One of my favorite television shows is Blue Bloods. The Reagan family is united by their multi-generational calling to law enforcement. The way they serve is varied and often has them butting heads with each other over how to accomplish the same goal… create a safer city.
Yet, every Sunday the family gathers around the dinner table and works it all out. They debate… sometimes argue. Their discussions and different perspectives become heated, but they are always grounded in love.
Each Sunday they are reminded that they are part of the Reagan family. They remind each other they share the same goal. They remind each other they are all in this together even though they serve the cause in different ways. They remind each other that they are bound together in love.
We can learn so much from this model of family. As United Methodists we share a common purpose. Our UMC mission statement is “to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” How we do that in our individual churches can often look very different, but our mission is the same.
Each Sunday imagine our churches as the Reagan family dinner table. Around the table we have the daughter passionate about global missions, the son driven by helping the homeless, and the granddaughter wanting to teach others how to build a community garden. The grandfather is there wanting traditional structures in place that have helped build his strong faith. The father wants a strong sense of community within the church family. The niece is there too, who wants to transform the world by bringing social justice to the dinner table.
Imagine all of these different passions and approaches around the same table. Imagine them all working together “to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”
That’s us guys! That’s the United Methodist Church. Let’s make a commitment across the Sound District to spend dedicated time “around the table” with each other on a regular basis. Let’s own being a diverse, passionate, and mission driven family that is grounded in love.
Let’s invest time around the table loving Christ and each other. Transforming the world is not easy work! We can draw strength from the unbreakable bonds of family. Each member brings something invaluable to the discussion, to the table, and to our mission. What can you bring?
If you would like to view past editions of A Message from Kim, follow this link: https://sounddistrictnc.org/category/from-district-lay-leader/
If you would like to connect with Kim please do so through her email, k.smith@nccumc.org