"Jesus observed that the religious leaders of his day needed new eyes with which to see what was going on and new ears to hear what was happening. We have also become practiced at seeing what we want to see and hearing what we want to hear. Jesus was announcing the coming of a new reality that only some would be able to see and hear. In the midst of our great unraveling, the Spirit is calling the church toward a new way of being. The call is for us to have the eyes and ears to see and hear what God is doing in front of us. Can we see it?" Alan J. Roxburgh, Joining God, Remaking Church, Changing the World. (2015)
I quote the above in full not from laziness and to avoid writing my own stuff, but rather because Roxburgh always captures things well. The unraveling he speaks of is that remaking of of the settled ways of being church still prevalent in the early-mid 20th century.
We are seeing the church, the body of Christ, churning and being re-made in this century, perhaps under attack, or being refined? Let us be optimistic that Holy Spirit is moving and groaning with the Church in the remaking and renewal of God's mission and purpose.
We are participants with God in the life, ministry and mission that flow from the loving communion of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
It's great to hear about different ways God has called people to ministry in missions month, through sermon and testimony. Stories of faith and challenge grow our own faith and move us, cause us to imagine and consider what God is calling us to. Maybe God is calling us to action, to giving, or to prayer. Let us not limit God's Spirit, but be open to the mission of God in the world.
We know the church is changing, and that is good. It reminds us we are a house built of living stones.