Reflections on our celebration

I don't know about you, but I had a great time this morning celebrating Tim's birthday. I find it a microcosm of our calling as a church, as part of what it means to be the church is to celebrate one another. That's really what celebrating a birthday is; it's just saying to another, "thank you for being who you are." Certainly such a celebration for one's mere existence and being born among us is consistent with the mission of the church, to celebrate and accept each and every individual not for what they accomplish, not for what they say or do, but rather for their innate worth as human beings created in the image of God. I found it striking to read this week in Henri Nouwen's book "Here and Now" that he lists the celebration of birthdays as one of the hallmarks of living in the present as God calls us to do. As a church, I hope and pray that we become known as the church who judges no one, who celebrates and accepts all who visit our community. May we be known as a body who lives in the present, who does not complain and fault find about the mistakes some may have made in their past, who speculates not on what may happen in their future, but celebrates the present reality of God's glory resting on each individual that walks through our doors. What an awesome calling and an awesome ministry God has entrusted to us. May there be many more celebrations like this to come!