[This reflection was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 15/May/2022]
Last weekend we had a birthday party for three people in my family who had special birthdays – we were celebrating a 90th, a 70th and a 60th!! It was such a special time – gorgeous weather, delicious food, birthday balloons and live music. But what made it really special was that, due to Covid, it was the first time in nearly three years, we as a family, were all together again. It had been so long since we were able to share hugs, love and laughter, and the memories of the wonderful time it was, will stay in our hearts always.
The next day was a Sunday, and as I got ready for church, I felt a happy sense of anticipation at seeing everyone at church. When I arrived, there was a real buzz about the place, as we all chatted over coffee (I love that we have coffee before church as well as after, because it seems to relax us all, and adds something special to the whole experience).
The birthday party was special because we are family – there is a common bond through our history and our blood-ties. When we gather as church, we too have a shared history as we look back over many years of doing church together. And we share blood-ties through our faith in Jesus, and the blood he shed in order for us to be part of his family.
I feel so blessed to have deep relationships within my church family, and I sense that God is calling us to go deeper still, both with him and with each other. I want that, because it’s only through deep relationship with each other, that we will care and be cared for, and learn from each other as we grow in faith and our shared love.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.
Matthew 22:37-40
We are family in every sense of the word, through Jesus Christ, our Saviour, Lord, Father and friend. The world will know we are his disciples by our love for one another[1].
[1] John 13-34-35
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Contributed by Lesley Edwards; © the Author
