Building Authentic Community....One Mug at a Time

When you come to worship this weekend, make sure you pick up the red and white stripped bag that will be waiting for you. You don’t want to leave church without it!

Inside the bag you will find the usual stewardship resources, including our “Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going” booklet, a letter from me and a Statement of Intent. Please plan to take a little time to read through the resources and prayerfully consider how God is calling you to respond. You can return your commitment for 2020 in the offering plate, by mailing it to the church office or by going online at AbidingPresence.net/soi. We’re asking for all commitments to please be turned in by December 1 in preparation for Celebration Weekend on December 7/8. (Just wait until you see what we have planned for this year’s celebration!)

The usual stewardship resources aren’t the only thing you will find in your bag this year, though. You will also find your very own personalized Abiding Presence hot chocolate kit. Now, I realize you might be wondering, “What does hot chocolate have to do with stewardship?”

Here at Abiding Presence our mission is Connecting People to Christ Through Community. More than just any community, though, we want to connect people to an authentic community in which they can be real. We follow Jesus in community not because we all know the way, but because it is easier to stumble on the path together. We don’t have all the answers, but we are willing to sit in the questions listening for God with one another. The Abiding Presence faith family reminds us of who and whose we are as beloved children of God when the world tries to tell us otherwise.

Creating this kind of intentional and authentic community is built through relationships. That’s where the hot chocolate kit comes in. We hope that you will find a way to use the kit to take step in your relationship building as we seek to invite people in to see what this faith family is like.

Maybe you can enjoy a mug of hot chocolate as a family while you sit and talk together at a time when phones are put away. Next time the grandkids (or the adult kids) come over, get it out. When they ask, “What is that?” use it plant a seed and talk for a moment about why you go to church. Put out the packets at  your book club or when a friend comes over as a conversation starter. Talk about your church, share about this community of faith and spread the word that all are welcome.

Whenever and however you use your hot chocolate kit, I hope it will be a reminder of what we are about here at Abiding Presence. This is your community and we are glad you are here.