We hear a lot about \u201ccommunity\u201d.\u00a0 We talk a lot about \u201ccommunity\u201d.\u00a0 Family, church, village, school are all examples of community.\u00a0 Apparently there are five different types of communities and every one can be classified by the purpose that brings them together, for example: interest, action, place, practice and circumstance.\u00a0 So why is community important?\u00a0 What does the Bible say about community?<\/p>\n
Having a community around us means that we are not in the world alone.\u00a0 We have people around us that we can turn to for help and support, for friendship and care.\u00a0 In return, we have others we can share our lives with, to care for and help in their time of need.<\/p>\n
There are many references to community in the Bible.\u00a0 The general theme of most of these references is probably summed up in verses from 1 Peter.\u00a0 Chapter 3 verse 8 says: \u201cFinally, all of you have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart and a humble mind\u201d.\u00a0 Chapter 4 verse 10 says: \u201cAs each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God\u2019s varied grace\u201d.<\/p>\n
We have many opportunities this summer to reach out as a Church community to the wider community.\u00a0 We host the Community choir every Monday and look forward to their concerts.\u00a0 We held our Summer Fair on 30th June and reached out to the community of Stanley and beyond.\u00a0 We have the opportunity as a church to reach out to the young people in our community as we welcome all the year 6 pupils in two of our village schools to an end of year service on\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thursday 5th July.\u00a0 For these children it is the end of the school community they have known since they were 5 years old, as they head towards a new school community in September at their new schools.\u00a0 Scout Fest was another wonderful example of community.<\/p>\n