Except - Kelley Barton

Last Sunday’s message from Shannon Fernando was a completely different way of looking at 2 Kings 4: 1-7 for me and the concept of “empty jars” that God can fill for us. I loved how Shannon guided us to focus on the “except” portion of the woman’s reply to Elisha.

Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?”

“Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.”

2 Kings 4:2 NIV

 I am 67 years old and at the stage in my life where some of my lifelong friends have moved away. Some need a less expensive place to retire. Others want to be closer to family, especially grandkids. It can be tough to have those empty jars. Except…..

 …I have City Church. In 2023 we visited City Church because I had heard Bill and Brenna speak at a conference, like what they shared and decided to give it a try. We were immediately drawn to the “radically welcoming” and LGBTQ+ friendly, non-shaming vibe.

 As we continued to attend, volunteer and participate in events beyond Sunday mornings, I found City Church was the “except” to my empty jars. I started to make friends. Not just casual acquaintances, but those who will go on a walk with me to dive deeper into our lives, hopes and struggles. People who ask me to go to a concert or have dinner.

 On Monday, as I walking with my dog, I spotted the Mom of a friend of my oldest son who I had not talked to in over a decade. In fact, I had passed her recently and waved casually, but nothing more. This time I knew I had to connect.

 “We know each other, right”?, I asked her. She remembered me and we started catching up on our lives and our sons.

 And then she mentioned her empty jars. The same ones I have had. I told her about my “except”, only I didn’t use that phrase.

 I mentioned how City Church had helped me make new friendships, to fill the gap for those who have moved away. I told her it was affirming and how that suited us, with all the LGBTQ people in our lives that we love.

 She surprised me when she told me she was looking for a church she could go to with one of her sons, who is Gay. I texted her the link to the website after we parted ways and suggested she check out the youtube channel first, but to let me know if she decides to visit in person.

 I came home floating a bit, so filled with joy that I belong to a church and community that I can be proud of, that can help so many. That can fill the empty jars of others.

 What empty jars do you have that City Church is filling? I hope you will share that experience with people you run into. Because you never know when they might have the same empty jars. And maybe they will find City Church can be their “except…”