Living in Community
The past few years, one of the things on my bucket list has been to see the giant sequoia trees at the Sierra Nevada mountains in California. These majestic trees can grow 350 feet tall. They are massively huge and strong. Yet their strength isn't from deep roots. Their strength comes from the many trees around them. Unable to survive alone.... ever, they grow in "tribes" or communities giving each of the trees around them strength and support.
The body of Christ is like that as well. Time invested with those around us provides strength and faith that empower us on our Christian walk. They help us solve life problems, find solutions, and empower Christ centric ideas. Inter-reliance on other believers challenges our independence, pointing us to the truth that we need others and we truly need Christ. If in our weakness, He is strong. It is in the community that our weakness is allowed to shine to His glory.
I celebrate the opportunity to be in community with you in the year ahead. As you evaluate how to best spend your time, I ask you to invest deeply in the faith community in your home, at UBC, at work and in your neighborhood. God makes a difference through you, and He makes you different as you invest in each of these areas.
If you are looking for next steps at UBC, I encourage you to join us on Sunday mornings at 9:30 for Enriched where our church community digs into applying the tenants of discipleship, healing and justice.
If you are looking to be discipled, I encourage you to join us on Wednesday nights at 6:30 for Renewal where we learn to walk in a deep faith, giving Christ the hurts, habits and hang-ups that separate us from Him.
And above all else, I encourage you to hold tightly to Christ, cling to His word and His people, take every opportunity to share your story of what God is doing. We are invited into His story that all might come to know and proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord!