"Living and Chosen Stones" ... Hymn based on 1 Peter 2

I appreciate Peter's use of the image of living and chosen stones to describe the church. As I hold on to a stone in my hand, whether it is smooth or rough, no matter where I picked it up, no matter what colour it is, that stone reminds me of the relationship between God and the church. In particular, it gives me great hope in terms of where we are headed in the mission and ministry God has invited us into.

To be living means to be alive and full of the Spirit. God gives the church life, and despite our many challenges, I feel confident and hopeful that God's church will never die. We have work to do and conversatons to be had and decisions to be made. If we intentionally stay attuned to God's desire for the church, then we will have the means to do the ministries we enter into because they will be of God. God gives us life, and to be sure I believe God will sustain us as well! That is our only hope for the future. As the doxology for the Eucharist reminds us, God can and will do far more than we can ask or imagine. There is no limit to what God will do with us and through us! Thanks and praise to God for that truth!

God has chosen the church as well. It's a priviledge to be chosen, and a gift too. We are called by God as individuals, and collectively too. Whether we are talking about the church at the local parish level, or diocesan or national or as a communion, God says to us "You are my beloved; I have and continue to call you; I have chosen you; I have something I need you to do for me and for the world!" The question remains, what is our response. I pray that we will work with the Spirit in our midst, and become more and more the followers of Christ we are called to be.

In our baptisms we said "Yes!"; each time we renew our baptismal covenants we say "Yes!" again. What does that "Yes!" really mean? And when we promise to live that covenant with God's help, are we really ready to ask for the assistance of the Spirit, and listen for the advice of the Spirit and follow the direction of the Spirit? I hope so, and I pray so. The ministry of the church depends upon it. And I believe we have a bright, optimistic, spirit filled future ahead of us.

We are "living and chosen stones"! Let's never forget that and especially let's never stop living that vocation we are called to by God.

These reflections led me to write “Living & Chosen Stones” set to the tune "Darwall" with a metre 66 66 88.

Living and chosen stones, we’re built upon the rock
Foundation solid in God’s Son, Lord Jesus Christ!
We are God’s church, a praying house to do God’s will, proclaiming truth.

Our faith is made secure through stories we have heard,
Alive and vibrant as we listen to God’s Word.
We are God’s church, a praying house to do God’s will, proclaiming truth.

We gather to discern, our mission to embrace;
Unsure ourselves where we might go we ask for grace.
We are God’s church, a praying house to do God’s will, proclaiming truth.

As living, chosen stones, there is a way ahead;
And with attentive prayerful hearts we’re Spirit led
We are God’s church, a praying house to do God’s will, proclaiming truth.

All praise and thanks to God who guides us on our way;
We are empowered by the Spirit every day!
We are God’s church, a praying house to do God’s will, proclaiming truth.

Text: copyright, The Rev. Mark Kinghan, 2009. Not to be reproduced or redistributed in any form without the express written permission of the author.