Comments on: The challenge of building Christian community http://lambofgodnj.org/blogs/black-dwarf/uncategorized/the-challenge-of-building-christian-community/ Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:48:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Vincent Dahmen http://lambofgodnj.org/blogs/black-dwarf/uncategorized/the-challenge-of-building-christian-community/comment-page-1/#comment-326 Vincent Dahmen Mon, 21 May 2007 00:08:55 +0000 http://www.lambofgodnj.org/blogs/gods-garage/the-challenge-of-building-christian-community/#comment-326 I am not sure if my comments are appropriate or not but here goes. If they are not just consider them the ramblings of an old man. I agree hospitality is a way to build community. But it is not the only way. Working together can really create bonds. Some of my fondest memories at Lamb are of hard, difficult work I did with other people from the church. Something happens when you get through a difficult task together. There is a connection created that will always be there. I not just talking about manual labor like working on the church property, although that is a good one. There are all sorts of things. There was a group of us that went regularly to visit Junior when he was in Kessler. Some real bonds were created in the process of caring for the guy. People like Phyllis, Maura, my wife and myself connected as a result of visiting Junior. It was hard to be there and comfort him but we did it. In some ways this reminds me of dating. I believe one of the purposes of dating someone is to get to know them by doing things together. I may be dating myself here (no pun intended), but a guy thing when I was dating was to take your date to the fun house at the amusement park. (Do they have them anymore?) Anyway, if she gets really scared she will hold onto you and like you more. I always thought this was an urban myth but I am not so sure anymore. How many times do you hear of two people who survive a plane crash or some other frightening experience together and wind up married. It was the difficult event they went through together that bonded them. Now I am not suggesting we all crash in a plane together, or get shipwrecked together just to build community. What I am saying is hospitality is one way, working together is another. By the way we were all very touched by the broken and damaged bodies of patients at Kessler. Other patients near Junior would hear us talking to him and wanted us to talk to them. They are immobile, desperate and many without hope. Someone could have a ministry visiting paralyzed people at Kessler who don't get many visitors. Do that with a group of people from church and I guarantee you will connect. I am not sure if my comments are appropriate or not but here goes. If they are not just consider them the ramblings of an old man. I agree hospitality is a way to build community. But it is not the only way. Working together can really create bonds. Some of my fondest memories at Lamb are of hard, difficult work I did with other people from the church. Something happens when you get through a difficult task together. There is a connection created that will always be there. I not just talking about manual labor like working on the church property, although that is a good one. There are all sorts of things. There was a group of us that went regularly to visit Junior when he was in Kessler. Some real bonds were created in the process of caring for the guy. People like Phyllis, Maura, my wife and myself connected as a result of visiting Junior. It was hard to be there and comfort him but we did it. In some ways this reminds me of dating. I believe one of the purposes of dating someone is to get to know them by doing things together. I may be dating myself here (no pun intended), but a guy thing when I was dating was to take your date to the fun house at the amusement park. (Do they have them anymore?) Anyway, if she gets really scared she will hold onto you and like you more. I always thought this was an urban myth but I am not so sure anymore. How many times do you hear of two people who survive a plane crash or some other frightening experience together and wind up married. It was the difficult event they went through together that bonded them. Now I am not suggesting we all crash in a plane together, or get shipwrecked together just to build community. What I am saying is hospitality is one way, working together is another. By the way we were all very touched by the broken and damaged bodies of patients at Kessler. Other patients near Junior would hear us talking to him and wanted us to talk to them. They are immobile, desperate and many without hope. Someone could have a ministry visiting paralyzed people at Kessler who don’t get many visitors. Do that with a group of people from church and I guarantee you will connect.

