“Jesus called the twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff: no bread, no bag, no money in their belts, but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. They cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.” (Mark 6:7–13, NRSV)

Friends and Family,

Welcome to November!!! This year is about to go into the history books, and we are fixing to kick off a whole new year of shared ministry and mission in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, praise be to God. But we still have two months left, and they are going to be jam-packed with ministry, mission, work, but also Advent, Christmas, and New Year's!!!

First, the shared mission. According to Mark, Jesus gathered his Disciples, taught them, and when they were ready, sent them into the world to preach, teach, heal, and cast out demons. He stripped them down and sent them into a hostile world without money or security; they went in pure faith. As you all know, this month I am following Christ’s call into those same hostile lands as a witness of solidarity with our Christian Brothers and Sisters in the West Bank. I know folks have mixed feelings about this trip; some support it and some don’t, and we are entitled to our opinions. But this is a shared mission, because so many of you stepped up that the fundraising far exceeded what the trip needed. The extra $1,000 will be shared with the West Bank churches, missions, and people (A Mission Practice I love having the opportunity to do again). Friends, this is God’s work; thank you for sharing the journey with me.

When Jesus sent his Disciples out, they were still young in ministry, and this sending was training by fire. Jesus knew they would meet closed doors, so he taught them not to argue or fight, and not to carry rejection with them: shake off the dust and keep walking. That is how I go into the West Bank: no bag, no grudge, just open hands. And mission is not only dangerous trips overseas. While I am in the Middle East, you will be feeding the people of Montgomery at the food pantry. Again, shared mission together.

The most important part of shared mission, for Christ’s disciples or for the church today, is the relationships formed while working side by side. You have done this for centuries. The blessings come when we open that mission up: working with others, welcoming fresh hands, and dreaming new dreams of what God is calling us to do, individually and together. The hope and promise of tomorrow guide all Christian ministry.

While I am away, I will be praying for you all, and I ask the same in return. Praise be to God.

Peace in Christ,
Pastor Neill