The Stream of Social Media & the Deep Well of Community
Conversation between friendsLast Sunday afternoon, I posted something on Facebook about Social Media Sunday coming up. A close friend and I then had some personal conversation about whether Social Media Sunday (#SMS2017) runs the risk of being "gimmicky," and whether it is possible that what people are looking for is something quite different. Are they looking for places of sanctuary, places of refuge, a place of respite AWAY from the constant barrage of texts, phone calls, e-mails? Do people long for a deep place of contemplation and quiet? A place of deep mystery?This conversation, which was a loving and thoughtful one--because my friend and I love and respect one another--gave me much food for thought.Two GivensThe first "given," for me, is that for a variety of reasons, I have chosen to stay inside the boundaries of the institutional Church. Yes, there was a time in my life when I came face to face with such injustice and ugliness in a parish, I wrestled with whether I could stay in the Church, or if--for the sake of my own soul--I had to leave it. Ultimately, I decided I had to stay and do what things I could--however small they might be--to heal brokenness in such a system.The second "given," for me, is that as a leader in the 21st century, when many Church folks resist the kind of changes that are required of us (if we are to thrive and not die), I struggle along with others. We may say "this isn't the 1950's anymore," but just what "it" is now is unclear. Sometimes I feel like I am trying to nail Jello to a wall. How do we worship and pray in a way that connects with people's lives in real time, in real ways? Where is the line between being relevant to people's lives and pandering to popular culture in a way that waters down our faith? I wish I knew. I really do.
What brings people to St. Philip's--or notTo be honest, I don't think that St. Philip's promoting Social Media Sunday is going to bring new people in the door. (Note: I am willing to be wrong about this.) I think what is bringing new people to us is that they check out our website, (www.stphilipslaurel.org) then they read that we are a diverse community of faith. Maybe they note that we say we are welcoming (and they are willing to come and see how accurate a portrayal that statement is!), and that they are looking for something that helps them make a deeper meaning of their lives. If they find a community of faith that lives out what we say, if they find joyful and vibrant worship, if they experience the holiness of God, and perhaps find some wholeness of mind and heart when they enter that holiness, if they hear theologically sound sermons that challenge their minds and hearts, and if they are truly included in parish events and groups, then yes, the chances are higher that they will stay.People come here because they are searching for something, and most of the time, they don't say what that something is. Yet if we at St. Philip's deeply welcome the stranger--in the way that we would welcome Jesus if he showed up--then Social Media Sunday will simply be a fun way to connect this faith community with the world outside. Perhaps #SMS2017 is just one small stream that emerges out of a deep well. It's pretty, and ebbs and flows. But it is not the source.
The Deep Well of CommunityThe source is a well--a deep one. Community gives us that deep well, out of the ground of being of faith. We need to drink deeply of that well of community in order to be fully human; although we can get some support from our FB community, sometimes what a person needs are real arms and a real hug on a Sunday. Sometimes what one needs is a listening ear and a listening heart. Sometimes, what a person needs is, as one child put it, "God with skin." You can't get that from a hashtag, and social media does not give all that to us.So if you know of someone who could use a drink from a deep, satisfying well of community, you don't have to look very far. Invite that person to come with you on #SocialMediaSunday2017. Be their guide along the way. You may have a greater role in their spiritual journey than you can ever have imagined. So hand them a dipper for water--or a cup of coffee. It's the smile at the other end that makes the difference.~One of the water-bearers, Sheila+Picture of Social Media Sunday accessed on Facebook.Picture of person touching screen: Photo by Timothy Muza on www.unsplash.com.Picture of candles taken by McJilton