Dancing With Jesus

Friends, I am writing from San Francisco where I have been energized by renewing friendships and making new ones at our Global Episcopal Mission Network (GEMN) conference.

And yes, we have been dancing with Jesus.

The gathering has been at St. Gregory of Nyssa Church where a lovely mural depicts Jesus dancing with all kinds of saints - from St. Paul and St. Julian of Norwich to John Coltrane and Anne Frank.

In her homily for our opening worship, my deacon friend Robin, the Global Mission Advocate from the Diocese of New York, shared her experience of being drawn into the circle of worship on her first visit with church partners in Central Tanganyika. She realized worship was “not to be observed but to be entered into”, “not a performance but a shared current “ where all are flowing together in Christ, grounded yet free to move, connected to receive life from Jesus.

We have sung and danced to The Lord of the Dance (it’s in our Alleluia III songbook).

The theme of GEMN’s Missio 2026 “Rooted in Christ and Dancing God’s Dream” has revealed how beautifully interconnected we all are as we share the joy of Jesus across difference, in our backyard and in all corners of our world.

In Christ we live and move and have our being. We all share God’s dream of reconciliation, of restoring relationship with God and each other. And so the work for companionship, for justice and peace continues.

“Dance then, wherever you may be. I am the Lord of the Dance said He. I’ll lead you all wherever you may be. I’ll lead you all in the dance said He.”

Let’s keep dancing with Jesus!

Eastertide blessings, Judy Q