New Reminders: Community

A Christian congregation is usually considered a community of believers.  They are usually a part of a larger denomination that follow the creeds, precepts and beliefs common to the organizational principles (disciplines) of the larger organization to which they belong.  What makes them a community, is not just what they subscribe to as a church, but how they behave as a particular group.

What makes it a community is how the individual members act and feel within the group.  Members are generally expected to find a sense of belonging and often pledge to help the group function as a unit with their: attendance and participation, their passion, vision, leadership, time and efforts and financial contributions.  In turn, the hope is that they will feel a sense of belonging, love, friendship and fulfillment.  In most congregations, there is one or more strong leaders who help organize and carry out the various functions of the group, and many faithful followers.  Some signs of a healthy congregation are trustworthy leaders and willing workers for the common good of the group and its larger missions. 

Most individual congregations develop a mission statement that briefly outlines what the group stands for and plans to accomplish.  They often have newsletters that are routinely distributed, communicating what the group is doing and plans to do, that highlight up-coming events and projects and explain how members can get involved.  Sign-up sheets are laid out, committees are formed, and chairpersons assigned.  Regular prayers for God’s guidance and blessings are raised up and the missions are carried out.

Fundraisers are a common necessity in most congregations in order to pay the daily operation and maintenance of buildings and grounds, staff salaries and other expenses.

Most congregations have outreach missions and sponsor a variety of causes and projects in the wider community around them and even to other parts of the world.  The Westby UMC tries to find and fulfill local needs with love and support in accordance with our Matthew 25:40 commitments to Jesus’ instructions: “…I say to you, whatever you do for one of these least brothers of mine, you do for me.”  Members give to and volunteer at local health-care facilities, food pantries, and other organizations, and at fundraisers for individuals and other worthy causes.  We join with other churches to support our common purpose: spreading the gospel and winning souls for Christ.

“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.” Romans 12:4-13