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A UMNS Commentary
By the Rev. MaryJane Pierce Norton*
12:00 P.M. EST Oct. 14, 2010
The Rev. MaryJane Pierce Norton leads children’s time at West Nashville
United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tenn. A UMNS photo by Kathleen
Barry.
View in Photo Gallery
“Blessed are the people who know the passwords of praise, who
shout on parade in the bright presence of God.” — Psalm 89:15, The
Message
When we join The United Methodist Church, we vow to support it with
our prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness. Like so many of the
promises we seek to live out as individuals, these begin with the
promises of God. God’s presence surrounds us, and thus we find ourselves
promising our presence as well.
Seems like a little thing, doesn’t it? Just to be present? Throughout
my lifetime, I’ve heard people scoff at the importance of presence.
Yet, I in part find myself living out presence because of the witness
I’ve had from others.
If I close my eyes and think back many more years than I want to
acknowledge, I can visualize the sanctuary at Central Avenue United
Methodist Church in Batesville, Ark., and see exactly where certain
members sat. In my mind’s eye, I can even see their movements during the
service.
Some turned and carried on active conversations with others around
them. Some sat so attentive that they vibrated encouragement to the
pastor and worship leaders. Some lovingly handled their hymnals not just
to sing the hymns but also to thumb through during the service, pausing
over those hymns with great meaning for them.
I would like to argue that, most often unconsciously, these dear
people were modeling for me during my childhood and teen years the
ministry of presence. There wasn’t any reason for me really to interact
with some of these adults at church. They weren’t my Sunday school
teachers. They weren’t my youth leaders. They didn’t serve snacks at
vacation Bible school.
Witnesses to presence
But they were people I saw in my small town. They were the
librarians, the postal carriers, the neighbors down the street, the
shopkeepers. I saw them and watched them as they carried on the daily
tasks of life, and I saw them in the pews at church, worshipping God and
participating in Christian community.
One was a neighbor who lived up the street from us. I saw him mowing
the lawn, playing with his boys and chatting with my parents. And I saw
him, Sunday after Sunday, sitting in the second row from the front on
the left side. A witness to presence.
One was my Girl Scout leader. I don’t ever remember her actively
teaching or working with us in the church, but year after year, starting
with Brownies and moving forward, she planned activities and led us in
Scouts. And she was there, Sunday after Sunday, sitting about three rows
from the back, left side on the center aisle side. A witness to
presence.
One was my seventh-grade teacher. Long before I had her in seventh
grade, I saw her in the hallways at our school. And I saw her every
Sunday singing in the choir. A witness to presence.
I think the pastor at my current church on a recent Sunday summed it
up best with this statement to the congregation: “For those of you who
are visitors, welcome. We’re glad to see you here today. For those of
you who are here Sunday after Sunday, welcome. I depend on seeing you
and being sustained by your presence.”
Disciples transforming the world
Transformation sounds like — and is — a big concept. But
transformation includes many small acts. One of the important ones is
the witness of presence. By appearing, again and again, in sustaining
ways, we say, “This is important in our lives. We’ll make time for
worship and Christian fellowship.” We also say, “Although there are lots
of competing things for my time, I choose to make this a priority.”
The linkage makes it such a wonderful witness. We see in the pews the
people we see the rest of the week. Living a good life without a
presence at church doesn’t allow us to reflect God’s love and care to
the world. Being present on Sunday without living a good life doesn’t
allow us to reflect God’s love and care. But together both form a
powerful witness.
Think of it in this way. In many congregations on Christmas Eve, we
light candles and lift them. Without even one of those candles, the
light of presence dims. And our witness is less.
So, as congregations gather to observe Laity Sunday this week, think
about the theme: Disciples Transforming the World: Through Presence.
Don’t underestimate the witness of presence. Each light adds to the
light of the next, witnessing to God’s presence surrounding us and our
presence, one with another, mirroring God’s love and care.
*The Rev. MaryJane Pierce Norton serves as associate general
secretary for leadership ministries at the United Methodist Board of
Discipleship.
News media contact: Barbara Dunlap-Berg, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5489 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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