Each week, I end worship saying, “Go out and be the church.” Because these words have such profound meaning to me, this has been my usual way of ending worship for at least a decade.
To be the church is the calling of our lives. To stand as followers of Jesus in the world, at our jobs, with our families, in times of crisis, celebration and need, is our calling – you and I are called to be the church.
One pastor wrote: “Church is what you do. Church is who are. Church is the human outworking of the person of Jesus Christ. Let’s not go to church, let’s be the church.” –Hybels
This week we begin a new series, Rooted. We will be talking about what it means to be the church together and why, even in the midst of all of its brokenness, church is where we belong.
Like you, I have a mixed history with the church. The church has let me down, it has hurt me, & it has caused me doubt my faith. But the church has also taught me the way of Jesus, it has lifted me up when I was in grief, it has given me hope for living. The Church is a beautiful and broken gathering of people who are far from perfect but who come together to imperfectly live the life of faith together. And even though I have been hurt and disappointed, I cannot turn from what God has done and will continue to do through his Church.
If you are reading this and you haven’t been to church in a while, I invite you to come this week. I invite you to give the church another try.
Watch this week’s Facebook video here.
See you Sunday, Pastor Nicole