HELLO!

I look forward to seeing you on Sunday at 10 am. I feel very blessed to know so many who believe in community as an expression of faith. Being part of a community is a gift so many do not know, do not experience. You’ve heard me say, and write, how we have grown so much as communities in our understanding of difference, inclusion, going beyond tolerance and acceptance, living into celebrating a variety of cultures. I feel so privileged to live in these times. However, if there is one thing I feel is missing it is a sense of community, and more specifically, how there were institutions and events that would pull us out of our homes and into conversations with people we did not already know. It certainly felt then, people joined more, belonged to a variety of organizations, made friends with people from different neighbourhoods. And in those spaces were genuine conversations. The advent of personalized technological devices draws people away from one another, leaving us engaging information that reinforces prior assumptions. Unexpected opinions from unfamiliar voices, is something today we rarely exerpience.

I love how the spaces inside the glass front doors of the church have become a busy beehive of sharing, facilitated by our ushers. New faces, familiar faces, equally welcomed and celebrated. I sometimes deliberately stay in my office to hear this, lest I come out with HELLO! and draw people away from their organic conversations. If I hear something concerning, a pastoral need, or a question from a newcomer the ushers can’t answer (like, “Is one of the ministers around?”), I will immediately appear. The same is true for coffee hour, I like it when our community organically connects with each other. After I shake hands at the door, I look for persons who have challenges or are new to the church. I have seen ministers who go to coffee hour and talk to the same five people whom they know well. I can do that most weekdays at the church. My focus on Sundays is on those in need and those who are new.

One thing I love to do is introduce newcomers to familiar faces who are leading ministries at the church that interest someone who has just filled out the Newcomer form. “You were interested in the choir. There is a choir member right here!” I also hope those who sit/stand alone find someone to talk with, Jim Allen is especially good at that.

So I look forward to seeing you on Sunday as we build community.

Peace, Kevin