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Writing the pop-up book

When I was planting my church, I threatened at least four dozen times to write a book “about all you people” (my beloved church members). Or to get us on reality T.V. Something about sharing the life of faith seems to magnify our otherwise benign quirks. After about the fifth time he’d heard me threaten to tell all, my friend Goose perked up.

“I couldn't agree more Priestess. People need to know about all the holy chaos that goes on here at The Abbey. I know this girl in Savannah who does illustrations. I could put you in touch with her.”

No. This was not going to be a picture book. It was going to be a very serious book - a treatise on the art of church planting in diverse, urban neighborhoods.

Goose made a face at me over his shoulder and gave his sassy shrug. “Oh no, Priestess, don’t you get on your high horse. This book’s gonna have pictures. It might even be a pop-up book.”

Sparkling moments

If we could just remain attentive, I’m convinced we’d see the whole world sparkle with the brilliance of God.

God can get awfully mischievous when I let down my guard. He certainly won’t stay put where I think I’ve agreed to leave him. Goose was right about the story of The Abbey being a pop-up book. God sure pops up out of nowhere - behind, in front of, between and in situations and people I’d never have expected. And there’s nothing - I repeat, nothing - God seems to like better than popping up outside the confines of the church. Sometimes in spite of the church.

I would like to offer you some pop-up stories from my ministry as an Episcopal Church Planter and from my five years as the Presiding Bishop’s Staff Officer for Church Planting.

Some of these will be narrative, some will be observations, and hopefully a few of both will be prophetic. I am an Asian American, female priest in a white-dominant church denomination - one of many that is in a steady state of decline. I believe that diversity - of people and of faith expression - are a key to a thriving future for the church I love. I am not always convinced we will get there.

Many of my stories are funny (because God is like that) and some are sad (because God is also like that). I offer them to you because they are experiences that have helped me see more vividly how God has been present over the last decade of my life and ministry. Each one was a gift to me.

I am grateful for your accompaniment on this journey!

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