I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. (John 15:11-12)
I address this convention of the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire in the name of the One, Holy, and Living God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
So that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. Joy.
Could it be that the whole point of the Gospel message, the whole goal, vision, and purpose of the Church, the entire motivation of our ministry and mission, the reason for a Diocesan Council, a Vestry or Bishop’s Committee, an altar guild, a bible study, a fierce conversation about being hurt or causing hurt, a building committee, Commission on Ministry, elections, resolutions, and yes, even a Diocesan Convention is that the joy that is in Jesus may be in you and me, and that our joy may be complete, made perfect, resilient, astounding?