Relate - Relationship As Liturgy

Our very existence is intertwined with the need to connect with both God and each other. We seek to RELATE to one another in intentional community. We long for people not just to attend church, but to be the church, creating an alternative culture rooted in the heart of God. This week, we take a look at our second core value: relate.

In our contemporary world, there is a prevalent emphasis on individualism, with people primarily directing their focus inward. However, Pastor Seth urges us to recognize that participating in a community plays a pivotal role in our spiritual journey. Although society often prioritizes personal identity over communal belonging, it is important to nurture relationships within an intentional community. We even see the intertwining of our relationship with God and our relationships with one another echoed through Jesus' teaching, that loving God and loving one another are two sides of the same coin, and serving others is akin to serving Him. This communal perspective extends even to the way Jesus taught us to pray, "Our Father" not "My Father.”

Pastor Seth takes us to a greater depth of communal perspective by giving us a beautiful analogy to see relationships as living liturgies-molding us over time. Our spiritual growth and formation extends beyond solitary practices like prayer and Bible reading; it encompasses our interactions within a community. It is thought-provoking to consider that like these daily practices, the seemingly ordinary and everyday interactions with each other can in fact make a significant impact on us. We’re invited to build intentional relationships (Wellspring Communities is one way we do that) and to create a space where we can collectively nurture our faith together through serving and journeying alongside others, just as Jesus showed us.