From the Rev. Diana Peters
Community
It’s a concept that we’ve almost forgotten in this day and age. But there was a day, and not so long ago, that community wasn’t just a nice idea, it was a matter of survival. A community was a network of support that helped each member get through the rough spots. It was there for you when tragedy struck or when there was a joyful event to celebrate. Being in community meant that you belonged somewhere, that you shared certain common issues, goals, and dreams with a body of like-minded people. Community meant that there was always someone on whom you could depend.
The early church was like that. Read the book of Acts to see how the early Christians pooled all their possessions and supported each other through all kinds of persecutions. Paul writes about the way the wider church supported the “saints in Jerusalem,” who were experiencing hard times. And in John’s gospel, we meet a community of Believers who banded together to support each other after they were cast out of the synagogues and often shunned by their families and former friends.
Here at Intercession there is a real sense of community. Or more accurately, a sense of two communities: the 8:00 community and the 10:30 community. Every now and then, we come together and are pretty much all strangers to us. It’s kind of a shame, if you think about it. Don’t you wish there was something we could do about it?
Well, maybe there is! This summer, we’re launching a “Unite the Community” drive. To do that, we’re making a lot of plans that are designed to help you know all of your Intercession brothers and sisters in Christ – not just the ones at your favorite service. Here are some of the plans:
Go to one service for the summer: We’ll begin the summer schedule the first Sunday after Pentecost, June 19th (Father’s Day). Church will start at 9:15, exactly half way between 8:00 and 10:30. And if you serve in some capacity in the service, you’ll be sharing your job with counterparts from another time zone – how fun is that!
We’re taking “Mix-em-up Pix” during coffee hour. We want to see 8:00 and 10:30 folks together having a great time. And to help you remember who’s who, we’ll label the pictures with names and post them so you can remember your new summer friends.
Choir and Ensemble opportunities: Haven’t you wanted to sing with a choir but there wasn’t one at your service? Or don’t you wish you could have a really “different” experience with music with new voices, new instruments, and new types of praise music? Well, being together will give us the opportunity to try out new things, and it’s only for the summer so you don’t have to make a long term commitment!
And that’s just the beginning! More ideas are bubbling up as I write this, and you may be getting inspired this very moment! With church ending earlier, we might plan some fun after-church outings, or have a picnic, or – well, let your imagination run wild! And then share your ideas with Diana, Don, or Jane!
After all, we are all in this together! Let’s unite this community and share the love of Christ!
