“Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” – 1 Corinthians 12:27
[Jesus said,] “Wherever two or three are gathered in my name, I’m there with them.” – Matthew 18:20
Church is something we do together. It’s something God does among us in community.
In my first year as a pastor, I visited a woman who was a longtime member of the church I was serving. She was homebound – unable to make it out for church anymore – and I was checking in to help her know that she was still loved and cared for by the church. After chatting for a while, she said, “You know, you don’t have to go to church to be a Christian. But, it sure helps.” After we laughed together, I asked her to tell me a little more about what she meant. She talked about how important worship was for feeding her faith – how praying and reading the Bible alone was important but experiencing Scripture and prayer and singing and all of that together with the people of her church made a much more profound impact. And then she said, “Following Jesus isn’t always easy. But when I get to be together with other people who are doing it too, it gives me the strength to be more faithful.”
We need each other – God has not created us to live alone. God has created us to partner together – with God and with one another – to join in the work of Jesus. And in order to do that, we need to be in relationship with each other. This is not just about making an impact in the world – which is a big deal – but it’s also about surviving. Community makes it possible to weather the ups and downs of life – to celebrate in seasons of joy and to endure in seasons of struggle.
That’s what church is meant to be. But we know it’s not always easy to get connected — to plug in and find your place. One of the great ways to build those essential relationships is by joining a smaller group: a Bible study, Sunday School class, or fellowship circle. Maybe that looks like “Party of 8,” where conversation and community is built around a shared meal. Or our upcoming groups exploring The Cup of Our Life for women or A Testament of Devotion for men. Or the upcoming study of the Social Principles of the United Methodist Church. Maybe it's a small group you feel called. If so, reach out, we’d love to imagine the possibilities with you.
My point is: church is more than just what we believe. It’s more than what we do. Church is a community – it’s something that we are, together.
God is at work in our world and in our community. Part of how God accomplishes that work is by drawing us together and then sending us out to join in the mission of love, mercy, justice, and hope. The church is at its best when we allow God to gather us in all our brilliant diversity — shaping us into a people who bridge divides and build relationships with those who we might never otherwise encounter. And when new people show up, that means being ready: to welcome them, listen to them, care about them, and make room at our tables. To draw the circle wider, so that everyone has a place.
I hope you’ll find ways to dive deeper into community at Williamsburg UMC in the weeks and months ahead. Maybe that’s serving at the Winter Shelter in November, welcoming others on Sunday morning as an usher or greeter, or carrying Communion to someone who can’t be with us in person - thus providing the community of which I write. It could be joining a small group or Bible study. It might be as simple as saying hello to someone in worship and inviting them out for coffee. Whatever it looks like, know that you don’t have to take the next step alone. Reach out to me, Pastor Madison, or Deacon Troy, and we’ll be glad to help you get connected.
Community is one of God’s greatest gifts. It’s at the heart of what it means to be the church, and it’s one of the richest blessings we can share with those who walk through our doors. My hope is that you’ll not only experience that gift deeply yourself, but also extend it generously to others — because life together is who we are, and who God calls us to be.
