelites who sang Psalm 122 as they came to the Temple, we can celebrate that the Church is the place were God calls to come together as one people.  This is the place where we learn God's law.  This is the place where God both passes judgement on our sins and offers us forgiveness for them  And this is the place where we earnestly pray for all God's people as we work together to spread the Gospel and seek the good of others.

There is so much to be glad for when we enter God's house.  And so as another Rally Day approaches, I ask: what is it within Christ's Church that brings us joy?  How can we show our gladness and commit to supporting that aspect of the Church's joint ministry?  Whether we find ourselves called to occasionally teach a Sunday school class, help with a mission activity, give helping with worship a try, or volunteer to weed the garden, give choir a try, we all have gifts to give.  We all can do something to rally around Christ's Church.  And it is what we bring to the table that can help others experience the deep gladness that is found in going to the house of the Lord.

Prayer 

Thank you, Christ, for the continual blessing of your Church.  May your people rally joyfully around it as we praise your name and serve you in the world.  Amen.