ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
October 29, 2026
This is not a doomsday Etching or even an attempt to hint at something coming. However, it is the anniversary of the stock market crash we call Black Tuesday. Though my grandparents on my mother’s side had only been married a short time, they had plenty of stories to tell. They were living in Western Nebraska, and though they owned absolutely no stock at the time, the impact rippled quickly into their lives. My grandfather had a job with the railroad, but his wage was cut dramatically. Soup lines existed even in small towns, and my grandparents, who were already folks who gardened and did canning, found it to be a necessity. And though my grandparents spoke fondly of their church as a place of respite and peace in those challenging years, it surprises many people to learn that worship attendance, that was already flat in the 1920s, declined over the next couple of years. Some point to practical issues, suggesting that people felt ashamed because they could not afford nice “church clothes.” There is probably some truth to that, but crisis does not necessarily bring people flocking to the church. Even after September 11, 2001, there was only a slight uptick in church attendance, and within six months, it was slightly lower than prior to September 11. Those who follow Jesus want to be available to others in times of crisis. This is what our faith calls us to do, but at its core, the faith community is about relationships and rituals that find meaning long before the crisis comes. It is nearly impossible to build a strong house when the storm is already upon us. I know plenty of people who find healthy and life-giving community outside the church, and I celebrate it. Though speaking only for myself, I have found the faith community to be indispensable, especially when everything unexpectedly collapses. God is made even more real and present through the people.
The church, empowered by your Holy Spirit, is the Body of Christ in the world today. We are called to serve others, acting with the same compassion Jesus lived every single day. It is good to know that our work is not done alone, and when one member of the body is hurting, your love, Holy God, becomes even more tangible through the strong bonds of your beloved community. Amen.
