Our Community

February 26, 2026

From Jackie Payne

This has been a particularly hard week. Not only have there been extra struggles this week in our family, but I have heard of so many of you who are struggling, dealing with pain, grief and the unknown. It is a test in my prayer life to have so much to pray for. It occurred to me this week, that yes, there is a lot happening right now in the lives of the people I care for, BUT I have people I care for…I have a beautiful church and school community that I am so blessed to be a part of. And praying for and caring for people is a gift.

Last Sabbath Pastor Eileen talked about the fellowship of believers in Acts 2, where no one had a need because everyone was looking out for each other. They ate together and worshipped together and hung out together. They were a community.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.  Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

It’s easy to romanticize this original group of Christians. In five verses it doesn’t seem like anyone had any issues with each other or outside forces. They were just happy and praising God all day long without a care in the world, but I’d take a gander to say they lived similar to how we do – a life full of hard things and happy things, pain and joy, struggles and relief. But they had each other under the beautiful umbrella of God.

May we seek to be an even stronger community, where we see each other and speak into each other’s lives, a God-breathed love and concern. May we pray for each other and for our sense of community. May we reach out and connect, even when it is awkward. WE ARE the community that God has put together at this time in this place for His purpose – to glorify His holy name and speak that name into the lives of those we come in contact with today.