Scott Landry asked me yesterday to describe what I think it would look like if we really did stand together at the corner of Moss Side and Westwood Avenues, unified in seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with God. I described a community culture where we know each other by name, where we know each other’s stories, and where we really do love others as we love ourselves.
Some in our community are dreaming of a weekly meal provided at no cost for anyone who wants to join us at the table–rich and poor, black and white, employed and unemployed, young and old. Others are already working weekly in the soil to harvest vegetables and share them with neighbors who come to Northminster for supplemental groceries. These are just a few ideas, dreams, examples of what it might look like.
What do you think? What does it look like to stand together as a different kind of community? The kind of place where we’re known for our love and care for others. Describe your vision in the comments section. We’re eager to hear from you!
Beth McMahon said
I think we already have a start on some of this. Seems to me that Northminster does well in accepting people as they are, and accepting a diverse group of people. We also do well with providing care to people who are in emergency/extreme situations. These are gifts of Northminster that continue to admire and be drawn to.
Where we seem to have a harder time is in sustaining relationships in the ordinary circumstances of life…just keeping up with each other, being involved in one another’s lives. I wonder if a lot of other church communities also find this difficult. Our culture pulls us in so many directions, and the faith community becomes just “one more thing.” We appreciate it when we’re there, but we have a lot of other places to be, also.
Beth McMahon said
Oops, left out a word:
These are gifts of Northminster that “I” continue to admire and be drawn to.
emlott said
That’s a good word, Beth. My desire is that the faith community is so formative that sometimes we then let go of some of the ways our culture pulls us. But maybe that’s not always realistic? Is that part of what you’re saying?
So maybe part of Scott’s question, what could it look like, is not just the larger brush strokes of diverse people gathering and caring for folks at the margins but the finer brush strokes of fellowship and community. Does that sound like a fair interpretation of your comment? If we’re painting this beautiful picture of God’s kingdom lived out at Northminster, then part of picture is in the dailyness of life.
And that always leads me to think about small groups. But those are often super inconvenient and truly can feel like one more thing in a busy schedule! At the same time, nothing has been more significant for me at Northminster than meeting weekly with a group of people to talk about life.
I could go on and on, but I won’t. Thanks for the thoughtful comment.