Attachment to Community
It has been too long since my last post and frankly I'm not really sure where to start or what to even write about. So bare with me as I unpack the last couple of months and some ideas/themes that have been running through my head.
In February, I lead the Valley youth group to Winterfest in Gatlinburg TN. This was the first big event I have organized and it was certainly an adventure, but it was a lot of fun. The theme this year was WATCH and all of the speakers did a fantastic job but there was one specific lesson that really stood out to me. They were talking about how much we as believers need the church.
We are not meant to walk this journey alone, we are meant to do it supported and surrounded by community. We are meant to learn from those who are older than us and you know what? We may(and probably will) learn from those who are younger than us as well. we are to mentor those who are younger than us, and we are to be their for one another when we slip or fall. We NEED the church, and all ages of the church to be strong and to learn from one another.
The Bible is chalk full of examples of how we are created to join in community with one another. Even the relationship between Father, Son, and Holy spirit is an example of community.
Winterfest was just the start of my thinking more deeply about this idea of community.
This semester at RC I am taking Theology of Ministry and this idea of community is a large theme within the course.
Here are just a few of the many examples of God showing us the importance of community:
-The very first book of the Bible; Genesis 2:18, "Then the Lord God said, 'it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner". BOOM! Community
-The whole creation story is an example of God's desire for relationship with us and with the world. Before the fall he even walked with Adam and Eve in the garden.
-Hebrews 10:24-25, "And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
and there are many other examples, the bottom line is that community is an important part of being a Christ follower.
During spring break, a few weeks ago, I went on Campus Ministry's annual Urban Plunge trip. On the trip we went to Detroit and helped with many different ministries and outreaches in the area of Detroit. It was an amazing trip and I could write a whole blog just on that, but there were two major themes of the trip that I continually saw. Love and Community.
Creating community and relationships was a focus of every place we went. We went to JJ's House which is a foster home and they are also working on renovating their basement into a women's transition home. In both of those ways that they are ministering, they are creating relationships that are meaningful and restorative.
Earthworks of Detroit creates community through educating and service.
My Brother's Keeper creates community through hospitality.
And Hope House Detroit's biggest focus is community building.
On our last day at Hope House several of us went to their "read around the block" program. We were asked what some of our favorite childhood books were so they could try to get them from the library for us to read to the children. The book I named was the only one they were able to find, so I read it aloud to the children.
The book I chose was Stone Soup.
Now, I had never thought much about it being one of my favorites, but while I was reading it I realized something. Stone Soup is a book about community. It's about 3 strangers that go into a town and bring the town together by having everybody bring what they could to the table(or pot of soup).
I never realized it, but God placed this desire for community and community building within me from the time I was a child. Stone Soup was always one of my favorites and now I know why: it's all about community.
If you want to know more about my plan/desire for community building you can read my "Dreams From a Shack" blog.
I am continually being reminded and shown by God what His plan for my life is. All I know right now is that no matter what I do, it will involve community.
In February, I lead the Valley youth group to Winterfest in Gatlinburg TN. This was the first big event I have organized and it was certainly an adventure, but it was a lot of fun. The theme this year was WATCH and all of the speakers did a fantastic job but there was one specific lesson that really stood out to me. They were talking about how much we as believers need the church.
We are not meant to walk this journey alone, we are meant to do it supported and surrounded by community. We are meant to learn from those who are older than us and you know what? We may(and probably will) learn from those who are younger than us as well. we are to mentor those who are younger than us, and we are to be their for one another when we slip or fall. We NEED the church, and all ages of the church to be strong and to learn from one another.
The Bible is chalk full of examples of how we are created to join in community with one another. Even the relationship between Father, Son, and Holy spirit is an example of community.
Winterfest was just the start of my thinking more deeply about this idea of community.
This semester at RC I am taking Theology of Ministry and this idea of community is a large theme within the course.
Here are just a few of the many examples of God showing us the importance of community:
-The very first book of the Bible; Genesis 2:18, "Then the Lord God said, 'it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner". BOOM! Community
-The whole creation story is an example of God's desire for relationship with us and with the world. Before the fall he even walked with Adam and Eve in the garden.
-Hebrews 10:24-25, "And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
and there are many other examples, the bottom line is that community is an important part of being a Christ follower.
During spring break, a few weeks ago, I went on Campus Ministry's annual Urban Plunge trip. On the trip we went to Detroit and helped with many different ministries and outreaches in the area of Detroit. It was an amazing trip and I could write a whole blog just on that, but there were two major themes of the trip that I continually saw. Love and Community.
Creating community and relationships was a focus of every place we went. We went to JJ's House which is a foster home and they are also working on renovating their basement into a women's transition home. In both of those ways that they are ministering, they are creating relationships that are meaningful and restorative.
Earthworks of Detroit creates community through educating and service.
My Brother's Keeper creates community through hospitality.
And Hope House Detroit's biggest focus is community building.
On our last day at Hope House several of us went to their "read around the block" program. We were asked what some of our favorite childhood books were so they could try to get them from the library for us to read to the children. The book I named was the only one they were able to find, so I read it aloud to the children.
The book I chose was Stone Soup.
Now, I had never thought much about it being one of my favorites, but while I was reading it I realized something. Stone Soup is a book about community. It's about 3 strangers that go into a town and bring the town together by having everybody bring what they could to the table(or pot of soup).
I never realized it, but God placed this desire for community and community building within me from the time I was a child. Stone Soup was always one of my favorites and now I know why: it's all about community.
If you want to know more about my plan/desire for community building you can read my "Dreams From a Shack" blog.
I am continually being reminded and shown by God what His plan for my life is. All I know right now is that no matter what I do, it will involve community.
For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all. therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live, might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them.
2 Corinthians 5:13-15
Comments
Post a Comment