I've had several experiences recently that have reminded me of the blessing of community. One was a conversation with a family that has recently been through a terrible loss. As we talked, they shared with me how incredibly blessed they have been by the community that God has placed around them. They have felt loved and supported beyond words by their family, their work community and their Rock Church community. I was honestly overwhelmed with emotion as they shared the stories of how they have been sustained by these communities as they have walked this difficult path.
The second experience was at my Sunday night life group. This is a group of young adults that we just formed less than six months ago. But at our Christmas gathering, as we went around and talked about the blessings in our lives, many in the group shared what a blessing it has been to have this place community. As we went through the evening, I realized that even though this group is much (much) younger than me, this has also become a place of community for me. And I was reminded that evening of what a blessing that has already become in my life.
The third experience happened recently in worship when I had the opportunity to connect with a friend that I had not really seen in quite a while. It brought me so much joy to see this person that it made me realize how much I have missed being together in person with the people I love. As wonderful a tool as the live stream is, and it really has been a great blessing during Covid, there is still something special about being together in person, in community.
It also struck me recently that in a little over a week it will have been a year since Nicole passed. As I look back on this first year without her I realize that the reason I have been able to carry on is because of the incredible community that God has blessed me with. I'm so thankful for all of you and so grateful for the blessing of community.
Community, particularly the community that comes from sharing life with brothers and sisters in Christ, is a gift and a blessing. I pray that we never take it for granted. In many ways, that community has been disrupted over the past two years. Over time, it has begun to be restored. But I look forward to the day when we can be restored to the blessing of community that is experienced when the body of Christ comes together fully.
I love you all,
Pastor Steve
You may have seen on the prayer chain that Jeff and Kassandra Tibbetts 3 month old baby Noah passed away last week. There will be calling hours for the family at Brookside Chapel in Plaistow this Saturday (Jan. 8) from 2 to 5 pm. There will be a Celebration of Life at the Rock Church in Plaistow on Tuesday (Jan. 11) at 5:00 pm. There will be a mercy meal at the church immediately after the service. If you would like to help with the meal, or donate any food items, please go to this sign-up sheet and let us know how you would like to help. This is a wonderful way for us to “be community.”