COMMUNITY...AGAIN

Last Wednesday, I joined Bettilyn to deliver Meals on Wheels lunch.  We were one of three teams of volunteers from First United Church to provide that service to people all over the city.  I'm a relative rookie at Meals on Wheels; I've only been delivering for a couple of years, while others have been doing it for decades.  It's a good way to really get to know the streets of the city.  It's an even better way to gain a full understanding of what people need.

On the surface, when Bettilyn and I show up at someone's home with their lunch, what we provide is a balanced meal...nutrition.  That's important - we all need proper food in order to maintain our health.  If I dig a bit deeper though, I sense that something else is going on when we stop by with lunch.    Bettilyn does most of the actual delivery and at each location, she spends a few minutes chatting with Joe or Dorothy or Elizabeth - the people who rely on our deliveries.  As a meal tray is handed over, personal connections are made.

Bettilyn hears about how their day is going, what's new in their lives, how they are feeling.  For a short period of time, a community connection is formed.  I suspect that connection is as important to each person as getting lunch is.

Community is important to us at First United too.  There are lots of reasons I come to church on Sunday morning and they all fit under the umbrella of community.  We are a community of faith; we are a community of disciples; we are a community of servants; we are a community of seekers, a community of friends, and, we are a community of individuals who need to ground ourselves in connections in order to flourish and be healthy.  For those of us who are wounded in some way (aren't we all?), our healing happens best in community. 

Consider this: whether you find community in a small group at a card table, in a circle knitting and praying, in a choir singing hymns, in a sanctuary sharing age-old stories or in a gymnasium sipping a cup of tea - being in relationship with others is a powerful force in our lives. 

We might believe we can do without it...maybe you can...but I can't.  That's the best reason for church.

May you be blessed in the community you need.

Pat

Take This Thought Away With You

"People live ever more lonely lives

 in an ever more connected planet."

~ Yuval Noah Harari, 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, 2018 ~

A Week's Worth of Gratitude

Saturday ~ an occasional cooling breeze

Sunday ~ fresh skies

Monday ~ Ginger

Tuesday ~ hard working church folks

Wednesday ~ Meals on Wheels

Thursday ~ cousin Diane

Friday ~ Henry VIII