Dear Caldwell,
What do you think of when you hear the word “community?”
That word came up several times in a rich conversation at Theology on Tap last night and it will be a central idea in Evie’s message on Sunday. We might think of it as the “word of the week” as we travel from Sunday to Sunday.
Community has many meanings. I first think about our city, the community that is made up of our neighborhoods, organizations, houses of faith, history, culture, our shared future and the common good that binds us. But “community” isn’t just defined by geography, and our church is a good example of that. We come from two states, multiple counties, about ten zip codes. Our community at Caldwell is defined and gathered by our faith – the particular way we live out certain ideas, values, beliefs, convictions and concerns.
The Caldwell community evades easy labels, doesn’t it? We are not a “family church,” where community is shaped mostly by a few powerful families. Nor are we a “program church” community that offers a never-ending buffet of choices for consumer-Christians. We try to be more missional than attractional in our ministries. We practice evangelism (spreading the “good news” of God’s reign in the here and now) as much, or more, by deed as by word. We are in many ways imperfect, to be sure, but what I see here is a group of people earnestly seeking to be in authentic relationship – joy, warts and all – and to act out of that sense of community in the broader community.
We have several chances to be community in the days to come. In particular, Friday’s Caldwell Celebrates dance is a highlight that comes around only so often. I hope you can make it and will bring a friend. It can be a great introduction to what it’s like to be a part of this family, one in which everyone dances with everyone else, fun is not an afterthought and joy is palpable as we seek to bear witness to God’s love. Then, on Sunday, we “practice community” in yet another way – by trouping off to Blue Branch Presbyterian Church to step back in time and honor the faith of those enslaved Americans who kept their faith amidst unimageanable hardship.
But, as I’ve said, community isn’t just about us. It shouldn’t be. In these Eastertide days, we are reminded of the stories in the Book of Acts – how Jesus’ followers practiced koinonia community. They stood apart from the mainstream, secular culture. They provided an alternative witness by sharing, living in unity and valuing those things that Christ valued – peace, justice, love, discipleship, inclusion, humility.
Whatever you are facing this week, know that you belong to a community in which you are valued, loved and called.
In Christ,
John