A number of years ago, I moved to a new area in London and joined a church. For the first few months, I struggled to make friends with other women my age; our paths didn’t seem to cross naturally at church events. So I signed up to volunteer at creche, to meet the mums where they were, and helped look after babies and toddlers during the Sunday services.
Some of the most precious friendships I now have were formed in that creche room. In the midst of the chaos of crawling babies, crying toddlers and interrupted conversations, I got to know parents and families who warmly welcomed me into their homes and their lives. I’ve loved being Aunty Claudia and godmother to little ones, and seeing them grow up over the years.
It is impossible to separate serving and belonging when it comes to church life. As we serve together, we rub shoulders with one another. We get to know each other, not just our strengths and weaknesses, but over time, the joys and challenges we face in life. We support and pray for one another through different seasons and circumstances. Our lives become intertwined and intrinsically bound.
we serve and build up the body of Christ
The Bible talks about this oneness, and describes the church as one body. Just as the body is made up of different parts, so it is with the church. We have seen from Ephesians 4 that as Christians, we are united in Christ (v4-6) but our unity does not mean uniformity; God has given each one of us different gifts, talents and abilities (v7-11). We are to use the time, energy, skills and opportunities that God has given us to serve and build up his church (v12).
The end-goal is glorious. As we serve and build up the body of Christ, we become more united in our shared faith in Jesus. We know Jesus more deeply, grow in Christian maturity, and enjoy the blessings we have in him (v13). But this is only possible when each part of the body does its work. We need every member of the church to play their part so that altogether, we can grow and be built up in love (v16).
Often people come to church looking for a ready-made community that will love them. The better way is to play an active part in building a loving community that we and others would want to be part of. We can volunteer where there is need, and give our time and energy to build friendships with those whom we serve alongside. In time, we may find that friendships blossom where we least expect them, and a church family that feels like home.
