NOVEMBER: COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT
"Jesus is the center of our faith,
Christ-centered community is the center of our life,
and reconciliation is the center of our work."
Palmer Becker, August 5, 2005
Christ-centered community is the center of our life,
and reconciliation is the center of our work."
Palmer Becker, August 5, 2005
Concept:
“Christ-centered community is the center of our life.”
God created us to live in community, to support each other and share with each other. Throughout scripture, we see the many times the people are called to love one another and live an interdependent life. We live independently in our homes, but we as families also need interdependent support systems. And sometimes in adulthood, that is hard to find. This month is about understanding, being and finding that community of support.
(Photo by Rajiv Perara on Unsplash)
“Christ-centered community is the center of our life.”
God created us to live in community, to support each other and share with each other. Throughout scripture, we see the many times the people are called to love one another and live an interdependent life. We live independently in our homes, but we as families also need interdependent support systems. And sometimes in adulthood, that is hard to find. This month is about understanding, being and finding that community of support.
(Photo by Rajiv Perara on Unsplash)
Read It: Colossians 3:12-17
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Pray It: Jesus, help us to be friends and to find friends, and to know that we need each other. Amen.
Do It:
As a Family
Community meal - the goal of this is to help form some intentional bonds with people who can be your family’s interdependent community.
As Parents
We have our own adult needs for community and spirituality. Forming real and meaningful relationships in adulthood can be hard, especially if we don’t live close to family. Here are some ways to begin finding your people.
As a Family
Community meal - the goal of this is to help form some intentional bonds with people who can be your family’s interdependent community.
- Who are people that are part of your family’s support system? If you can’t name anyone, who are people you think have potential to be part of that support system?
- Invite this group of people your family has identified to gather with you (at your home or another setting) for a meal. Ask each person or household to bring part of the meal. Here’s an idea for a community taco salad meal.
- Thank everyone for being your community. Maybe read this month’s scripture passage. Pray a blessing for the meal together.
- After you eat, do some kind of activity that involves everyone, including the littlest ones. For example, you could go to a park and play with the children, or play games, build with blocks, or play with playdough
As Parents
We have our own adult needs for community and spirituality. Forming real and meaningful relationships in adulthood can be hard, especially if we don’t live close to family. Here are some ways to begin finding your people.
- Read Col 3:12-17. Notice this description of community. Finding your people is going to involve forgiving, putting up with each other, gratitude, Christ-likeness, and choosing to love. There’s a lot of humility involved in community! So take a deep breath and get ready to practice understanding, not getting annoyed quickly, and empathy.
- Finding your people doesn’t mean finding people who are just like you. In fact, if we’re going to be interdependent, we need a diversity of gifts and experiences. Identify people who are in different life stages or come from different backgrounds.
- It takes time to build trust. Be patient.
- Consistency helps. Ask someone to do something with you regularly for a period of time. For example, we once asked a couple of a different generation in our neighborhood to go on weekly walks with us for a couple of months. In those months, we forged a bond, and our households now have mutual support with each other.
- Take advantage of opportunities to get to know people at church. Bible studies, Sunday school classes, and fellowship meals are common examples. Your church may also have quilting groups, service groups, or other special interest groups.
- Serving in ministry is another great way to get to know others! Teach Sunday school, help with youth activities, play in a worship band, help set up for events, or clean up after fellowship meals.
- Take a deep breath, prepare for vulnerability, and invite someone to do something with you. This is hard. You can do it.
Explore It:
Most of us have benefitted from the joys of having meaningful friendships. But, I believe many of us have also longed for greater, more, or deeper friendships at various points in our lives. We may see our children struggle to feel confident and find friendships.
I’ve observed that most people, even those who appear to have it all together, have times when they feel inadequate or lack confidence to have the quality of friendships that they really desire.
Explore these (English) resources for inspiration:
Most of us have benefitted from the joys of having meaningful friendships. But, I believe many of us have also longed for greater, more, or deeper friendships at various points in our lives. We may see our children struggle to feel confident and find friendships.
I’ve observed that most people, even those who appear to have it all together, have times when they feel inadequate or lack confidence to have the quality of friendships that they really desire.
Explore these (English) resources for inspiration:
- How to grow and deepen new friendships
- 7 ways to help your kids make friendships
- How to help kids make friends: 12 evidence-based tips
