Community
Linda Soller | Sep 08, 2025
I spoke about friends last week and this week I want to talk about community. Defined in part as “a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.” You most likely have more than one community. Perhaps the first that comes to mind is the community in which you live. That very location can often times lead to other communities. Perhaps it includes where you work, where you play, but most certainly it includes where you worship. All of your communities build the person you are and can help build the person you are meant to be.
Our church is located in the heart of the town of Herndon. Construction started in 1900, but the community of believers had formed years before. It’s very existence illustrates groups working together to support the goals of the individuals. This past week our church community reached out once again to the wider population by opening our doors to an art class. Watercolor painting to be exact. Nine students attended and at least four stated they had always wanted to come inside our church. All loved the classroom, the light, the convenience. It was good to hear. More importantly they felt comfortable, welcomed, safe, and happy as they left. This small group of people are a part of a bigger art community. Their experience in our church was positive, resulting in one community supporting another. They were not preached to or hit up for donations. They were welcomed to share our building in support of their interest. As simple as that. It’s a form of outreach where the goal is not to acquire warm bodies, but to share God’s gifts.
This week as the cooler early fall temperatures embrace us perhaps you can take a minute to embrace your communities. How can you be a support to others who share your interests, need your gifts, or want to know more about God? They may not know exactly what they need, but they most likely know they need community. Could you be the start of something that brings someone comfort, or joy, or the sense of safety? Could you help someone learn, or develop their own skills? Could you simply be a friend who connects someone to the community they need?
Be strong in the Lord and be kind!
Linda
