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 THE GREAT CAMPAIGN

It's 2008, and as we head into autumn we are gearing up for what all expect to be an exciting and engaging campaign season.

But don't think I'm referring to that little contest between Mr. Obama and Mr. McCain, as important as such elections are for our country. I'm talking about the larger campaign that has to do with "that heavenly country" we call the kingdom of God. This is the campaign the Church engages as it lives the Gospel and shares the Good News in such a way that "the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under [Christ's] most gracious rule." (from the Collect for Christ the King Sunday)

"The Great Campaign" is the theme of this year's Parish Life Sunday, September 7, the annual kick-off of our educational and ministry year. The campaign theme was chosen in an attempt to have a little fun with our nation's electoral season, while at the same time reminding the parish of a serious reality: that men and women all around us are making other "electoral" decisions-"casting their votes," as it were, for an even larger contest: whether or not to live their lives with Christ as their Lord and Savior and King.

With Parish Life Sunday comes a couple of concrete opportunities to take our place in this Great Campaign. Specifically, we at St. John's have the opportunity to live out two other "greats" that we have received from our Lord.

First, there's the Great Commandment. If you recall, Jesus summarized the Law when he said, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind" (St. Matthew 22:37), and these words have everything to do with the Christian Education we offer at St. John's. We put our hearts, souls, and-note this word!-minds to work in loving God, and this implies study, coming to know and love God more and more through his revealed Word. This fall, such educational opportunities abound, and I hope you will look over all that is offered on pages 6 and 7. It doesn't matter what you do, but please do something this year to go deeper in your discipleship of Christ. According to the Great Commandment, we won't even know how to love our neighbor unless we love God first, and this means engaging our hearts, souls, and minds.

Secondly, Jesus gave us the Great Commission: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit..." (St. Matthew 28:19) On Parish Life Sunday, you will hear more about an exciting opportunity we have to answer this call at St. John's. It is a program called Harvest, the heart of which is a community effort to invite our unchurched neighbors to join us for worship. Many parishes in our diocese have employed the Harvest program with amazing success, and I anticipate wonderful results as we put it into action here at St. John's.

As we all know, Jesus taught his disciples to pray, "Thy kingdom come." Those are easy words to pray, but have you ever wondered how it's supposed to happen? Have you ever pondered how this "Great Campaign" of the kingdom is carried out so that Christ's rule becomes a reality "on earth as it is in heaven"? I contend that the kingdom comes when the Church is obedient to both the Great Commandment and the Great Commission: when we become a community that reflects the love of God within, with doors and hearts wide open to those outside. This fall, we have an amazing opportunity to grow in both directions: first in our love for God in heart, soul, and mind through Christian Education, and then by going out with the Gospel and making disciples with the help of the Harvest program. Together, these two "greats" combine to make one Great Campaign.

So, elect to get involved! Parish Life Sunday is September 7. You will find more information about that day on page 3.

Affectionately yours in Christ