“A living, breathing statement”—that’s how Tom Stephenson refers to Holy Communion’s mission statement in his letter to the congregation in this month’s newsletter. “We are touching lives all over the world…putting our money and time where our mouth is…” is what he says about how we, as a congregation, with God’s help, have literally been bringing our mission to life.

Like all of God’s work, this has not always been easy. “Walking the walk” is not always a smooth road; “talking the talk” sometimes involves difficult conversation. It is one thing to print “All are Welcome” in our bulletins every Sunday—but then actually to live it? Likewise, it is one thing to promise to “serve our neighbors and to love one another”—but then to back that promise up with real money and real time and real service? With real, living love? No, God’s work is not always easy; in fact, sometimes, it can be the most challenging work in the world.

But easy or not, challenging or not, the one thing it always is, is blessed. I encourage you to read Tom’s letter—it is full of the blessings of what it is to be a part of living and breathing God’s mission into life. Actually, I encourage you to read—cover to cover!—the whole newsletter, as it, too, is full to bursting with the blessings of God’s word and work alive here in the city of Philadelphia, here at Holy Communion Lutheran Church.

As a matter of fact, I think we are all, here, called to be full to bursting, with the blessings we all receive from God’s living love for us in Christ. As Pastor Kelly Fryer writes in her book Reclaiming the ‘L’ Word: Renewing the Church From Its Lutheran Core, we know exactly why we are here, in this church, in this fellowship: not because any of us are “smarter or more faithful or more well behaved. It is only this: because Jesus has welcomed us, with open arms, just as we are.”

In this season of Lent, with the hope of resurrection moving ever closer to us, let us all live and share the welcome we receive in Christ’s name as if life itself depends on it.

Because it does.