[ On July 5-7, The Ekklesia Project will hold its annual gathering in Chicago, which will be on the theme of Slow Church.  Between now and July, we will be running a series of lguest reflections here by folks connected with the E.P. We've asked guest posters to reflect on the meaning of Slow Church from their own local contexts. More info on the E.P. gathering.  ]

Today’s reflection, the sixth in the series, is by Janice Love.

Read the previous post in the series by Ted Lewis.

Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings from of old,
things that we have heard and known,
that our ancestors have told us.
We will not hide them from their children;
we will tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD,
and his might,
and the wonders that he has done.

~Psalm 78: 1-4

I remember hearing someone reflect that when all is said and done we may with resurrected hindsight discover that our present time was still in the time of the early church.  That made me stop and think.  There may yet be a long way to go before the Parousia as God works according to God’s schedule (though I still pray, “Come soon, Lord Jesus!”).  We are not charged with bringing about the Parousia itself but we are charged with passing the faith along to the next generation that they too might live in hope, waiting expectantly and participating where called in God’s mission in and for the world so loved.

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