The Blessings of Unity in Community

 

Ever considered how the word community is spelled c-o-m-m-U-N-I-T-Y. Unity in community - true for us in our faith community at Mt Tabor?

 

One Sunday before service started, Harry and I were talking about our faith journeys: the churches we had attended over 70 some years, the different denominations in different parts of the country and the reasons for those choices we made. Harry surmised that it really wasn’t the theology; it was the community! And I couldn’t agree more.

 

The Psalmist in chapter 133 declared “How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!

 

The writer in the Christ in our Home devotional described it this way:

 

“One of the greatest blessings of being part of a faith community is the relationships we establish over the years. We worship together, laugh together, grieve together, and support one another through the challenges of life. Through all the ups and downs and differences, we show the world how people of differing views and personalities can live and function as a community that has a warm and welcoming heart. Paul in Philippians offers the possibility that diverse humans can come together in community and actually worship and work toward something larger than ourselves.

 

We are at our best when we strive to love one another unconditionally, share each other’s stories, go the distance with one another, and help each other stand when we feel we cannot do so alone. Together, we have learned we need one another, and because of the bond of the faith community, we are never alone. We are blessed by the presence of both Christ in our midst and the Christ we can see in each other.

 

It is this Christ-presence that teaches us how to live together in grace.”

 

In this season of Thanksgiving, I am so very very grateful for the unity of community I feel at Mt. Tabor. Thanks be to God! ~Becki Kaiser