A Message from Pastor Gordon

Pastor Gordon greets the
congregation after service

Note: This month's message was written by Jeff McClurg

Family?

Webster's definition:

Family- a group of individuals related by blood, marriage, or adoption

I looked through many definitions for family and believe me there were many. There were words used like group, parental units, genetics, and cells, traditional, socially accepted and so on. There are as many definitions as there are types of families and yet none of the definitions seemed satisfying.

Many people are into genealogy and have made family trees dating back as far as records, stories, documents and photos can take them. This is very interesting and helps you find out things that have shaped who you have become, where you have come from and where traditions have started. This can be a positive experience or negative, and if there are negatives does that have to define you? No. Yet, this information as compelling as it is, fun to do and salvaging the past for future family members, it still seems to leave something out.

After reading the following poem and scripture I have another definition to offer:

A Home Song

By Henry van Dyke,
The White Bees and Other Poems , 1909

I read within a poet's book
A word that starred the page:
"Stone walls do not a prison make,
Nor iron bars a cage!"

Yes, that is true; and something more
You'll find, where'er you roam,
That marble floors and gilded walls
Can never make a home.

But, every house where Love abides,
And Friendship is a guest,
Is surely home, and home-sweet-home:
For there the heart can rest.

Acts 7:32 "I am the God of your ancestors"

The main ingredient in every definition found did not include LOVE and FRIENDSHIP, and isn't any family, single parent, adopted, no children or any group that share LOVE and FRIENDSHIP a family. With LOVE and FRIENDSHIP come RESPECT and CARING and so much more. Isn't passing on LOVE, FRIENDSHIP, RESPECT and CARING worthwhile traits, traditions for a strong and beautiful FAMILY.

Now if LOVE, FRIENDSHIP, RESPECT and CARING are a foundation for a family and God is our father, are we not all family here at Grace and throughout the community. Can our love for each other, the love of God shape what we become and does it matter what age we are, I do not think so.   I see it every day now, people taking care of, sacrificing for or loving others that are not blood or the traditional family profile and this is because we are all family dating back to the very beginning.

So the next time we are here on Sunday and we share the peace, remember to introduce yourself to a family member you do not know yet.

Jeff McClurg, Director of Family Life and Children's Ministries