It’s When We Share Life. Together.

 “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”  —Romans 12:15

Our recent United Methodist General Conference is history.

From April 24 -May 4, thanks to the live stream from Tampa, and on Twitter and Facebook, our every-four-year meeting has been at least running in the background while everything else has been going on.

Sometimes it was the focus of my attention.  Frequently these things can be discouraging.  I am not making any comment on it.

Instead, I want to highlight the richness of life that exists in the Body of Christ called the Church.

This weekend has been a delightful time for me with those people.  I hope that’s true for you, too.

In our own local part of the Body, we celebrated a Baptism with a family.

We gathered around The Lord’s Table for Holy Communion, clearly open to all.

Music and singing in a variety of  formats, including a Chris Tomlin song played powerfully on the pipe organ.

Scripture was read and we heard it proclaimed.

In Sunday School we learned together, and then in worship we celebrated our faithful Sunday School Teachers.

We remembered a US pilot, downed in 1942, whose remains were only recently discovered in England and laid to rest this weekend.  Our other pastor officiated at that significant event, and many from our congregation were there.

We shared God’s good gifts through tithes and offerings, including special offerings like Imagine No Malaria.

But there’s more.

What I really want to focus on is the shared life beyond structured times.

Let’s pull the camera in closer and notice:

+People laughing and hugging and sometimes even quietly crying together.

+A grandfatherly hand gently resting on the shoulder of a young daddy who looks exhausted as he holds his son, and the two men smile and nod at one another.

+Plans for lunch later this week.

+Three grade school kids helping get me and my wheelchair through the lobby.  Without crashing into people.

+Crayons being picked up.

+A tattooed young woman sliding over in the pew to make room for a couple, as he folds her walker.

+Plans for lunch later this week.

+Conversations about medical reports and surgeries.  Some good news, some bad news.  All shared openly and received respectfully.

+Talk about the weather, sports awards, and the Cardinals not missing Albert.

It’s good.  It’s alive.  It’s the church.

It’s when we share life.  Together.