The word for ‘church’ in the New Testament is ekklesia - the gathering. It’s used to mean any group of people coming together for a specific purpose, and in a Christian sense is used for the local church, the worldwide church or any number of believers, large or small, in any space (including those in heaven) who are together for the purpose of worshipping and seeking Christ.
‘Gathering’ means ‘to bring together’. Jesus’ longing is to gather us and everyone around us, under his protection and into his presence and love, like a mother bird with her young.
We are the church, and we gather.
We have gathered online, we’ve gathered in gardens, in parks, on social media, on video, on group chats. On July 4th 2021, we (the Birmingham Vineyard local church) hope to begin to gather on Sundays in person.
We will also need to gather other things.
We gather our strength. Many are tired, sad, frustrated after a long fight.
We gather our courage, to step into the new world that is opening around us. Not back into what was but forward into what is and what God is making available.
We will gather our friends that remain back to us. As we do, we may find in our hands the sadness of those we have lost or who have moved on.
We will gather what we may not have expected. New friends we’ve never met in person. Those who’ve met with Jesus online or who have returned to Him after a long absence.
We will gather the fruit of our prayers and tears, our reaching-out messages and thoughtful ‘I miss you’ gifts, as old friendships are found to be deeper and new ones kindled brightly before they’re even begun. There will be a gathering of harvest, of those who are coming to faith and coming into the gathered spaces of our church.
There will be a gathering of shared stories, experiences, wonders and memories of God’s closeness and goodness through everything.
We will gather, beloved church. Slowly, carefully, kindly, gently, joyfully, we will begin to pick up what God has made available, and enjoy it. We will treasure His gifts together. We will worship, learn, cry, talk, laugh, play and feast.
We will be the church, in new and old ways, gathering.
He will be God, as He has always been, gathering us into Himself.
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