Family and Belonging

I've been thinking a lot about the ideas of family, belonging, and health recently. At Covenant Church, we use the language of family and we want to emphasize belonging. At our most recent Coffee & Conversation meeting I asked what things came to mind when I used the word "belonging" and some of the answers really struck me. People connected the idea of belonging with input, involvement, and ownership. When I think about family, these same things come to mind. To be a part of a family involves contribution, responsibility, commitment, and ownership.

A small number of people taking care of all the responsibility for the whole isn't healthy for anyone. Those doing all the work will burn out and those who are just enjoying the work won't gain a level of ownership or responsibility. We would love to do a better job at inviting new people into true belonging with our family - entrusting them with responsibility and giving them opportunities for ownership in who we are becoming.

Many of you are already deeply connected within our Covenant family. Your level of contribution, responsibility, commitment, and ownership within our Covenant family is very apparent. Thank you!! Others of us are in a season when what you need most from the family is care. I pray that we'll be able to offer that to you during this time in your life. Because that is also a part of what it means to be in a family!

For others, as we move through the summer, I'd like to invite you to prayerfully consider where you could and should get involved as a part of our family. Do you love creating space for people to feel welcome and loved? We have a team of people committed to doing that every week. Do you love encouraging and supporting Jr High or High School students? There are opportunities with our student ministries team. Do children put a smile on your face and help you come alive? We would love to have new Covenant Kids teachers on board. Are you handy and able to repair things or care for physical spaces? Our maintenance team would welcome your skill. Do you care for people through really practical means like preparing food or helping them move? We have teams that coordinate food for funerals, serve meals for those in need in our community, and help with small moves.

These are only a small glimpse of the many ways to contribute! If you aren't sure what you have to offer, message Jon (jon@covenantchurch.ca) and we can arrange for you to sit down with someone who can help guide you in discernment.

I'm so glad to be in this family with you. May God lead us forward as we strive to be a healthy Jesus centred family in this community!