Shepherd of the Hill in Chaska, MN, so named, in part, after the Sermon on the Mount and the feeding of the 5,000, is a small church. VERY small. 80 members. You might say it’s a Minichurch. Or maybe just a church.
Steve Shoemaker sent this unrelated piece for publication today on Views from the Edge. Here’s one artist’s rendering of the throng that heard the Sermon on the Mount, followed by Steve’s poem.
Sermon on the Mount, a Rocky Landscape Beyond – Abraham Bloemaert (Gorinchem 1566-1651 Utrecht)
“The Megachurch”
The Megachurch had altar calls, of course,
and handed out a little book to all
the saved. It said you had been very wise
and good to come to Jesus (though appalling
evil sinner you must surely be.)
…
There was no mention Jesus was a Jew.
…
A bifurcated Bible had a New
Testament (none other). Read John and see
all that you need to know–not 25
of Matthew, not the Sermon on the Mount,
no law, no Psalms. Just join our church so lively:
…
Hear the rock band play–become a saint.
…
No mention you should learn to serve the poor.
(But to find God ours is the only door.)
– Steve Shoemaker, Urbana, IL, Dec. 31, 2012
Imagine a place…
Where God is love…
and hell exists only in the mind
and heaven is all around us…
A place…
where tradition and questions meet
where jazz-gospel is the language of faith.
A small place…
…where two or three of us
odd, wounded, ducks
are gathered together
in Christ’s name
where your heart is lifted
your mind is challenged
and your spirit refreshed
to change the world.
Imagine yourself at
Sunday Worship at 9:30 a.m.
Views from the Edge 