This past Sunday, I met with some of our youth over ice cream to brainstorm for the next program year. I asked them if they desired a space where they could share about their lives with others. (Because that’s my hope!) One of our teens said yes, but that she would feel more open to doing that if she felt like she knew the group more. That was such an honest and real answer.
Sometimes I can be quick to make an assumption that just because it’s church, people will naturally want to share their lives with another. But as our wise teen noted, it’s easier to do that with some built-up trust and relationship first! As beautiful as our Sunday worship is together, that is just one opportunity of many to grow in friendship with one another. Our staff have met throughout this summer with a desire to have more intentional offerings in this next program year for community building. Whether that is through joining a Faith Circle (small groups launching this fall), a book group with other parents (talk to Bryn!), group theological study (Education for Ministry), sharing a meal at Midweek, serving together (St. Luke’s, The Dwelling Place, or The Malden Warming Center), or demographic-specific gatherings (parents, young adults, youth), there’s something for everyone.
Our hope is that you would consider sharing your life with this community in new ways this next year. Barbara Brown Taylor once said, “in our embodied life together, the words of our doctrines take on flesh.” We actually practice and grow in our faith in the ways we are in community together. And as Pauli Murray said, “The marks of a community of faith are communion, participation, mutual trust, sharing, and fellowship.” In our society which is getting more and more isolated, it is an act of resistance to build community and share life with one another. Jesus certainly modeled that in his life.
Friends, let’s be church to one another this next year!
With gratitude,
Rev. Janelle
