We all remember Dorothy Gale’s words from the end of the Wizard of Oz. Under the guidance of the Glynda the Good Witch, Dorothy clicks her ruby slippers and offers the words as an incantation. Magically, the girl wakes up in Kansas under the watchful care of Auntie Em and Uncle Henry.
Dorothy’s story begins with a longing to be somewhere “Over the Rainbow.” Thanks to a tornado she gets her wish, but immediately she longs to be back home. Despite the wonder of Oz, back in Kansas there is love. Dorothy is the prodigal daughter. Granted, she seems much more innocent than her biblical counterpart. Nonetheless, like him, she comes to her senses and searches for home.
After a summer of vacations and travels, many of us are looking forward to the calm of the familiar craziness. We desire to be home. On September 7, we celebrate the beginning of the church’s program calendar with Homecoming Sunday. On that day, we will participate in a ministry fair, and that afternoon the church gathers at Gladwyne Park for a celebration. There will be no fattened calf on the menu, but we will certainly enjoy some hamburgers with the people we missed all summer.
“Homecoming” can be a dramatic moment. For those who have been away from the worshipping community, it is a big deal to sit in the sanctuary once again and be told of God’s good news. We need to be reminded that when we were unloveable, God loved us. We need to hear that we have a home and a Father who waits for us.
However, “homecoming” can carry some unfortunate baggage. Some assume that if there is a homecoming then there is also an expectation that we have to be absent. They believe that we can only appreciate the welcome home after being gone for a long time. They purposely remove themselves from the community as if church is just something we schedule when convenient.
When all seemed lost to Dorothy, Glynda tells her that she “always had the power to go back to Kansas.” Likewise, we should remember that “home” always remains near. God’s power has created a community redeemed by Jesus Christ that is closer than the slippers on your feet. The church is more than something we use in emergencies. The church is us. We are the ones who care for a friend in need, who provide a safe, loving place for our children, who demonstrate God’s love to a hurting world. After all our travels, we discover that God wanted to be present in our lives, not in a building.
The church is our home.
Grace & Peace,
James Hodsden
Pastor 139 