One day last Spring, I was in the church office on an ordinary weekday. A young man came in to the building. He was visiting a friend in the area and had seen our rainbow flag as he was driving by. He told me with tears in his eyes that he didn’t think he’d ever see a religious community where he would be welcome. He thanked us.It was odd to receive such heartfelt thanks--I felt like we hadn't done anything.
That brief, surprising connection showed me the power of our presence. The presence of our faith community makes a difference in Marysville and beyond.
Of course, when we stop to think about it, we know what this church means to us. We know that it is a deep joy that we have a community where we belong. We are deeply grateful for the support, love, and encouragement of our church friends. We thrive on messages of God’s love and hope that keep our eyes up and our hearts strong and tender. We know that, without this faith community, our lives would not be complete.
Do we realize that the presence of this kind of community is a message of hope for others? It is. It’s not an overpowering message blaring in our ears, like the relentless stream of noise we’re used to in our world. It’s a quiet message, but it’s strong, and when people are ready to hear it, we are there with a welcome invitation.
This is who we are, friends. This is our story. We tell it every day in hundreds of different ways. We tell it in ways that are unique to each individual. We tell it when we share meals, text prayers, tie knots, make repairs, offer reflections, join our voices together. Every little act of faith is telling God’s story, which is the story of belonging. You belong. You are not alone. You are loved as you are.You have a place in a community of love so powerful it can change the world.
We know we need our church, but our world needs it also.Everyone is longing to hear a true story of powerful love.How will you tell this story?
