Community Conversation @ Northminster

Where is community?  What is community?  How does community form?  How is community practiced? What is the difference in community as a noun and community as almost something of a verb?  A physical community–a neighborhood, a context.  A spiritual community–a congregation, a small group.  Is it easy or difficult to agree on definitions?

Is it okay for small groups to not include everyone?  By their very definition, they are small and not large. What keeps these groups from becoming exclusive?  How can the strength of community found in small groups be carried over to a larger sense of community within the large group that gathers for worship on Sunday?

These are some of the questions being raised in the comments sections.  I thought there was enough activity to warrant a separate post.  What has your experience been in a small group?  Why do you participate?  Why do you not participate?  How do we foster a sense of unity among our community in order to stand together as an anointed movement of anybodies continuing the work of Christ?

Thanks to everyone who was present on Sunday for the second combined worship service of the summer. Our series continued with a look at what it means to partner with God in the anointed work of preaching good news to the poor, healing the sick, and setting the captive free. The notes are available here for anyone who missed the service or for those of you who want a refresher.

Don’t forget that our 2nd Family Movie Night of the summer is coming up on Friday, July 18 at 6:00 p.m.  April and Kyle Kennedy designed this ticket to promote the movie.  Feel free to print copies and pass them out to friends, neighbors, and family.  This is a great opportunity for us to get to know each other better as we welcome a wide range of friends from our neighborhood for dinner and a movie.

For those of you out there who would really like to study on your own, here are some resources.  First, the manuscript from the first message in the series.  Second, the resource sheet for the first two weeks of the Upside Down series.  Third, an article from GQ magazine recommended by Kyle Kennedy.  And if that’s still not enough, the scripture for tomorrow is Isaiah 61 with some highlights in Luke 4.

 An important element of walking together is practicing hospitality together.  Mark your calendar now for Friday, July 18 @ 6:00 p.m.  Plan to bring friends and family for our second Family Movie Night of the summer.  Be prepared to discover what family looks like at Northminster Church.  Who are we as a family community?  Who is it that God is calling to this place?  Grab a slice of pizza, enjoy some conversation, then sit back and watch a movie.  It’s a great new summer tradition at Northminster.

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!

As promised, here’s our online space to continue our look at Life in the Upside Down Kingdom.  Below are some of the scripture references from Sunday.  What are your first thoughts?  What does it mean for us as a community to seek justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God?  I look forward to reading your comments soon!

Ps. 37.28, For the LORD loves the just 
and will not forsake his faithful ones.  They will be protected forever, 
but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off;

Gen. 18.19, For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.”

Deut. 27.19, “Cursed is the man who withholds justice from the alien, the fatherless or the widow.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”

Jer. 22.3, This is what the LORD says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of his oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the alien, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place.

Prov. 28.5, Evil men do not understand justice, 
but those who seek the LORD understand it fully.