I wrote the following on Monday, February 14:
Today is Valentine's Day and, as such, it seems a good time to speak of community, something I've wanted to address for some time. I have lived in community with my Valentine for nearly 47 years. We have reached the point where the outward expressions of Valentine's Day are not necessary to be reassured of each other's love and commitment. We took a long walk together through a beautiful natural area near where we are in San Diego. This was our Valentine to each other. The day was sunny and warm and we saw new growth and blossom, the San Diego spring appearing. Community with one another and with the presence of God in creation. What could be better?
Shortly before we started off on our adventure last summer, a good friend said to me: "But won't you miss your community here?" Well, yes, I do, but not in a way that keeps me from embracing the journey and where I am presently. For, you see, we have discovered community every place we have traveled, which goes to show that if you have experienced community, know how to be in community and seek signs of community, you will find community.
The Episcopal Church, our demonimation, is one of the key elements in establishing connections as we travel. That this is a liturgical, sacramentally focused denomination whose individual churches are all connected to one another through the use of a common liturgy and prayer book in no small measure helps to make this possible. It is such a joyful thing to know that we can go into any Episcopal congregation and know the flow of the worship, easily settle into the liturgy and know that the scriptures we hear are the same ones heard in every congregation across the U.S., including our home parishes. That in and of itself creates a sense of community and communion.
The church has provided a welcoming presence. The promise that "The Episcopal Church Welcomes You" has been fulfilled in both small and large congregations across ten states. Several stand out:
- The small group of fifteen faithful folks at Holy Trinity in Wallace, Idaho, the last Episcopal Church in the Silver Valley, where worship was in the undercroft and where, because we had called the day before to find out the time of worship, places had been saved for us around the table and welcoming waves greeted us as we entered even though the service had already begun (we had to drive a number of miles from Montana where we had stayed the night, to reach the church).
- The small church in Chehalis, Wa., St. Timothy's, whose members embraced us when our coach broke down and we were "stuck" there for two weeks while it was being repaired. They reached out with love, inviting us into their lives and activities, and sent us on our way with gifts, tangible and intangible, for which we will be ever greatful.
- The great Cathedral in San Francisco where a lovely gentleman spent time with us before the service helping us to feel welcome.
- The old downtown parish in Rapid City, SD, where we discovered shared acquaintances with the retired priest associate; and where the rector's wife gave me yarn to begin knitting a prayer shawl, answering a quiet prayer of mine. The smaller parish in the same city, where the joy of the worship permeated the welcome we received and visibly intermingled among congregants.
- The shared ministry parish in Willets, California, whose people celebrated and shared their various gifts of art, music and friendship.
- St. Dunstan's, San Diego, and the warmth of renewed friendship with a fellow clergy couple from Michigan now ministering here.
In all of these and others, we have found community and I thank God for each of them. These are all reasons I love the Episcopal Church and I would invite anyone interested in learning about more reasons folks love this denomination to check out the "People Who Are Rather Fond of the Episcopal Church" group site on Facebook or visit the closest Episcopal Church..
But we've also begun to discover community in the RVing world, too. It seems RVers love to connect around where they have been and where they are going, and are every ready to offer support and direction. We enjoyed getting to know lovely neighbors in the site next to us here in San Diego and we've shared dog stories across the country. Our dog, Sandy, has made many friends, too, especially if the other dog is also a "doodle"--golden or lab.
And I can't fail to mention the wonderful online community of family, colleagues, friends from home and friends along the way. What an amazing thing the internet and social networking is!
So, my friends, community is there. It is here. We continue to seek and find it and I hope that you do, too. It is something that is incredibly wonderful and incredibly necessary. And I am so eternally greatful for all my communities.
