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.

“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.