March 2008

G.R.A.C.E. News:

Intentional Community Sightings

From Nancy Stevens

A couple of summers ago, our youth group went on a mission trip to Canadaigua, NY. One of the things the leaders asked us to do everyday was to look for “God Sightings.” These were to be in people, places, or moments we shared together as we served.

In September I began talking about our life here at FPC as being a place of “intentional community.” The more I serve with you in the life of our church, I realize that as I simply look around me, I see my own sightings– “intentional community” sightings, which, at their core, are God sightings. As I sit here reflecting on the sighting I will highlight here, I am not only moved to tears, but also know there are really no words to capture the moment….but, here it goes.

A few Sundays ago, my day began like any other busy Sunday morning. Setting up breakfast for the “power team” (the youth ministry team), and Breakfast and Bible for the Junior and Senior Highs, making sure the acolytes were in place for the service and generally running around the building in a hurry because somebody needed something. I hurried down the hallway towards my office and my attention was immediately diverted. As I passed the library, for some reason I turned my head to look in. What I saw not only redirected my steps, but it was one of those moments where God has your attention. Seriously, a burning bush would not have grabbed me any more. There sat an older male member of our congregation, a confirmand mentor, talking with one of our young men going through confirmation. Now, I am not trying to say anyone is old here, especially since I know this gentleman is reading this article, but the age difference is at least 60 years.

The age difference was not the only thing that got my attention; it was the obvious depth of the conversation. There, at a table in the library, with no Starbucks, no candy, no drink, no Ipod, no visible form of entertainment, sat two individuals whose only common bond was Jesus. And Jesus was all they needed. I found myself staring a bit at what I was witnessing, and they didn’t even notice. I have been accused of being the sentimental one, but this was a moment that completely took my breath away.

Suddenly, a culmination of all I have heard my entire Christian life about what community can be was living right before my eyes. These were two individuals, immersed in the details of one another’s lives without regard to their difference in age, background, or generation. One young man, learning life lessons from an elder and gaining a perspective on how you follow Jesus your entire life. No, Jesus does not provide all of the answers to life’s problems, but He sure does place people in your path to help guide you along the way.

This particular encounter reminds me of the fact that “intentional community” will be lived out, much like God’s will will be accomplished. The question is whether we will be involved or not. We can sit back and let other people be a part of community, or we can actually become a part of it as well. You see, becoming a part of community is God’s will for each and every one of us. Knowing that is the easy part, actually doing something about it is not as easy.

Of course, no great accomplishment is easy; it takes a conscious effort of devoting time, love and energy. There are more ways to be involved than becoming a mentor for a confirmation student. You can become a part of intentional community in another area of our church’s ministry other than youth ministry, but have you? If you believe, as we do, that our younger generation needs your love and wisdom, and we need their passion and energy, you can come have dinner with us on youth fellowship nights, help in the kitchen, bake a dessert, play board games, teach our juniors and seniors how to change the oil in their car, teach our teens self-defense, quilting, or ballroom dancing, teach Sunday school, or any other gift you would like to share. The important part is not the actual skill or talent itself, but the relationship formed between the generations.

There is another intentional community sighting I would like to mention, and that was when our youth also got to experience being with the Golden Age Ministry a few weeks ago for board games. The teens who came loved it even though we all got beat in Scrabble. Relationships were built that afternoon that would not take place anywhere else but in “intentional community.” Now when we see these Golden Age Ministry members at church on Sunday mornings, we know their names and have a special memory to share.

How all of us would benefit just from following the examples already set for us. “Intentional Community” is already being lived here. Don’t you want to become a part of it? It is no coincidence that you have read this through to the end. Now, will you respond and become a part, or simply leave it up to someone else?

YOUTH CALENDAR

Sunday, March 2             G.R.A.C.E. Youth Fellowship, 4:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 9             Special Passion Stations for Youth Fellowship 4:30 to 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, March 16, 23      No Youth Fellowship

Sunday, March 23           6:30 a.m. Easter Sunrise Service led by confirmands

                                          Easter Breakfast, 7:30 a.m.

Saturday, March 29         Mulch Delivery

Sunday, March 30           G.R.A.C.E. Youth Fellowship, 4:30 p.m.