Brett's Discernment

The last two weeks I spent worshipping at Bridge of Peace Community Church (ELCA). It is located in Camden, NJ and has an interesting history. It was established in 1950 as a part of the shipyards in a planned (white) laborer community. However, when the neighborhood changed and started to bow under the economic and environmental pressure and decline of the area, in the 1990s the congregation had shrunk and refused to reach out to the community. So the ELCA closed the congregation. In 2000 or so it re-opened as a mission start. One year ago it became an established church and left its mission status.
This church is quite different than congregations I had visited before. Pastor Giselle is passionate and this call is a great fit for her gifts. Yesterday after worship they had lunch and had Dr. Wengert speak to them on the topic "Giving the Devil his Due." It was such a great gift to worship there, hear from the pastor, but especially to see Dr. Wengert teach in this context. He listened to them, spoke to explain everything fully without being condescending, and gave a powerful talk which the congregation members respond to. I felt very spiritually refreshed by all this.
Bridge of Peace needs $780.00 per week to make ends meet and pay its bills. Yet, weekly they are falling far short, more like around half of the monies needed.
Next Sunday I will worship and preach at my home congregation, pictured here. What a world of difference. I will be preaching at the WELCA Thankoffering service, for which the readings shall be - Gen 1:26-30, Psalm 112, Romans 12:1-11, and Mark 12:38-44. This is different from the lectionary readings for this Sunday, which would have the gospel be Matthew 25:31-55, the sheep and the goats. I did write my first exegetical paper on the latter, the Matthew text, which I might post here. It was really interesting to write about it and I really felt the Spirit in that work immersing deeply in the text.

Peace+