At the center

The people who are helping to start Light of the World are teaching me some valuable things about planting new churches. Here's the most important one:

Trust how God works.

My shelf is full of books on how to start a new church. They are thick and full of good information, mostly. But I think I've learned the most from our people. They have taught me to concentrate on what's at the center. To trust how God works. Our church teaches that God's love and presence come to us in lots of ways, but God ALWAYS shows up in three ways:

1. When we hear God's word in the Bible.
2. When we receive Holy Communion.
3. When we gather in Jesus' name to listen to each other and support each other. (Martin Luther called that the mutual conversation and consolation of the saints.)

Our life together has focused on those three things. And you know what? God shows up! And people have been changed by God's love and presence. Lisa now drives Shelli's daughter to school every day. People are inviting others over for dinner. One parent is mentoring another through her teenager's battle with drug use. Kids are inviting each other to their birthday parties. You know what that is? It's God connecting us together. It's God forming us into a powerful community.

So, this Christmas season, when I'm shopping at Target, and I see that familiar red logo...

I'm going to use it to remind me about what's at the center. And I will thank God for how God is working among us.

Deb