Building Community Through Meetup Groups
Dear Church,
As we begin our fall Meetup groups, I am reminded of an old song I used to sing in church as a child, based on Psalm 133:
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for the brethren to dwell together in unity, in unity, to dwell in unity, la la la, la la la.
As I write this, I am chuckling to myself that we sang the word unity so many times in the chorus, perhaps as a reminder that it does not feel particularly good or pleasant when we are not feeling unified.
The truth is this, my friends: if we want to be a genuine community, we will have moments of great closeness and care for one another, and we will also have times when unity takes a little more work to find. Unity does not mean sameness or constant agreement. It means choosing to remain in relationship, to listen, and to continue learning how to love one another.
Community is a key component of our faith. Our OSC T-shirts this year say it all: Community is Resistance! This is true not only in our greater world, but within our own lives. Community can bring out the best in us. It can also reveal the places where our fears, assumptions, and unresolved issues are coloring our relationships.
In this modern information age, we can sometimes resist the sweet, slow, and yes, occasionally difficult work of community, even while longing for someone to know us, see us, and want our company. In my own life, I find that it can be easier to create a program, prepare a lesson, or plan an event than to take the time to listen and allow what I hear to shape what I do and how we minister together at OSC.
Relationships are not simply the work we do before ministry begins. Relationship itself is ministry. And this ministry does not belong only to our staff or church leaders. It is an invitation for all of us to care for and be cared for by one another.
This fall, I pray that you will place community at the forefront of your mind. If you are not already in a Meetup, join one. Introduce yourself to someone you do not yet know. Listen with curiosity. Allow another person’s experience to deepen or even change your understanding. Let us root our volunteer efforts, ministry teams, teaching, and faith in the slow and sacred work of knowing one another.
For behold, how good and pleasant it is when we truly learn to dwell together in unity.
With love,
Rev. Jenell