Community Matters

 But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. - 1 Corinthians 12:25-26

Yesterday evening DSPC Family Ministries had one of our FX (Family Experience) nights at the church. It's an amazing concept and model of family ministry, but that's not why I'm writing about it today. The reason I had to write this post is because something remarkable happened last night, something that I haven't experienced in years. I felt the body of Christ reunited at DSPC. That's not to say that it's the first time the body of Christ has been united at DSPC since the pandemic, it's just the first time that I felt it.
Which is why I had to write; it was remarkable to feel the spirit of Christ in community. It gave me hope that I haven't felt in so long, it gave me energy even though I was exhausted, it gave me joy even though my heart has been often heavy.
It happened through the embodied and relational moments that have been suspended for so long. It happened because I saw more smiles that I could count. It  happened when we worshipped through song and service to others.
There have been a lot of awesome digital resources that have kept us connected when we needed to be apart, but those were not what we were created for. We were created for flesh and blood, hugs, and belly laughs. There is no substitute for the body of christ--embodied.
Which brings me to the heart of this post-- If you are longing for more community, more connectedness, more of what you were created for, it's out there. You need the body of Christ, and the body of Christ needs you. - Pastor Mitch