Friday Morning Worship – Mary Roth

Worship on Friday began with a bit more energy than the usual sleepy-eyed mornings, perhaps a carry over from Thursday night’s joint worship session.  But more likely it was the excitement surrounding the morning’s speaker, Shane Claiborne.  Over the past few years, Claiborne has gained widespread attention through his books, Jesus For President and The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical.  However, his appeal is shown more obviously through his intentional, alternative way of living. 

Claiborne shared his powerful testimony of God’s calling in his life and his passion for serving others.  Right out of college and seminary, Claiborne started a New Monastic community, The Simple Way, which reaches out to the marginalized and homeless in inner city Philadelphia.  He also spoke of his years working alongside Mother Theresa in Calcutta, India.  The piece from the morning that really stuck with me was when Claiborne asked, “What if Jesus really meant what he said?”

~ by berkeyavenue on July 24, 2009.