September always feels like the start of a new year. Even though it’s been years since I was in school, I feel like something new should start now! Since church life follows that same academic calendar, we’ve always had that same “Back to School/Church” vibe here, with programs revving up for a new year.
As with everything, the pandemic has changed all that. All of 2021 has been a slow restart. Some activities are still not possible, while others have crept back so quietly we hardly noticed. September 2021 will come and go without any fanfare. Some plans may be put off, while other programs may have to take a step back. We just don’t know.
It has been said that Christians value new beginnings over long-term commitment, and there is truth in that criticism. Our theology emphasizes repentance—turning around and starting again—but rarely do we talk about what it takes to persevere, we just keep starting over. Our best church seasons, Lent and Advent, both prepare us for a renewal of faith. We celebrate beginnings, but what about the week after?
Right now we are in the long season that is called Ordinary Times. What better way does the calendar have for saying there’s nothing special going on? Yet for all our emphasis on those once-a-year celebrations, we spend most of our time in Ordinary Times, both in the church and out of it. Ordinary time means the regular schedule of work and home, of chores and groceries, and constantly figuring out what to have for dinner. If faith is to be relevant, it must be a reality in these ordinary times, not just something to be celebrated on Christmas and Easter. September, 2021 gives us a perfect opportunity to discover a faith that gets us past the holidays.
“Let’s make this month into nothing special–just a time to live in faith.”
The crisis year of 2020 is past. As we slowly return to regular life, without drama and with a lot of hesitancy, we find ourselves in the perfect place to work out a faith for the long haul. We actually know how to do it—nothing special required–just regular spiritual practices like daily prayer, regular thanksgivings, Bible study, and regular service. With daily attention, we create that spiritual life for the long haul, one that will provide stability in the ups and downs of life. If you want a foundation that works, you just need to practice following Christ in the ordinary.
This fall, be sure to join us as we just keep going. Participate in regular Sunday services, whether online or in-person. Follow a regular practice of prayer—we have many resources at Trinity to help create that practice. We won’t be celebrating any great holy days this month, and that’s just the break we need. A God who meets us in the ordinary, who calls us to faithful acts in our ordinary daily life, and strengthens us in our ordinary challenges—this is a Creator who inspires us to a relevant faith, a faith that changes our daily life. In the Ordinary Times with ordinary challenges, we will grow into the people we claim to be—Christians. Let’s make this month into nothing special, just a time to live in faith.