Musings Along Lifes Way: Our Church's Vision and Mission
Warm and welcoming, dynamic and diverse, we come together with open arms.
This statement moves to the heart of who we are as a church. This statement tells us who we are and who we are becoming. Following Jesus' lead, we want to keep our doors open to all. This spirit of welcome is caught in the words, "Warm and welcoming." By God's grace we think of ourselves as a people of welcome. Our arms are open as we welcome all. With all of the United Church of Christ we often repeat, No matter who you are, no matter where you are on life's journey, you're welcome here.
These words take us deeper. When you look at Jesus' life, you see that he lived and breathed gracious hospitality. Even though there were powerful people who opposed Jesus' extravagant welcome, he always embraced those who were often shunned. In the reign of God that Jesus spoke of, he declared there is room for all—children (Luke 18:15-17) and those who are hungry, thirsty, homeless, ill, poor, grieving, persecuted, and in prison (Matthew 25: 31-46 and Luke 6:20-26). Jesus put faith and hospitality together: "Whoever receives one whom I send receives me" and those who received Jesus, embraced God (John 13:20).
Our warm and welcoming attitude is the foundation of our togetherness. Our welcome makes us a diverse community. As God embraces all, so do we and guess what? There are more of us and we are different, wonderfully so. There is a dynamism as different people come together. Energy and life is created as we come together. Something new is born in community.
Our welcome is all about coming together with open arms. In the resulting community we discover that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. That is, as we are together, as our hearts are open and warm, as we bless our diversity, we find ourselves in a profound expression of community; we are a church whose one foundation is Christ. Christ is in our midst. But, that's for another day. For now:
Warm and welcoming, dynamic and diverse, we come together with open arms.
Blessings, David
This statement moves to the heart of who we are as a church. This statement tells us who we are and who we are becoming. Following Jesus' lead, we want to keep our doors open to all. This spirit of welcome is caught in the words, "Warm and welcoming." By God's grace we think of ourselves as a people of welcome. Our arms are open as we welcome all. With all of the United Church of Christ we often repeat, No matter who you are, no matter where you are on life's journey, you're welcome here.
These words take us deeper. When you look at Jesus' life, you see that he lived and breathed gracious hospitality. Even though there were powerful people who opposed Jesus' extravagant welcome, he always embraced those who were often shunned. In the reign of God that Jesus spoke of, he declared there is room for all—children (Luke 18:15-17) and those who are hungry, thirsty, homeless, ill, poor, grieving, persecuted, and in prison (Matthew 25: 31-46 and Luke 6:20-26). Jesus put faith and hospitality together: "Whoever receives one whom I send receives me" and those who received Jesus, embraced God (John 13:20).
Our warm and welcoming attitude is the foundation of our togetherness. Our welcome makes us a diverse community. As God embraces all, so do we and guess what? There are more of us and we are different, wonderfully so. There is a dynamism as different people come together. Energy and life is created as we come together. Something new is born in community.
Our welcome is all about coming together with open arms. In the resulting community we discover that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. That is, as we are together, as our hearts are open and warm, as we bless our diversity, we find ourselves in a profound expression of community; we are a church whose one foundation is Christ. Christ is in our midst. But, that's for another day. For now:
Warm and welcoming, dynamic and diverse, we come together with open arms.
Blessings, David
posted by Online Coordinator at Wednesday, October 17, 2007
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