Chosen Family

Dear Friends, Neighbors, Guests, and Members,

Resilience to life's many challenges has always involved “chosen family.” What this concept means in a popular and secular sense seems to supersede judgment. Love and support are key and core to the safety that is so often missing in family! With safety comes trust, and with trust, intimacy. It’s how the body of Christ was really meant to function.

Sadly, this isn’t the experience of so many religious people or formerly religious people in the context of church. They’ve been belittled, judged, bullied, teased, taunted, ignored, intimidated, quieted, clubbed with proof texts and pushed to the margins of visibility. In the context of religious and spiritual abuse, many people have sought authentic community or experienced true family elsewhere, even if these alternatives have their own downsides. For some, religious spaces have never been or ceased to be safe places. I’m really saddened by this, aware of how difficult it has been for our time in ministry to experience both safe space and unconditional loving care. And if we’re struggling at times, we know others must really be struggling too.

Jesus, as it turns out, was cognizant of his heavenly Father, his origins story. He was also keenly aware of the home in which he’d been born/placed. And he was someone who knew the value of a chosen family. We’re going to explore that today.

As we do, remember: We’re here. We’re as real as people can be. We’re in the fight, going through, connecting and trying to meet needs in transformative and helpful ways. We’re dedicated to Christ, thirsty for living water and hungry for the bread of the metaphorical body. We’re needing companions—family for the journey, people who have our backs, people who are here, with us, for us—as God is with us and for us. Please, if you’re looking for authentic, compelling community, join us in manifesting this reality as the kingdom of Christ. It’s something you’ve got to choose… we all do.

Blessings on your journey,

Pr Greg