Elves and Ligaments

We must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly (Eph. 4:15-16).

            Often when I am doing a workout, I will have some version of these verses in my head – something along the line of “all of the parts of the body working properly, taking direction from Christ the head.”  For whatever reason, this seems to help, especially when I am doing an exercise that seems more difficult.

            Of course, in these verses, and in others in the New Testament, the body is a metaphor for the church.  Just as all of the different parts of the body have a role to play in helping the body to function, so all of the members of the church have a role when the church is “working properly.”

            One of the children’s messages that I toyed with for Christmas Eve would have focused on elves – not on Santa’s helpers, but on all of the people who work in the background in order for the ministry of the congregation to happen.  Often I come into the church building and marvel at what some of these elves have been doing – whether repairs or cleaning up or preparing all of the things that are needed whenever we gather for worship.

            Of course, there are many more things that happen, often out of sight, as the elves continue their work.  Coffee and baking appear and entire lunches happen.  Donations for the Urban get delivered, and clients get served at the food bank and at Trinity Food Pantry.  People at care homes get visited, and the offerings and the financial records get looked after in the depths of the basement.  Snow gets shoveled, and Sunday school classes happen, and people sing and play their instruments.  And, in spite of all of the things that I just mentioned, numerous things (and people) have been left out that also happen.

            Of course, as any of you know who have ever had an injury or have had to recover from surgery, things get far more difficult when any part of your body isn’t working properly (or perhaps not working at all).  If you’re only using one arm or one leg, those limbs get worn out more easily than they would otherwise.  And, it seems as though any part of the body that is hurting and not functioning properly affects everything that the body tries to do.

            In some ways, the same thing is true in the church.  If some parts of the body are doing a whole pile of work while other parts are doing nothing at all, it is kind of like having a bum leg and having to drag it around all the time.  Then some parts of the body just get really tired.

            When Paul uses this metaphor in his letters, he talks about how God has given all of the gifts that the body of Christ needs through the Holy Spirit.  Each person is given different gifts, according to what God sees is needed.  The truth is that we are not left on our own for any of the ministries that we are called to do.  We are equipped and empowered by the Holy Spirit, and we get our direction from Christ, who is the head of the body and the head of the church.

            Blessings to all of you during these last days of Christmas and throughout the coming year.  And thank you to all of the elves who continue to work in the background, taking their direction from Christ, who is the head.

                        In Christ,

                        Pastor Lynne Hutchison