Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.

Colossians 3:16

One of the most striking things about being in a smaller community and church is how more personal and connected everything becomes.

Rebekah and I have been part of towns and cities more than 10 times the size of Tarboro, and churches with large membership and attendance numbers. At Trinity in Pensacola we sometimes had 80 in our “young couples” class; First Brandon frequently enjoyed more than 400 people in worship; and in Wake Forest we would often see scores of youth show up for church.

And now, here in Tarboro, we are embracing and relishing the intimate sense of connectivity that comes from being in a community of 10,000 and a church where we are excited to see more than 100 in worship.

Consequently, after only three months in town we feel a strong sense of love and belonging here, and a real engrafting into the community.

Sunday morning was no exception. Rebekah has hit her stride and it’s like she had never retired from preaching. She is two weeks into a Lenten series around the fruit of the Spirit, and this Sunday her focus was on Peace and Joy (you can find it around the 25:45 mark at the YouTube link). It’s a message I recommend we all hear.

Church just felt good. I know worship is about God and not us, but I honestly believe that when we are present and engaged then we cannot fail to – also – feel good ourselves, to have this sense of being complete… satisfied… filled with joy.

Joy and peace are seldom readily accessible when we go after them directly; instead, they come our way as byproducts of our focus on God’s goodness and grace and glory and power.

Community Spirit:

After worship we met in the fellowship hall for lunch with the youth. They sold amazing home-made baked goods none of us needed but everyone intentionally paid too much for! We were raising dollars for their summer mission trips.

Just good people, sharing love and presence, creating the quality of peace and joy this world craves.

This is such a simple equation. The church is exactly where we all need to be. Jesus calls us into community because this is why we were created. It’s not rocket science, but – somehow – cynicism and disappointment are keeping people away.

This is important!

Hear this: Institutions will always disappoint; but the structure of religion is nothing more than how we organize ourselves. I believe with all my heart that – even though the Creator likely roles “his” eyes sometimes at how we do things – you will meet God at church.

At the Presbyterian Church here in Tarboro we are doing our best, and I know that God honors that in us.

Also, I believe very few people intentionally reject Jesus: it’s just that – too often – he has not been properly introduced.

So don’t come to church because you think we are worthy, come to worship because God says that you are worthy. We’re all just here because we’re grateful.

In love and because of love – DEREK