You know you're in a busy place when you need to post signs directing folks to specific areas of the building. Last night, the corner of Turk & Lyon was animated with the energy of three different groups -- downstairs, a youth art class led by Artist-In-Residence Kyle Brunel; in the chapel, the Village Project Board gathering, with Executive Director (and St. Cyprian's member) Adrian Williams; and in the sanctuary, members of St. Cyprian's Episcopal and First United Lutheran sharing a meal and night prayer with neighborhood cellist Michael Fecskes. These overlapping circles of relationship are not just happening occasionally at St. Cyprian's.  They are happening all the time. The holiday party we're hosting with our neighbors Friday is also sure to bring different layers of our community together.

 

What we are doing on the corner of Turk & Lyon--"creating a community where everyone matters"--manifests itself also in people's homes, workplaces, hospital bedsides, buses, cafes, and online. Those who subscribe to the mantra "everyone matters" may recognize how it resonates with the teachings and practices of Jesus and his early followers. Over and over again throughout what we call the New Testament, we witness how individuals and small groups associated with Jesus find themselves preaching peace, "to those who far off and those who are near." Reconciliation with the Divine and with one another is, as the Hokey Pokey song goes "what it's all about." Sadly, though, not everyone understands the importance of reconciliation: humanity as a whole certainly hasn't.  Just turn on the news--whether it's about the fiscal cliff or violence in the Middle East. Matt and I saw "Lincoln" last weekend, and the film profoundly reflects our nation's historic struggle to become a united and equal people. That's why we have a colorful peace sign hanging on the exterior of St. Cyprian's for the Advent & Christmas season.  This is a corner where peace, reconciliation and equality are both preached and practiced.

 

"that your love may overflow  

more and more"  

On Sunday, we'll hear read a portion of Paul's letter to the Philippians in which he says, "this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best." Paul is writing from prison, and is aware that the community he was writing to in Philippi was experiencing conflict. While we may not be in prison like Paul or struggling like the community in Philippi, Paul's prayer works for us and our overlapping relationships at Turk & Lyon.  May our love overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight as we individually and collectively discern what is best.

 

There's a beautiful country song whose simplicity conveys the spirit of Paul's prayer and our aspirations at Turk & Lyon to be a community of more love, where everyone matters.

 

 

More Love
Tim O'Brien and Gary Nicholson

 

I'm so close to you baby, but I'm so far away
There's a silence between us and there's so much to say
You're my strength, you're my weakness, you're my faith, you're my doubt
We've got to meet in the middle to work this thing out

 

More love, I can hear our hearts crying 
More love, I know that's all we need

 

More love, to flow in between us
And take us and hold us and lift us above
If there's ever an answer, it's more love

 

We're afraid to be idle so we fill up our days
We run on a treadmill keep a slaving away
'Til there's no time for talkin' about troubles in mind
And the doors are all closed between your heart and mine

 

Just look out around us, people fightin' all their wars
They think they'll be happy if they settle the scores
But let's lay down the weapons that hold us apart
Be still for just a minute, try to open our hearts

  

See you soon at Turk & Lyon!