]]> By: Kevin Houk http://lambofgodnj.org/blogs/black-dwarf/uncategorized/the-challenge-of-building-christian-community/comment-page-1/#comment-325 Kevin Houk Sun, 20 May 2007 19:16:13 +0000 http://www.lambofgodnj.org/blogs/gods-garage/the-challenge-of-building-christian-community/#comment-325 Vicki, Here's a funny scenario... in the last 10-15 years, "community" has become a buzz-word in Christendom, but while lots of talk has happened about the idea, very few of us know how to be a part of a community. I love your thought of having dinner parties. Who doesn't like a chance to chat over a good meal? But I suspect these are only starting points. I think it was John Lennon who said something to the effect of "life is what happens while we are making other plans." Community is a bit like this as well, I believe. Community is what happens when people very self-consciously choose to be interested in others' lives in addition to their own (maybe even more than their own - Philipians 2). Maybe through dinner parties I might get to know someone enough to invite them along to run errands. Or I might trust them enough to admit that I need help with my yard. Or I might drop some groceries by their house because ShopRite was having a two-for-one sale. These are merely examples to say that building community is more mundane than magical. The Holy Spirit often works in the most humble of other-centered actions. I have found myself trying to pray more consistently for my "community." Some people I know specifically how to pray for them and can intercede with boldness on their behalf. Many others I am left praying more general prayers because I have not dropped groceries by their house or given them a call recently or had them over for dinner. My bad. But I am hopeful that God uses small acts to grow his body together and prepares us to minister more significantly to each other when illness hits or marriages are shaken, etc. There is a very loose group of people that eat together on Sunday nights. If you show up at 87 Fair St. in East Orange around 6:30 or 7pm, I'm sure you'll find some admittedly broken people trying to be Jesus' body to one another. You and others are welcome to come join the picnic, too. Vicki,
Here’s a funny scenario… in the last 10-15 years, “community” has become a buzz-word in Christendom, but while lots of talk has happened about the idea, very few of us know how to be a part of a community. I love your thought of having dinner parties. Who doesn’t like a chance to chat over a good meal? But I suspect these are only starting points.

I think it was John Lennon who said something to the effect of “life is what happens while we are making other plans.” Community is a bit like this as well, I believe. Community is what happens when people very self-consciously choose to be interested in others’ lives in addition to their own (maybe even more than their own – Philipians 2). Maybe through dinner parties I might get to know someone enough to invite them along to run errands. Or I might trust them enough to admit that I need help with my yard. Or I might drop some groceries by their house because ShopRite was having a two-for-one sale. These are merely examples to say that building community is more mundane than magical. The Holy Spirit often works in the most humble of other-centered actions.

I have found myself trying to pray more consistently for my “community.” Some people I know specifically how to pray for them and can intercede with boldness on their behalf. Many others I am left praying more general prayers because I have not dropped groceries by their house or given them a call recently or had them over for dinner. My bad. But I am hopeful that God uses small acts to grow his body together and prepares us to minister more significantly to each other when illness hits or marriages are shaken, etc.

There is a very loose group of people that eat together on Sunday nights. If you show up at 87 Fair St. in East Orange around 6:30 or 7pm, I’m sure you’ll find some admittedly broken people trying to be Jesus’ body to one another. You and others are welcome to come join the picnic, too.

]]> By: papacarchy http://lambofgodnj.org/blogs/black-dwarf/uncategorized/the-challenge-of-building-christian-community/comment-page-1/#comment-324 papacarchy Sat, 19 May 2007 17:24:29 +0000 http://www.lambofgodnj.org/blogs/gods-garage/the-challenge-of-building-christian-community/#comment-324 Vicki raises a good question... Can others comment? I will respond at some point... but I would love to hear from others... Vicki raises a good question… Can others comment? I will respond at some point… but I would love to hear from others…

]]> By: Vicki Russo http://lambofgodnj.org/blogs/black-dwarf/uncategorized/the-challenge-of-building-christian-community/comment-page-1/#comment-323 Vicki Russo Sat, 19 May 2007 15:30:20 +0000 http://www.lambofgodnj.org/blogs/gods-garage/the-challenge-of-building-christian-community/#comment-323 How do you encourage us to achieve this goal? Have dinner parties and enjoy our fellow church members socially. Maybe our church members could have potluck dinners once a month and move it to each others homes? Being a new participant at this church, I feel everyone's warmth and friendliness but not sure how to build personal relationships. I am attending the retreat in June and am hoping this may open doors for me to others. How do you encourage us to achieve this goal? Have dinner parties and enjoy our fellow church members socially. Maybe our church members could have potluck dinners once a month and move it to each others homes? Being a new participant at this church, I feel everyone’s warmth and friendliness but not sure how to build personal relationships. I am attending the retreat in June and am hoping this may open doors for me to others.

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