by Justin Clemente

"Hit it where they ain't." That's good advice in baseball, but also, perhaps, in outreach.

At New Creation Church in Hagerstown, MD, we delight to be the church in unexpected places. Just recently on Saturday, June 12, we had the opportunity to go into the Interstate Wine Festival, a regional event that attracts thousands of people each year. We sign up as a non-profit vendor and bring a flyer that simply asks the question, "What's the Best Wine Ever Made?"

Our approach in events like this is to bring something that connects the gospel directly to the event itself. This one wasn't hard. Here, we invited people to consider the first public miracle of our Lord: the Wedding at Cana. Here, Jesus reveals himself as the Lord of the Feast - the Lord of Joy! Simply put, our wine always runs out; the joy always ends and falls short. But, at great cost to himself, Jesus came to bring the unfailing joy of the Kingdom of God. His invitation stands for all! You know, when we simply "get out" into these unexpected places, what we'll find, time and time again, is that the Holy Spirit is already there - wooing sinners to the Savior, and at work in peoples' lives. Let's join him there in mission!

The Rev. Justin Clemente is the Founding Planter & Parish Priest at New Creation Church in Hagerstown, MD.