Dear Rose Park,
The Little League World Series is in full effect right now. The full tournament is scheduled to run from August 19-29 in Williamsport, PA. It’s a dream of every little leaguer to play in Lamade Stadium under the bright lights and on the biggest stage. I can remember playing Little League at Maplewood Ball Diamonds on 35th & College. Some of my greatest memories as a child are filled with sliding into second base and getting a hot-dog after the game.
Throughout the years, Little League has recognized, with great awareness, the impact that it is making is far beyond the ball diamond. Here’s an excerpt directly off their website: Little League® Baseball and Softball is played in approximately 6,500 communities across more than 80 countries around the world, but regardless of where they are played, each of them share the same core mission. Little League believes in the power of youth baseball and softball to teach life lessons that build stronger individuals and communities. Joined together by one common goal, every local league is part of One Team. One Little League.
One Team. One Little League. It seems paramount in our culture of hyper-competition and comparison, that we teach and model a sense of unity to the next generation. Little League is championing that despite their differences in demographics all little leaguers are still apart of One Team. One Little League. In other words, whether this is in the classroom, the athletic field, or even the church we must find common ground for respect, charity, and hospitality to move forward. In the Church, our common ground has been and will always be Jesus, and Jesus is enough common ground to move forward.
Our denomination, like many denominations, is preparing for change regarding specific structures and stances. I hope and pray these changes are fruitful for the greater Kingdom of God and not an opportunity for further fractures and divisions. I also hope and pray that we do not fall into the temptation to believe that it will be our choices and decisions that finally unite the church; unity will only come through what Jesus has done and continues to do through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Though there are a multitude of churches in our denomination, spread throughout the country and world, let us continue to strive for unity through the person of Jesus, or as the Apostle Paul wrote: be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
One body. One Spirit. One Lord. One Faith. One Baptism. One God and Father of all.
One Team. One Little League.
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Mark