Invocation
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Word
“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.” Philippians 2:1
Meditation
Today’s meditation is written by Koleen Barnes.
In 2009 I moved to Columbia, Missouri, to attend college. I was one of two people from my small town attending that year, so I was focused on making friends quickly. Luckily, I met many new people. It didn’t take me long to notice something unique about every person I met who was from St. Louis.
Each time a St. Louisan meets someone new they are required to ask one question: “What high school did you go to?” They are relentless and never miss a chance to throw out this inquiry.
I grew up in a town with four thousand people. We only had one high school and everyone went there, so this question didn’t make much sense to me. Now I live in St. Louis. I still get the question when meeting new people, but now I have a little clearer understanding of the intent.
I assumed the urge to ask the high school question must have been something in the water, or maybe a result of too much toasted ravioli, but now that I live here and understand people a bit better, it is clear that the high school question is all about connection. It is asked as a way to relate, like a reverse recommendation. If you know someone that is a good guy, then you must be a good guy by association. By narrowing down where you spent your youth, St. Louisans are also narrowing down who you may know and the connections you may have in common.
Though the first question is about where you went to school, it is almost always followed by “Oh, you must know so-and-so.” Miraculously, they almost always have a common connection. By asking a simple question, vast groups of people are able to make a big city feel very small and make strangers quickly feel known.
I think this laughable habit is a great example of how I would like to approach faith and the church community. We are more than our individual congregations, small groups, or Sunday school classes. When we connect on the small things, our bonds grow stronger and we see that we are all part of a bigger community with many commonalities. Sure, it may not be helpful to know where someone went to school, but by asking the little questions like this, we embrace an opportunity to connect and figure out the bigger questions together.
Prayer: Lord, help me to find connections with others. Keep my heart open to journeying through this life seeking connection and commonality with others. Help us to find each other and embrace our similarities rather than focusing on our differences.
For the Worldwide Church
- For unity of the one, holy, Christian church. Across borders, languages, colors, and denominations.
- Rebuke the church where she has strayed: Where divided, misguided, in error, or in poor witness. Judge and forgive us.
- Judge and eradicate Christian hypocrisy. Remove false teaching that leads people away from the truth. Make us humble and repentant.
- For Christians in places where they are persecuted or in minority. For boldness, strength, and provision where their lives are at risk for the sake of the gospel.
- For reconciliation where there is division in the Christian church.
Benediction
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Amen. (Rom. 15:13)