Pastoral Reflection on this Year’s Ministry Theme

Family of God: Belonging

Last year, our prayer and desire was to practice Welcoming. Post-Covid, our muscles were still weak. So, we prayed and practiced. And, God heard and acted! 

I have heard from several visitors–new residents to summer interns–that our community has been a place of intentional, joyful welcome. Praise God! 

As we approached our larger theme of “Family of God” for this ministry year, in the Spring, our leaders began to reflect on what they have seen and heard, seeking the Lord for vision for the upcoming year. That prayer and discussion led to one word: Belonging. That everyone in our community would view themselves not as newcomers or oldcomers but as Belongers. A “first born” child in God’s family; an indispensable part of Christ’s body; a seeker invited into the family circle.

We are in a cultural moment–even within the Church–where tremendous force is seeking to pull the Family of God apart. Political allegiance, cultural righteousness, even horrible violence have triggered heated debates and division among Christians. Taking up the weapons of the world (gossip, marginalizing, hatred) in an effort to fight flesh and blood (the opposition). More than ever we need to prioritize what is priority–the historic, intercultural, global Kingdom of Christ. 

As Paul states in Ephesians 4:“There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” If this is not our preoccupation chiefly, our meditation daily, and our orientation resolutely–we will be divided.  

BUT, over 20 years of God’s faithfulness to Grace Downtown leads me to a more hopeful conclusion:  “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”  As we “belong” to our call, and corporately call upon God for our “belonging,” we will emerge from this ministry year more unified and powerful as the Family of God. Let’s lean in, Family!