“And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)
The author of Hebrews exhorts that we be mindful and intentional in meeting and seeing each other as Christian. For the people in a church community, there are so many opportunities for us to meet. To meet together is to support the community of faith by “our presence”, the second of the five commitments we make with one another when we join the church and when we welcome a new member into the membership covenant of the United Methodist Church. When we support the church with our presence, we attend worship, we gather to pray, to study, to be in fellowship with one another. To be present is a way of “conferencing” in John Wesley’s words. It is considered a means of grace, similar to the way God nurtures and strengthens us when we pray, read Scripture, take the Lord’s Supper.
Sometimes, our lives are so busy that the only thing we need is to be alone. However, this might be the time we need the community of faith the most, to be strengthened, supported, and provided care. If you have been away from worship and desire fellowship with others in the faith community, I encourage you to come back to worship, pray, and take part in the many fellowship events at Chapel Hill; such as, Prayer Walks, Sunday School for young couples, Soul Sister’s (our Women’s group), Lenten Study, just to name a few. Our faith story is the story of a God who’s self-giving presence and intervention calls us and forms us to be a community in response. Let us not give up the teaching that gives life and meaning, even today when our culture and society tells us otherwise.
Rev. Mai Le
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