| Welcome to the First Baptist Church of Norwich 239 West Main Street Norwich, Connecticut Phone: 860-889-0369 |
Cal's Pastoral Epistles
"The Beloved Community"
May 26, 2010
I love the church. It has been a place of blessing for me and so many
others. I have watched God work miracles and change lives in and through
the ministry of the church. Yes we are flawed. We may not always have
our theology correct...but I believe God created the church as a vehicle to
spread his grace and love. A case in point happened this past week.
As I handed her the check, tears welled up in my eyes. It helped me
remember why I went into the ministry in the first place. Her son was sick
and needed a test that the insurance company had said they would not pay
for. When news got out to the church family, the response was
overwhelming. The love of Christ became tangible and real in that moment.
A few days later I walked into a hospital room and met a woman in tears.
The last month had been a living hell in her battle with cancer. The
treatments, the side-effects, and another stay in the hospital had gotten the
best of her. Clinging to the blanket that the church family had given her, we
prayed together. Suddenly, at least for a moment, the cloud of sorrow was
lifted. She knew she was not alone. God was with her. She pointed to the
blanket and told the social worker that it was a gift of love from her church
family.
I was reminded in both of these situations that it isn't always what you
know, but who you know, that matters. Jesus changes all things. That's
why the church is important. As a shy ten year old I got my first exposure
to the church. My parents had separated and my father made it a point to
bring me to church. In my mixed up, confused and broken world the
church became a safe haven. The people in that tiny congregation became
my family.
It was there that I first experienced the love of God. It came through the
smiling faces and encouraging words I met. I grew up among them. In
Sunday School and in worship services, I heard about God but it was in my
engagement with the beloved community that I met God. It changed my life.
Sometimes I think we get confused in the church. We get so caught up
in trying to understand the nuances of Scripture and arguing our own
particular understanding of a passage that we stop living the good news. In
our debates we become angry and spiteful and turn on one another. I don't
think that is what God had in mind when he called us "the body of Christ."
Don't get me wrong: Knowing Scripture is important but if we don't
embody what we profess then we are, in the words of the Apostle Paul,
nothing more than a noisy gong or clanging cymbal.
In the book of Acts we read that the early church was a place where
love was common and all believers shared what they had. It was a place
where God's love was made real. Everyone who came looking for hope
came to know Christ. Together the people learned about grace, rebirth and
discipleship. I praise God that I saw a glimpse of that this week. I saw the
beloved community at its best.
I was reminded of something else too. We are all a part of the beloved
community of the church. It happens when we bow before the throne of
grace and ask God to use us to share his love. The truth is that wonderful,
life changing moments happen and miracles abound when you and I offer
our lives to God. So what are you waiting for? Ask God to use you and you
will soon become a vehicle of his grace and love for someone in need and
you will be blessed as well.
God Bless. See you in church. Cal
May 26, 2010
I love the church. It has been a place of blessing for me and so many
others. I have watched God work miracles and change lives in and through
the ministry of the church. Yes we are flawed. We may not always have
our theology correct...but I believe God created the church as a vehicle to
spread his grace and love. A case in point happened this past week.
As I handed her the check, tears welled up in my eyes. It helped me
remember why I went into the ministry in the first place. Her son was sick
and needed a test that the insurance company had said they would not pay
for. When news got out to the church family, the response was
overwhelming. The love of Christ became tangible and real in that moment.
A few days later I walked into a hospital room and met a woman in tears.
The last month had been a living hell in her battle with cancer. The
treatments, the side-effects, and another stay in the hospital had gotten the
best of her. Clinging to the blanket that the church family had given her, we
prayed together. Suddenly, at least for a moment, the cloud of sorrow was
lifted. She knew she was not alone. God was with her. She pointed to the
blanket and told the social worker that it was a gift of love from her church
family.
I was reminded in both of these situations that it isn't always what you
know, but who you know, that matters. Jesus changes all things. That's
why the church is important. As a shy ten year old I got my first exposure
to the church. My parents had separated and my father made it a point to
bring me to church. In my mixed up, confused and broken world the
church became a safe haven. The people in that tiny congregation became
my family.
It was there that I first experienced the love of God. It came through the
smiling faces and encouraging words I met. I grew up among them. In
Sunday School and in worship services, I heard about God but it was in my
engagement with the beloved community that I met God. It changed my life.
Sometimes I think we get confused in the church. We get so caught up
in trying to understand the nuances of Scripture and arguing our own
particular understanding of a passage that we stop living the good news. In
our debates we become angry and spiteful and turn on one another. I don't
think that is what God had in mind when he called us "the body of Christ."
Don't get me wrong: Knowing Scripture is important but if we don't
embody what we profess then we are, in the words of the Apostle Paul,
nothing more than a noisy gong or clanging cymbal.
In the book of Acts we read that the early church was a place where
love was common and all believers shared what they had. It was a place
where God's love was made real. Everyone who came looking for hope
came to know Christ. Together the people learned about grace, rebirth and
discipleship. I praise God that I saw a glimpse of that this week. I saw the
beloved community at its best.
I was reminded of something else too. We are all a part of the beloved
community of the church. It happens when we bow before the throne of
grace and ask God to use us to share his love. The truth is that wonderful,
life changing moments happen and miracles abound when you and I offer
our lives to God. So what are you waiting for? Ask God to use you and you
will soon become a vehicle of his grace and love for someone in need and
you will be blessed as well.
God Bless. See you in church. Cal
Pastor Cal Lord writes these weekly epistles to
help us see God in every day things.
help us see God in every day things.
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |