June 6, 2008

For a change, I wasn't "the pastor" or "Bro. Mark." I was simply a member of Brookwood who lost a parent, and I was grieving. The night before the funeral, during Family Visitation, Donna and I, along with the rest of my family, stood for two hours shaking hands, giving and receiving hugs, laughing and crying with a never-ending stream of friends from Brookwood whom I've known now for nearly 20 years.

The funeral service was no exception. Again, you came and we laughed and cried together, as we remembered my father and as we gave all glory and honor to God.

On Friday, the day before the funeral, we didn't have to cook anything because our LifeGroup fixed enough for all of my extended family for two meals! On Saturday, after the funeral, the best cooks in the United States prepared a meal for more than 20 of us here at the church.

It's called community. A community of believers. It's what God said would let the world know that we are Christians. The Lord said that we are to love one another as He loves us. I experienced it the week of my father's death. Many of you know exactly what I'm talking about; you've experienced it too.

It's great to be able to pastor a church with people like you. It's wonderful to be able to worship in this community of believers. But, let's not keep it a secret! Let's continue to expand our community and our fellowship. There are people who don't know about Christ and don't know about Brookwood, but would love to have a relationship with both.

Let's never stop sharing the Good News of Jesus!

In Christ,

Mark Sutton
Pastor