Friendship, Love and Growth
About 150 years ago, when he was one of the most well-known ministers in the United States, the Reverend Henry Ward Beecher was serving Plymouth Church, Brooklyn, New York (one of our UCC predecessor congregations). During his ministry there he said, “Churches should be schools of friendship.” All these years later I would not only echo that thought, I would amplify it!
I believe The Neighborhood Church is entering a season of growth. A time when we will grow in our faith as we move through and beyond the pandemic. As we are opening up more and more, we are also seeing more visitors and new people checking out our church. This also brings the potential of growth in our community of faith.
We are being presented the opportunity to embody a renewed and exciting spirit of friendship and hospitality…especially to newcomers. Hospitality has to do with showing love and concern for another human being in a way which for that person represents the care of God in his or her particular life.
About 75 years ago one of the great theologians of another strand of our predecessor churches, H. Richard Niebuhr, stated that the goal of the church is “the increase among human beings of the love of God and neighbor.” As we think of our future growth and extending the warmth, love and light of Christ to others in general and to all who will come through our doors in particular, we would do well to remember that people are not so much looking for a friendly church as much as they are looking for new friends.
Church growth studies have determined this simple finding: “Churches that grow are more loving than churches that don’t grow.” As a new member told me shortly after joining the church, “Your people loved me into it!” What a marvelous testimony to the love and Spirit of God coming alive anew!
A hope and a prayer as we move forward: that we will truly be a school a friendship, where newcomers and visitors will feel the particular care and love of God as expressed through our family of faith. Won’t you in your own special way help answer that prayer and make this hope a reality?
With much affection and excitement,
Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister