Signs of the Church?

We got away briefly a week ago. I’m pretty limited right now and have been measuring road trips by the distance between restrooms. So, just a little trip through rural Northern Indiana.

Church signs aren’t really a thing for Lutheran churches, especially in the affluent burbs and in the age of social media. Add all the zoning codes, yada, yada. We updated our sign on Brand Rd just after the pandemic when we rebranded our logo but you might not have even noticed. Want to know about Prince of Peace? Our website and social media presence are fabulous. (Thanks, Jocelyn Alford and Emily Nevergall!)

But when you take the country roads you pass a lot of churches, most have signs of some kind. Of course, I read them all, whether digital displays or antique “change-the-letters” under hazy glass. My poor partner is subjected my unfiltered commentary.

When your sign includes a denomination that hasn’t existed for 50+ years relevant isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. Even more so if it has a European country in the title.

Happy to see some Iglesia Luz y Vida (Church of Light & Life) and smiled at seeing the Roman Church with two names “St. Ann’s” & “Santa Ana.” Well done. Same front door.

Rare were the churches with “Ebeneezer” in their name. That’s social commentary about rural Northern Indiana, and I suspect rural United States as well. Politicos recognize, pander and redistrict to those demographics for sure.

More than half offered some version of “All are welcome.” Some just say “visitors welcome.” Sorry faithful members. I also know that many of those churches are of the type that formally do not welcome LGBTQ+ folk or women in leadership.

One sign which included the welcome had added on their quote board … “America. Love it or just leave. OK?” Nothing says “let’s gather together at the Lord’s table” like that message?!

One sign so stuck out to me that I stopped to write it down! After the name of the church were these words: “Imperfect Church. Imperfect people. Perfect God.” That’s truth telling, IMO. I wanted to know more about them.

If you’ve made it with us through the first two Sundays of our focus on Paul’s Letter to the Colossians, and our reading of the whole first chapter, you may recognize an important truth in that sign. Paul points out that what really matters is the Christ. Not the church. Not the people. Not kings, princes, powers. Only the Christ.

This week Paul shifts as we read all of chapter two and hear in worship 2:6-19. He’ll get specific, practical as he goes … but he begins by reminding them “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him.” No need to focus on you, your people, your group, your church. Imperfect we all are. Too much evidence to deny that.

Rather, keep living in the Christ for “through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself ALL things.” (1:20)

I wasn’t really looking for a sign from God beyond the rows of corn and beans. But how nice for God to provide it again and again … through creation … through the word … through the sacraments … and of all things, even through a little country church signboard.

Grace be with you.*

Pastor Jim Wilson

* Ok, I ripped that off from Paul again, his last words to the Colossians. But I mean it again also.