If you've been reading my blog posts or attending church at IHS, then you know our theme this year is Born of Water and Spirit: God's Promise to All Creation. If anything, you've gotten your fill of hearing about it! Or, perhaps instead of getting tired of it, you're wondering something very important. In fact, I think this is one of the most important questions, and the church almost never asks it. Are you ready for what it is?
One of the most important questions we can ask is: OK, so what??
We know the theme is Born of Water and Spirit, we know we're reclaiming the phrase born again in a new way, we know all about John chapter 3 where Jesus talks about it, and how it ties into our baptism....so what??
Here's the thing: this theme isn't just about you. It's not just about me. It's not just about IHS. This theme is about good news for everyone. In fact, it's even bigger than that. This theme is about good news for everything. I mean literally everything. I mean all of creation, the entire expanse of the universe. But that's a bit much, so let's put a pin in that and return to it.
Let's focus much more locally: this theme is about good news for real people around us. Good news for Drexel Hill and surrounding neighborhoods. Good news for Delco. Good news for people in your every day life. Good news for the people you love. This theme is about God's call to us to make a real impact, sharing his love not just in words but in actions.
We at IHS have received God's promises, and now it's time to share them through our work of reconciliation and justice in the community. We do this in real, specific, tangible ways, like supporting families in Upper Darby at Stonehurst Hills Elementary School, or collecting food for families in need, or collecting money for childhood cancer research.
There's another amazing opportunity coming up for us at IHS to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ and the new life offered to us in him. In a few weeks we'll be hosting Delcon: a small, non-profit tabletop gaming convention at IHS. On the weekend of November 4-5, our church will host folks gathered to enjoy each other's company, play games, and experience community around the joy of play. This is such an amazing opportunity to connect with unchurched people who need to know the good news of Jesus in their lives!
Even beyond connecting with those gamers, we're raising money for Extra Life, a charity where gamers raise money for the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the amazing work of healing done there.
Did you know that hosting a gaming convention could be sharing the Gospel with the community? That it could be sharing the promises of God with the community? This event gives us the opportunity to connect with people over the fun of games, creating a space that brings people together over common joy and play. It also will raise money for creating healing for children and families.
There are so many ways we share God's promise to all creation at IHS and in our lives. Delcon is one way, but through us, God is spreading the new life and salvation offered by Water and Spirit to everyone and everything, to every corner of creation! Soon, we'll talk about all creation again. For now, check out the website for Delcon, and plan to volunteer or attend!
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