This Month's Featured Sermon:

"Belonging"

Anita's Grandmother had 10 children- most of them still live in Albuquerque, but some have move away- to Denver, to California, to Virginia- Anita's father was the wandering sheep of the family!

But wherever they live, they keep in touch. They know the addresses and the phone numbers of the other 9. They know each other's children, wives, and husbands. They BELONG to each other. Even I belonged to them. The large majority of the family is Spanish. Bit I married one of the family, so I was family. I belonged. Yet, I didn't belong as much as Anita belonged.

No one said anything rude to me. In fact, everyone went out of their way to greet me and help me feel WELCOME. I was hugged, kissed, and very well fed. They told me that Grandma really liked me. They said that THEY really liked me. I liked them, too. Our relationship will grow better and better over time. I didn't belong as much as Anita belonged, but for this trip, I feel good about my new family.

We all nee to belong somewhere. Some groups are more important than others. Most people belong to many groups, so that they have close ones to fall back on- for support and for confidence.

There are all kinds of groups- family, our country, clubs, churches, and gangs. People were made to group together. The sharing of styles, ideas, values, and language leads to a bond of unity and fellowship. Stability emerges from a familiarity with one's culture, family, and surroundings. Each person develops a support structure that helps him to cope with life's uncertainties. We ALL need to belong somewhere. Without that sense of identity, we're in trouble.

All the family was talking about a 19 year old boy who committed suicide while we were visiting. He was a member of the extended family. How his mother must be suffering. How much worse it was than an accidental death. The awfulness of taking one's life. The burial was done quickly and quietly.

For some reason, that boy believed he didn't belong. He didn't see the love that I saw. Instead, he believed he was alone. Alone is a terrible thing to be. It's ok for a while, but eventually, it ends in tragedy. No one can stand it forever- even if it isn't true.

That's why God made the Church, so everyone would have an identity. -Not only with Him, but with each other. We'd know we belonged because He Himself would add us and welcome us.

Acts 2:38-47

The Lord added people- all kinds of people- to His church. Jesus told parables about the banquets God would give. Banquets to which anyone was invited. The countryside would be scoured for anyone who could be found to let them take part and to bring them in. Being a part of God's people is wonderful. It's also easy.

The early Church- closeness. Broke bread together, ate together, shared possessions. The Church brought people in. People were made to belong to the group. To be of the "in crowd." -And there was joy and excitement there. That's what WE'RE after. But even in the early Church, it wasn't always easy.

Sometimes, there were barriers to people belonging. Those barriers had to be removed.

Galatians 2:11-14- Instance on conformity.

In a culture, everyone paints in similar patterns. When you see a New Mexican style painting, you know immediately where or by what culture it was made. The houses, all stuccos, the skies are usually clear blue, Indian women with wispy hair, feathers and Indian burial scenes, mosaic tiles with sharp lines of bold colors, specific shapes, the use of silver rather than gold in jewelry. The painting and art are symbolic and simple. Having congregated together for such a long time, the artists have acquired a collective style. There are variations, each artist has his own, yet the print of his surroundings is forever on everything he paints and sculpts. Someone comes along who doesn't paint in the TRADITIONAL Southwestern style-> trouble->not accepted the same. In the Church, social class, educational background, cliques...A few individuals made assertive efforts to help outsiders feel welcome- like Paul with the Gentiles. Can you imagine the early Church without Paul?

Paul himself was an outsider at first. He almost didn't make it into the early Church.

Acts 9:19b-31

What would the early Church have been like without Barnabus' initiative to bring Paul into the group? A fearless speaker was discovered. Barnabus later brings Paul to help in Antioch. Changed from and opponent to an ally. How can such a person cross the line? Someone must help him. In Paul's case, someone DID. Barnabus said, "Hey, this Paul guy is really ok."

Many of us can probably remember moving to an new congregation- and someone stepped forward and really made us feel welcome. We need that. We know that there's a probationary period when a person enters a new congregation. If it's not imposed by the group, we probably impose it on ourselves. A time when there is an "us" and a "them." We consider whether we'll say. They decide whether to keep us. The truth is though, that God adds us to His people and we belong. And we must strive to help others to feel an identity of us because "they" are an "us."

Gangs in New Mexico people longing to join- finding acceptance- not found in family. Rituals of passage so that everyone shares an experience. Getting into trouble, doing what the group does- drugs, sex, violence, and dangerous stunts. The answer is spiritual. Belonging to God, identifying with a truly loving groups. Join gang- lose the other groups, Join church- strengthen all of our bonds. Love grows. Happiness expands.

A sense of belonging. We give it to people in our families and in our cultures. We give it to people in our churches. And if they find it in the right places- in their homes and in their churches- they won't have to look elsewhere.

Our ministry is to do our utmost to provide a family in which each member belongs and feels as if she/he has a role, is accepted, and is missed when gone.-A church where each visitor is welcomed into the family and feels as if this group of people cares for his/her welfare. A place where they can see a role in which they can be needed and appreciated and  loved and encouraged to stretch the boundaries of his/her family. We extend our love. New members are added and accepted and souls are not only saved, but cherished and held on to forever.

American Institute for Church Growth in Pasadena: "What or who was responsible for your coming to Christ and the church?" 75%-90% said a friend or relative. They found a means to identify- what the church has always done best.

1 Thessalonians 2:6b-12

God called them into a kingdom. We help them to feel like family. The Gospel comes as a package. It brings a person into a new family. You and I are that family, let's do all we can to help each member feel appreciated, accepted, and loved.