Life of the Church.

For the past almost three years, I have been in charge of sending out an (almost) weekly e-Bulletin to CCfB’s members and friends. This includes our praise and prayer, and news and birthdays, reminders of upcoming events. For the purpose of compiling this, I write down all of the things expressed during the period of our service each week that we call ‘Life of the Church’…of the LoC for short. On the pages of my notebooks and calendars and random sheets of paper tucked in, I carry with me our history. Trials and triumphs, worries and elations. The processes of time that have led us to where we are today. I sometimes flip through the pages to see the work the Lord has done in us. It is a beautiful sight.

If you have anything you’d like to us to add to the list, please let us know. You can post it in the comments, or e-mail it to us at info@christschurchforbrooklyn.org. Peace be with you.

The Learning Curve of Community

Like the Island of Misfit Toys, we are quirky… but we are complete.

Last Sunday, Jen Thweatt-Bates challenged us that when God comes to us, He does not require that we negate who we are.  While there are images of rebirth, metaphors of the old man becoming new, and promises of a “new creation” throughout scripture, we must never mistake that Christ in any way seeks to change us because of a fatal flaw he’s recently found in his creation.

In fact, it’s probably even accurate to say that Christ doesn’t make us a “new” creation as much as he makes us a “complete” creation – a fuller, richer, more complete version of who we already were.

What does that mean for our community at CCfB?  It means that just as Christ loves us as we were created, so we love each other.  It means we understand that acceptance does not always mean agreement.  It means we welcome diversity because diversity breeds growth. It means we require no person to deny or negate their history, their identity, or their traditions in order to be a part of our community.

This Sunday Jennie will lead us in a discussion about where we’ve come from – both as individuals and as a church – and how that will/should guide where Christ’s Church for Brooklyn is headed in the year(s) to come.

Jennie is preparing for this Sunday, and you should be too.  Come to church ready to not only share some of your history, but also help define the future identity of Christ’s Church for Brooklyn.

-b