I've missed you! It was a wonderful, restful, and productive time away, but I am super excited to be back with you in worship this weekend. I'm going to be continuing our summer preaching series called Building Christian Community that was started so effectively by Beth Paz, Jameson White, Pastor Lana, and H. Spees. I hope you are going to be here.
One of the joys of my return has been to hear updates on our Community Building Initiative. I am so grateful for the way that God is at work among us. What a privilege for us to participate with Him in His work. I am also grateful for your participation in our first phase of Community Groups. Launching something like Community Groups is different than participating in many other kinds of church programs. Most traditional church programs are already packaged and ready to deliver when you walk in the door to participate. But these Community Groups aren't like that (as you've probably noticed); we can only build them together.
Building something together requires patience and sacrifice. It requires patience because each particular gathering during the summer may not be the most spectacular and life-changing gathering you've ever attended. It requires patience because there will be times along the way when you wonder if you are building something worthwhile. It requires patience because relationships take time. And, it requires sacrifice because it may not always go the way you think it should. It requires sacrifice because Christian community takes some work. It requires sacrifice because, in the end, Community Groups are more about others than they are about us.
There are only two on-campus Community Group gatherings left this summer (this Sunday and August 10). On August 3 we'll be enjoying another all church meal after worship. And on August 17 (the last day of our summer worship schedule), Community Groups will be meeting in various locations around the city. So, beloved, let's keep building together! Surely God is at work in us as we joyfully engage together in Christ's work.
I can't help but get excited when I think about the possibilities of what could happen in the next phase of our Community Groups (inter-generational relationship, Gospel transformation in our neighborhoods, leadership development, your non-Christian friends being found in Christ, Christian growth ...). I'm praying that God continues to fill us with hope for His future.
Blessings,
Jeremy Vaccaro
Posted by
