“The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering…” -Luke 3:15
Last fall, several women from my church invited me to a women’s retreat. Four of us shared a hotel room to cut down on cost. Being all in the nearly 50 something category we shared peri-menopause stories and laughed (and sometimes got a little teary) together about family life. The speaker that weekend was excellent, but memories of being community together are what my heart remembers.
Being in community isn’t necessarily easy. We don’t always agree. People sometimes cause great harm to one another. However, community can also be a place of great connection and a reminder that we as individuals are not the center of everything. At its best, church community calls us out of ourselves and into fellowship with other humans. Singing together, sharing our sorrows, and practicing acts of kindness for one another connect us in totally human and hopeful, healing ways.
This week make time to be intentionally present in your church community. Participating in regular church attendance is one way to faithfully practice the spiritual discipline of being community together.
As you have time this week, reflect on these questions:
What does the church community offer or not offer at different ages and stages of life?
In what ways have you consciously chosen to be part of a church community?
Is your connection different now compared to the past?
In what ways have you benefited from these connections?
When you attend church, does it help you to be more aware of the needs of others? If so, how? If not, why?
some comfort and joy 