Where you are loved

As I walked over to my friend Christie's office at the Downey Moravian Church in Downey California I noticed a little blue paper, it is from a publication of the Moravian Church in North America in the 1980s, and says "The Moravian Church...where you are loved."  Wow!  There is no regulation, expectation, or judgment in that statement.  What does it look like when congregations are places where people are loved? Have you seen congregations that you believe characterize this statement?  As I follow God's call to begin a new congregation on the south side of Indianapolis, it is my hope that this will be true of us.  That before we get into the details of doctrine, practice, or worship style we are a community where people are loved.

It is funny, I grew up in the Moravian Church and the message on that publication characterizes my experience.  I was loved.  Even when I was an annoying teenager or disrespectful kid or a questioning pastor in training I have known without a doubt that I am loved here.  There is something of being loved when you are known, even at your worst.  I don't know that this is everyone's experience, I doubt it is which makes me sad.  But the freedom we have when we are loved first and known through that love is amazing.  Love changes our perspective, allows for us to see things that are overlooked without love and it helps us to look past the things that the world would pick out to separate us from one another.  Love may give us rose colored glasses but not to ignore the reality of pain, struggle, or disappointment.  We are given the rose color that allows for those things to come in on our list of priorities where they belong.

If we find ourselves loving first I believe that we will experience more depth of relationship, transformation and hope.  Jesus said lots of wonderful things but he began with LOVE.  I will pray and strive to create a congregation whose witness and life will affirm that Zacchaeus' Tree is a place where you are loved!