We hear a lot about “community”.  We talk a lot about “community”.  Family, church, village, school are all examples of community.  Apparently there are five different types of communities and every one can be classified by the purpose that brings them together, for example: interest, action, place, practice and circumstance.  So why is community important?  What does the Bible say about community?

Having a community around us means that we are not in the world alone.  We have people around us that we can turn to for help and support, for friendship and care.  In return, we have others we can share our lives with, to care for and help in their time of need.

There are many references to community in the Bible.  The general theme of most of these references is probably summed up in verses from 1 Peter.  Chapter 3 verse 8 says: “Finally, all of you have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart and a humble mind”.  Chapter 4 verse 10 says: “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace”.

We have many opportunities this summer to reach out as a Church community to the wider community.  We host the Community choir every Monday and look forward to their concerts.  We held our Summer Fair on 30th June and reached out to the community of Stanley and beyond.  We have the opportunity as a church to reach out to the young people in our community as we welcome all the year 6 pupils in two of our village schools to an end of year service on    Thursday 5th July.  For these children it is the end of the school community they have known since they were 5 years old, as they head towards a new school community in September at their new schools.  Scout Fest was another wonderful example of community.

We have another opportunity to show the strength of our Church community as we hold a “Peace and Hope picnic” on 14th July to celebrate the end of the first world war (click here for more details).  Come along and join us for a real community celebration of peace because as Psalm 133 says “Behold how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity”.

 Vicky Wilson,   Reader