Today, I share about my final stop on the ally road trip: Northminster Presbyterian Church.
Why exactly did Northminster Presbyterian Church choose to add their name to the Equality Springfield billboard project? Pastor Dwight McCormick shares:
Northminster decided to add our name to the billboard as a result of a vote our leadership took and has continued to take each year since 2008. It was a vote to be more vocal and visible in our support of LGBTQ people. One of the factors in the decision was that, in some discussions with local clergy, we learned of a young person in Springfield who was told that she would go to hell for being a lesbian. We believe differently. The young woman (still in high school) subsequently died by suicide. While there were likely multiple factors contributing to her choice, her death made us feel convicted by the Holy Spirit to be more vocal in our support of LGBTQ people. We didn't want anyone else in Springfield to believe that God rejected people based on their sexual orientation. We believed that to remain silent about the expansiveness of the love of Jesus Christ and the inclusive nature of the Kingdom of God would be unfaithful. Therefore we agreed to join with Equality Springfield and other local churches in offering examples of congregations who are open and affirming of LGBTQ people in their worth and as fellow beloved children of God.
When I entered Northminster Presbyterian Church this past Sunday, the first thing I saw was a large, overstuffed shopping cart, filled to the brim with cans of soup. An attached sign explained that the church had been gearing up for "Souper Bowl Sunday." This is an annual tradition where members of the congregation gather as many cans of soup as possible, so they can donate them to a local food pantry. (Later, a church member would tell me that they hoped to surpass last year's soup-can record.)
For some people, a shopping cart full of soup might be a surprising feature to find in a fellowship hall. Having known the pastor and some of the people of Northminster for several years, I was not at all surprised.
Even though I was unfamiliar with this particular "Souper Bowl" tradition, I have noticed Northminster's active presence in Springfield before. This shopping cart does not represent a one-time "drive-by" ministry effort; members of Northminster regularly volunteer at the community food pantry where the cans of soup will be donated. In partnership with Clifton Avenue Church of God, Northminster seeks to connect meaningfully with members of the community by providing food and warm conversation on select Saturday mornings... the volunteers even take a shift cooking breakfast for all who attend.
Along with other community outreach efforts, Northminster Presbyterian offers a free community meal on the premises on the last Wednesday of every month. All are always welcome to attend.
When my wife and I arrived for the Sunday morning service, we were greeted warmly by numerous people and invited to participate fully in the activities of the morning. These activities included coffee and socializing before the service, and after the service too! They were even so kind as to provide us with a welcome gift (which included a coffee mug, a pen, some candy, and a pamphlet with introductory material about the church).
From the time we entered the building until the time we left, our experience with the people of Northminster was joy-infused. Laughter is a common occurrence during church functions (local readers of this blog will know of Pastor Dwight McCormick's service as a comedian, both inside and outside the church. The bringing of laughter is at the core of Dwight's gifting and ministry. Be sure to stop by the week after Easter to participate in Holy Humor Sunday).
Northminster seeks to provide a worship experience that satisfies church members and members of the community. They strive to live their faith through opportunities and activities internally and externally, remaining faithful to the changing needs of the world around them. They wish to consistently provide support and comfort to all friends and members of the congregation through assistance, prayer, and communication. By providing group and individual opportunities for spiritual growth and expression, Northminster seeks to nurture personal growth and faith.
As a component of their overall mission, Northminster has a long history of being supportive and welcoming to LGBTQ neighbors. As related in Rev. McCormick's comments above, the church has been a longtime supporter of Equality Springfield's faith community billboard project. In addition, Rev. McCormick will soon be featured on an ally-themed billboard in support of LGBTQ people. Several years ago, there was an active youth group designed to be a safe place for LGBTQ students and their allies. Northminster housed this group.
Why take all of these steps? To send a clear message of hope, hospitality, and love.
There is something uniquely powerful about joining others in their worship, not as outsiders, but as honored guests. As humans, we tend to gravitate toward the known, the familiar, the accepted. As such, it is possible for us to feel isolated, alienated, or singled out whenever we enter an unfamiliar environment. This is why hospitality is so vitally important. If we can learn to make space for others, and if we can learn to help others feel welcome in this space, we find ourselves at the heart of our mission as human beings: to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Northminster has worked hard to extend this sort of welcome to anyone who might cross their path. This welcome was on full display on Sunday morning, during my visit to their standard church service, but it extends far beyond the hour of worship and liturgy. This special welcome radiates from the building in the form of soup cans, coffee mugs, and uplifting billboards. This special welcome echoes throughout the region with every act of service, with every encouraging word.
And these closing words, borrowed from the church website, encapsulate the Northminster spirit:
Please remember how much you are loved by God. We strive to demonstrate the love of God here. Even though we falter we rely on God's grace to help us continue to live faithfully under Grace. We'd love for you to come and worship with us on Sunday mornings at 10am so that we can have the opportunity to meet you in person.
Thank you Pastor Dwight McCormick and Northminster Presbyterian Church for your years of tireless service and fearless hospitality. Our community is a better place because of your presence.
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