Family Reunion
Hi Church,
Have you ever been to a family reunion? The kind where uncles and aunts and cousins and 2nd cousins come out of the woodwork to gather together for a day or weekend? Maybe the reason everyone gathered was a celebration like a wedding or anniversary. Maybe it was a time of mourning and remembrance like a memorial service or funeral.
You might picture cringe-worthy moments where someone says the wrong thing or beautiful exchanges where forgiveness or acceptance is given to restore a relationship.
There could be family wounds and deep seeded troubles with one group while another group enjoys food and laughter. It’s a crazy mosaic, beautiful and chaotic all at once.
AND for the most part, if you are a member of the family by blood or marriage, YOU ARE WELCOME.
We know that one of the greatest expressions and examples of the Church is this idea of family. So much so that Jesus prayed to the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane – “what we had in heaven, give it to me so I can give it to them ”. The connection and strength of a healthy, fully known Family Relationship.
The current climate of culture would press you and I to forego connection and settle into our personal “camps” of belief. Forsaking the bonds of friendship, partnership and hopeful living in Jesus – for the shifting sands of being “right”. We understand the temptation and struggle to throw away “those people” that don’t agree with us. Heck, we don’t always agree as a leadership team 🙂
But in the context of family, there is a higher IDENTITY we can engage, a deeper connection we can pull on. You are grafted into the true vine, connected to strength and joy, surrounded by a cloud of witnesses and accepted into a spiritual family.
We believe you are family and can be family again this fall. So with Jesus’s leadership as our cornerstone we invite you to a Family Reunion beginning October 10th as we move our gatherings indoors and continue our online stream option as well.
Whatever the personal steps of responsibility may be for you, each of us will need to process what it looks like to get back into a room with a bunch of crazy family members.
For some it will be crossing the threshold of the lobby doors for the first time in weeks, months or years and sharing your smile again. For others it will be confronting larger group dynamics and grabbing a mask and spreading out. And for some it might look like rejoining a community group in a home and engaging online more.
We will be hosting two in-person gatherings on Sundays at 9am and 11am as well as a streaming online gathering. There will be kids ministry options during the 11am gathering. You are encouraged to continue to take personal precautions, including hand washing and keeping personal space while in our public gatherings, masks are also welcome.
And just like those wild family reunions mentioned above, everyone is WELCOME HERE.
Masks are welcome
Smiles are welcome
Worries and concerns are welcome
Joy and celebration are welcome
Lament and Sorrow are welcome
Disagreement is welcome
All the moms and dads and grandpas and grandmas and sons and daughters and sisters and brothers and aunts and uncles and cousins and 2nd cousins are welcome.
Because HE WELCOMED US and we join under HIS banner of family first!
See you soon!
– Andy
PS: Registration is not required.
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