From Marilee Tollefson, Faith Community Nurse …
Pastor Mark always wished our faith community had changed our name to Family of Christ. I keep noticing, and telling him, that I think we are, even without the title! I see evidence of it every day, every week, as I watch our church families live out their lives. On Tuesday, through the St. Andrew network at retirement community, I learned that a parishioner was ill with serious medical condition, which we’d never have known without the caring involvement of our folks on the scene. They pay attention and keep tabs on one another, just like family.
That afternoon I listened to a webinar on service in community, and realized I’d seen it play out that day in our church family. Now that the retirement community of folks from our church know about this medical issue, the support system will form immediately, and grow to the rest of the congregation, as needs arise. This is the work of God among us, helping us learn the gift of love in our community. As it says in I John 4:7, “Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God…” The webinar shared words of Henry Nouwen: The more you love God, the more you love others, We are the beloved of God. All love is connected in community. Such is the community of our wonderful church. We are indeed the family of Christ!