December 9 – John 13 : 34-35

I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

“They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love” by Peter Scholtes (1938–2009) comes to mind when I hear this scripture. The words remind us of the bonds that we have as a Christian. We work, walk, pray and celebrate together in one spirit. But how do we get there? Is it just random chance that we all gather in one place occasionally on any given Sunday? How do we as disciples of God show others our love?

Being part of a congregation sometimes isn’t easy. We forget that others may not see things as we do. We let the differences of our fellow man get in the way of the care and love that we have for them. We forget that we are ALL standing in the dark just as the shepherds did when Jesus was born. Watchful, anticipating danger, but not the angelic announcement of the arrival of the Messiah!

If you look around the sanctuary on Sunday, you will see in our congregation people from all different places in life. Not the geographical places, although that is also true, but the life situations that shape us as individuals. We gather in worship, Bible studies, youth and Sunday school not because it is mandated by the state or even because we all live in the same neighborhood. No, we gather as diverse individuals guided by God to be part of a community of love. We show those that are looking that God is with us by the love we have for others in our congregation. We use the differences of our talents to bring the shining light that accompanied the angels celebrating Jesus’ birth. The simple act of gathering as a congregation and spending time listening to scripture is pleasing to God. But the care, love and the forgiveness that we show one another is when, as I imagine, God looks at us nods, smiles and thinks “Ah, today they get it”.

Written by Pam Couture, who has served as elder, deacon and on many committees at Heritage.
What am I passionate about at Heritage?
“I am most passionate about Christian education and enjoy wondering with the 3yr old through kindergarteners every Sunday in Children’s Chapel.”