Sept. 16 Thought for Reflection
Psalm 133
How very good and pleasant it is
when brothers and sisters live together in unity!
It is like the precious oil on the head,
running down upon the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
running down over the collar of his robes.
Dear Brothers and Sisters at Holy Covenant,
I love the image of Aaron (Moses’ brother, his co-leader, and a priest) being anointed with oil in such quantities that it runs down over his head, through his beard, and onto his robes! Imagine the decadence and the richness of such a generous blessing. Living in unity with one another is just such a saturating, overflowing blessing. (And, yes, sometimes it can be as messy as an oily beard to be in relationship with others.)
At Holy Covenant, Small Groups are one of the ways we live together in unity. And being in community together is one of the ways we can get to know God better. Jesus said, “Wherever two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” So it is in the presence of God that we get to know one another and in the presence of one another that we get to know God.
There is a wide variety of small groups this fall, from faith-sharing groups to Green Living (considering our roles as stewards of God’s creation), from a worship and liturgy group to Theology on Tap (a casual conversation about Jesus, the church, and who we are — in a pub setting). Some groups meet for 6 weeks while others are longer-term and run on a drop-in basis like the new, once-monthly book group, and the beloved, bi-weekly women’s group. Groups start the week of October 11th; sign-ups start this Sunday. Look for the big purple board or email groups@holycovenantumc.org.
As you consider your calendar and your commitments, please also hold in mind that image of Aaron. And remember that signing up for a small group may have unexpected results: the blessing of living together in unity poured out in such abundance that it runs over your head, through your hair, and over your collar. Thanks be to God!
Rebecca Anderson
Minister of Small Groups
