This past Saturday our church had our annual neighborhood Christmas party with cake, music, hospitality, love, cookies, clowns, Santa, and a free toy for every child because the toy was either donated or money given. We celebrated Jesus and we celebrated a diverse neighborhood.
As people were leaving over and over I heard “thank you,” “Merry Christmas,” as well as hugs were given across racial lines. Person to person, kindness to kindness, smile to smile. Neighborhood boys from the local school were handing out candy canes to the children as well as stuffed animals. Another youth group made gift bags for other neighbors and come the following Tuesday morning we’ll be together again worshipping God, listening to one another and being a helping community.
com·mu·ni·ty
1. a social group of any size whose members reside in a specific locality, share government, and often have a common cultural and historical heritage.
2. a locality inhabited by such a group.
3. a social, religious, occupational, or other group sharing common characteristics or interests and perceived or perceiving itself as distinct in some respect from the larger society within which it exists (usually preceded by the ): the business community; the community of scholars.
4. a group of associated nations sharing common interests or a common heritage: the community of Western Europe.
When I consider community I wonder which we see. Is it #1, #2, #3, or #4? If I would venture my sociological insight – #4. Why? Because we come from many backgrounds, sub-cultures, interests, economic and religious, sexual orientations and fellowship together under one purpose – the love of Christ that motivates one group to serve and offer received grace to others who in turn return that grace to the other group.
I experienced this today.
