Willingness to Have Community

You may have had the experience of being new to a church and staring at the bulletin, overwhelmed by dozens of different options.

Where do I start? How do I get connected? More often than not, getting connected at Memorial will involve your willingness to participate in a community group. In a world of God-shoppers and church-hoppers, churches and people can become just as much of a consumer product as the items we choose of a menu in a drive-thru. Jesus never intended his church to be a consumer product. He intended it to be a community we love and belong to. That requires us to intentionally limit our options.

In a fragmented, rushed and rootless culture, being willing to intentionally invest time and resources in community is a counter-cultural act.

We try to create a safe emotional space for anyone who wants to just show up and watch. At the same time, though, if you choose to stay on the fringe and merely show up Sunday mornings hoping to “get something out of it,” your experience at Memorial may be one of loneliness, and you may find your questions aren’t answered and your life doesn’t seem to be changing. Getting connected with God and other people is possible and good, but it will require a sacrifice of time, energy, and resources as you involve yourself in Christian community.