Community
Today’s culture pushes an individualistic approach to life. A competitive spirit is the way to succeed and one is encouraged to ‘look out for themselves’ before giving any thought to the needs of others. Celtic Christianity is the antithesis of such a mindset. The Celts had a completely different value system. These ancient Christ followers recognized their need for interconnectedness, interdependence, and unity. Being a caring community was and is today at the heart of Celtic Christianity. The Celts knew their need first and foremost for God and therefore they sought to commune with Him at all times, in all places and in all aspects of life. They truly believed and experienced their Divine Being as EMMANUEL – God With Us. And they lived out of that belief.
Their sense of Community was equally as strong on human terms. They cared for one another and were the epitome of Romans 12:15 “rejoice with those who rejoice; and mourn with those who mourn” Their faith was lived out in spiritual and practical ways and was evident for all who observed them daily.
The busyness and stress in our daily lives have a tendency to be barriers to intimacy with God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We can recall the scriptures that remind us God is with us, and that Jesus clearly said “I am with you always, even till the end of the age” but living our lives in these truths is more of a dream than a daily reality. The Celts lived the dream as their reality. Finding intimacy with God was not the title of a hip new book they could read or a hyped up conference they might have the good fortune to attend. Rather, this was how they lived every day. Celtic Christians also had a great love and respect for all of creation. They believed in and experienced ‘thin places’. These ‘thin places’ are basically where there was a sense that heaven and earth somehow met. These places are not only ancient religious sites where centuries ago someone was believed to have encountered God. Rather, ‘thin places’ are anywhere that Emmanuel is encountered.
316’s community is based on these same patterns. We have a strong emphasis on Communion with God, and the truth that He is truly Emmanuel to us today.
We seek also to be a community that ministers to one another. Although we are small in number, there is already evidence that we are a caring community, inside and outside our weekly gatherings. One of the richest benefits of a smaller community is the opportunity to be involved in one another’s lives beyond the superficial. It has been a joy to watch this develop.