The Power of Community

We were created to be in community as humans are very social beings.  We belong with one another rather than living and being in isolation.  God draws us into the church by the power of the Holy Spirit and equips us for service, worship and the growth of faith for the sake of a hurting and broken world. Sometimes that community of believers goes unnoticed, quietly doing its work week after week, helping, serving, assisting but never drawing much attention to itself.  But other times it draws people in to the process!  Either way, the community of faith is a source of great strength and encouragement for believers, especially in times of crisis or struggle when we need to band together and comfort one another or get something done.

Church Council Snapping Beans

Yesterday, the faithful of Trinity Lutheran Church in Monroeville, Ohio pulled off another community benefit.  This small church is so amazing!  Please don't ever suggest that there is something we cannot do because we will not listen!  We have relied on our faith and tenacity to do some pretty unbelievable things.  It's not just us though, the larger community is incredibly supportive as well!  The Firemen cooked the chickens and what an amazing job they did!  People came from miles away to eat the chicken dinners that were prepared, to sit and talk with Kim (for whom the benefit was held) and to linger for hours to make sure that enough money was raised for her upcoming eye surgery.  But before the actual event there were the behind the scenes series of steps that were taken to get the job done!  From the dream of "Can we do this?" to the shopping, prepping and cooking.  We had almost everyone single person in the church family working at something yesterday!  They baked pies, they cut pies and plated them up, they turned chicken on the fire pits, they snapped green beans (and lots of them thanks to my miscalculation of how many we would need!), they diced potatoes and shredded cabbage, they made crafts to sell and signs to put up all over town.  Local businesses and individuals who cared sent gifts for the auction and we exceeded our goal of $5000 by $2000 (thanks to Thrivent!).

Kim with her carry out sign.

The power of community is amazing, overwhelming, incredible, and Spirit filled.  These are the times when I feel the Spirit the most tangibly. . . like what I am doing, what we are doing, is making a difference in the world!  Kim will now be able to see clearly again soon. . . but I think something even more than eyesight may have happened for her and us as well!  Now, we are all in this together- every single one of us has a vested interest in her eyesight.  We can't wait until she can see us clearly again, and see the bulletin so she can sing her little heart out in worship!  And believe me, she will!  When she can see again, we will sing our hearts out as well- actually we do that every week- but it will be community joy when her eyesight is restored!

You could say that we are now bonded together for life: Kim, her husband Josh, and the TLC family.  Even if folks come and go, we will have this moment in our communal life to remember.  Isn't this a little glimpse of what Jesus was talking about when he urged his disciples to love their neighbor?  This kind of love bonds people together forever.  It cannot be forgotten very easily.  It pulls people together for a common purpose and strengthens their faith and resolve to get something important done-- and in a BIG way!

Huron River Joint FD and TLC folks cooking chicken.

I want to say thanks to everyone who helped to pull this off!  You are amazing and wonderful!  And keep the prayers ascending for Kim so that her surgery will be a success and that Christ's light will shine through her life continually as she witnesses to his loving, saving grace and mercy!