Go and tell my brothers and sisters...
"Mary Sees Jesus in the Garden" via Jesus Mafa
Zion has received many greetings this Holy Week from Kirangare Lutheran Parish in Tanzania. And it puts me in mind of our Lent theme, unity in diversity. We practice unity in diversity through our companionship together - Zion and Kirangare Parish. The gift we give each other - the one gift that includes all the others - is to tell each other the good news that Christ crucified is also Christ risen. We promise one another that, together, we will see the living Jesus.
Some might hear the gospel story and wonder why more of the disciples were not like Mary Magdalene and the other Mary. Why did the others also not go to the tomb? But Jesus isn't mad about it. He, like the angel before him, simply sent them to tell the good news to the rest. Jesus didn't wink at the Marys and say, "You always were my favorites!" So anyone wanting some kind of extra credit for coming to worship on Easter morning isn't going to get it from Jesus.
In sending them back to their brothers and sisters, Jesus reaffirmed the essential beloved unity of the whole. Jesus refused to feed any superiority games. As with them, so also with us. Jesus sees the differences between us - some are here and some are not - renders it moot by calling for a reunion. Go and tell. No gloating. No told you so's. Just let's meet the living Jesus together!
Twenty-five years ago this year, Zion and Kirangare Parish's companionship was born from a covenant. I'll share it below, because some of the joyous work of celebrating 25 years includes renewing and reaffirming the covenant. It speaks of mutuality. No junior or senior partners, though we know that from the world's point of view, we are first and they are third. First world and third world. Instead, the covenant declares: "One Faith" in English. "Imani Moja" in Swahili. It is assumed, rather than stated that the purpose is experiencing together Jesus who was crucified and who has been raised.
It's not about money or mission projects, and that's what levels the playing field. Or does it flip it on its head, making the first last and the last first? Can you imagine that "we" are the ones who need to hear "them" bring good news to "us"?
Actually, you very well can. Because for 25 years, through this companionship, Zion people have been growing in our capacity to be receivers, not only senders. It is a gift to not need to be first. First world or first to the tomb and first to meet the risen Jesus. To demand to be first is to deny the healing truth. We also are among the least and last who Jesus came to save. We're joyful and afraid, full of doubt and faith, real people not the image we project in our Easter Sunday best. We need Jesus to be first; not ourselves, not people who look like us, not our nation.
Zion people seem to have an intuition about that. Let Jesus go ahead of us. Let all our brothers and sisters go ahead of us. Because we go together or not at all. We're learning it from our brothers and sisters in Kirangare.
Thank the risen Christ.
Pastor Clark Olson-Smith
COVENANT
between Kirangare Lutheran Parish & Zion Lutheran Church
In order to give shape and direction to our journey as partners in the mission of God as revealed in Jesus Christ, we accept the following covenantal agreements:
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We agree to pray for each other at every opportunity, especially as a part of our regularly scheduled worship services.
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Individual-to-individual relationships must be the foundation of our partnership in mission. We will explore every possibility to foster such relationships; for example, visits and/or letters between pastors, church leaders, church councils and committees, men's and women's groups or young people.
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We agree to learn more about the congregation, city, state and country in which our partner congregation lives and serves.
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We will help each other in this endeavor by exchanging information and suggestions for learning through letter, newspaper clippings, photographs or any other means available.
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In addition to informing each other of our current programs and outreach ministries, we agree to invite mutual participation in each other's future faith community activities.
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We agree to encourage visits by members of Kirangare Lutheran Parish and Zion Lutheran Church whenever possible.
We do this to the glory of God!
Imani Moja One Faith
Signed: Rev. ELISHA E. KAVUMO (Signature) Date: 30/08/2001 Kirangare Lutheran Parish [Official Stamp: KIRANGARE PARISH]
Signed: Janine Johnson - President Date: 10/21/01 Zion Lutheran Church
Signed: Roger V. Asplund - INTERIM PASTOR