At the end of a worship service, I heard the pastor’s benediction say, “We move now from being a gathered church, to a scattered church.” These words have stuck with me as I have walked out of every worship service since. I’m struck by how our faith communities gather, so that we may find the strength to bring Jesus with us, scattered in every corner of the world, until we gather again.
Whether we are heading home for a long break, or seeing people we haven’t seen in a while, December is a scattering time. With that comes loaded feelings: joy, worry, dread, excitement. But our scripture today rests in a promise fulfilled by Jesus:
You are full of goodness.
You are filled with knowledge.
You are competent to help others.
You are not doing this work alone.
Paul is writing to a gathered people in a scattered diaspora. He is acknowledging throughout the book of Romans that the church is not a one-person show but an intentional community where each person’s gifts make the whole stronger. So find confidence in the scattered moments, and hold true to these truths: You are full of goodness. You are filled with knowledge. You are competent to help others. You are not doing this work alone.
God, bless this scattering. Turn our minds outward as we continue to live out your mission. Help us to know that we are beloved, and that you brought peace into chaos. For it is only when we understand and know those truths, that we can tell others. We thank you that we are not in this alone. That even while scattered, we are surrounded by your Spirit. Amen.
Rev. Elizabeth Miller-Villegas
Pastor, Wingspan (Wilmington, NC)
Words for Waiting 