By the Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers
Earlier this spring, April 7 according to the scribble at the top of my journal page, I wrote about why “It’s All About Love” mattered, why we were working so hard, and what blessing God might pour out through this Jesus Movement festival. The words—and the hope—feel just as significant now.
“We are taking a risk for love. We have to, Jesus. You did it first! And if we fall, we fall for you, and we will be raised. But I do not believe we will fall. Blessing will come. Your will WILL be done. Your people will gather. We know how much we need you, O God, and how much we need one another.
“In the wake of pandemic, loneliness, decline, racism, and climate meltdown, please draw us to yourself. Renew and revive us for your love. Make us what we’ve prayed so often: a church that looks, lives, and loves like Jesus. Use this time to train and unite us as a movement in common prayer and common purpose.
“We will rise this summer as different people and as a different church. We will water the seeds planted, and we will nurture new voices and new life everywhere. We will learn and cast off what does not serve, take up your ways, proclaim resurrection life, and reclaim for all a love that flows to all.”
Little did I know how fully this dream would manifest in Baltimore, or the fruits we would see around evangelism, racial reconciliation, and creation care. Here are three snapshots for my festival scrapbook:
We did more than study and talk about evangelism. We also practiced sharing and being the Good News. From hotel and convention center staff to the sound guys and tech team, people around us kept asking, “What kind of Christians are you? You seem different.” I would say, “Well, this festival is called ‘It’s All About Love.’ We believe that’s what Jesus was all about.” “You all really believe that?” “Yeah, we do.” “Hmm … sounds good to me. Can we talk more?” And we would! Walking down the hall to check on a meeting room, slipping a Spanish translation onto a worship slide, they shared stories and hopes. We celebrated the power and presence of God’s love by their side.
The final revival night was dedicated to racial justice and beloved community. Our preacher Sarah Augustine was no traditional revivalist. Soft-spoken and intense, she held 1,000 people in the palm of her hand, and then—as I experienced it—she squeezed. She spoke of Jesus and his calling in Luke 4 to bring release to captives, sight to the blind (“And who are the blind?” she asked. “The church!” she answered.), and the year of the just reordering of creation. She spoke of her own hesitant and then strong calling to follow in Jesus’ radical way. And when she asked us if we shared that calling, my neck tightened. Looking around, I saw others hesitate before standing. When I/we finally rose, it was the most authentic altar call I’ve known. I will feel that summons to follow Jesus’ way of justice and love for years to come.
Finally, members of the planning team and of the Creation Care Task Force hunted for months to find a “big name” creation-care plenary speaker. Then it hit us: We say young people are the climate leaders, so maybe we don’t need an Al Gore-level speaker. Let’s trust younger people to carry the keynote. Sure enough, the three young climate leaders—all Episcopal, all under age 30, all lit with holy fire—lit a fire in the whole gathering. Their depth of knowledge and urgency penetrated the handwringing and weariness that often surround church talk about climate change. The sense of power and possibility only expanded when I met the six young Eco-justice Fellows for whom the festival served as a kickoff to a summer of learning, prayer, and activism. I feel hope for the future, because these younger leaders are pointing the way right now.
We have so many reasons to keep praying and anticipating revival. So many reasons to rewatch the plenaries and worship at www.episcopalchurch.org/its-all-about-love, to host a “Living Revival” small group, and to attend a “Festival Thursdays” webinar on 2nd Thursdays at 3 p.m. ET, where we’ll showcase the most compelling presenters from the festival.
So mark your calendar for Saturday, June 22, the churchwide revival that will kick off General Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. And next time the Spirit says, “Take a risk for the sake of the Gospel,” get a team, get the prayer wheel turning, and go for it.
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The Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers is canon to the presiding bishop for evangelism, reconciliation and creation care.