May 06 2010
Why do you come to church?
By Rev. Tammy Martens
I have had the good fortune recently to hear people share about their faith journeys and why they have decided to come to Orchard Ridge UCC. And as I have heard now from a variety of people, I am deeply moved by their stories and their perseverance to find a church home that will simply accept them where they are. In fact as I have listened to people, the thought has crossed my mind “how do people muster up the courage to even continue the search for a church home?” after they have felt diminished and hurt by church communities in the past. So I am amazed and deeply humbled by the tenacity of folks who are drawn to a community of faith, who continue to seek a church home, and believe there is one out there for them.
People come to Orchard Ridge UCC wondering if we really are an open community; they have literally done their homework and have checked us out by looking at our web site and the national UCC web site and they read about being inclusive and they wonder is this really true? They still are not sure. Is ORUCC really theologically open to ideas and images about God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit? Is ORUCC a place where all people feel included?
I like to envision Orchard Ridge UCC as a “city on a hill” whose light cannot be hidden. This image from Matthew 5:14 is a beautiful way for us to imagine ourselves as a church. We are the light of the world—the light of God that lives within us and in our church is a light that cannot be hidden. It is a light that heals and brings people into God’s shalom. This is the light that people can see and are attracted to.
I believe that ORUCC has taken this call to be light to the world very seriously and we will continue to grow into this calling. We are the light of the world, a city on a hill. People are longing for God’s light; people are longing for a community of faith that gushes with an intentionality of sharing God’s goodness and love to others. It is a tremendous responsibility but one that we know bears much fruit. May God continue to fill us with light and love and may we continue to see ourselves as vessels of this light and love.
