“The Blessings of Belonging” was the title and the tenor last Sunday’s sermon. I leaned hard into these two undeniably positive words and followed Paul’s soul stirring strategy of tying them together. Blessings – those things in life that we are fortunate to possess, participate in, experience, or have bestowed upon us without a hint of entitlement. Belonging – being significantly united with people by virtue of ideals, interests, pursuits, convictions, community, and family. The linking of the two is especially powerful, beautiful, and life giving. This is especially true of one’s faithful, intentional, consistent connection with a congregation. On Sunday, we saw some beautiful pictures of that.
It was a joy to see Stella Long enter the waters of baptism. It’s been a while since I have seen a young person do so with more conviction and joy. Like many of us, Stella was “Raised in the Temple.” Her parents Kevin and Allison saw to that, as they did with her siblings. She has lived her young life connected to countless extended FBC family members who have made sure she knew just how much she is loved. Loved by Jesus. Loved by the people of this church. Stella knows that. And she feels that. Those stirrings of head and heart compelled to make the good confession that “Jesus is Lord” and be baptized as a symbol blessed belonging. And she bore that wet witness before the two families in which she holds clear kinship; her own and all of us. It was a beautiful thing.
We also saw and heard from our high school graduates. Kate Lowe called us to worship, with parents and grandparents beaming. Harrison Murphy spoke of how the missionally minded youth ministry of FBC helped shape his values and sense of purpose and direction. And Kayley Phelps gave us a peek into her faith journey by sharing with her church that she has recognized God’s call on her life to prepare for vocational ministry. Those things, friends, are signs of a healthy church and student ministry. Crossmain was full of students and their parents. Fellow students drove great distances to be here Sunday, not willing to miss the chance to affirm their friends. These things do not happen in a vacuum. They happen in community. Blessing as byproduct of belonging is, again, a beautiful thing.
And while we are a congratulatory mood, let’s not forget the college and graduate degrees conferred on many of our own and our extended families. I saw a lot of those on social media this week. I especially want to shine some light on the newly minted Dr. Ashli Crocker Lamons and Dr. Emily Simpson. Welcome to the club.
This coming Sunday, we will experience yet more signs of such sacred things as we dedicate young Matthew Charles. His parents Jean-Smith and Missole, along with daughters Matthania and Dara, have become treasured members of our church family. Their story is a touching one, and their belonging here has truly been a blessing, to them and more to us.
In a world where faith grows less important and more individualistic, it is good to see reminders of what commitment to authentic Christian community looks like. We honor the blessings of belonging because, well, they are so honorable. And as I often say, “What you honor, you cultivate.” And there is nothing this pastor loves to see, and would like to see more of, than that.
Glen