the importance of community"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20 Growing up, I always thought it would be fun to have a sister. Someone to play with, talk with, and laugh with. In my adult life, I've found something that I think is equally as wonderful - Sisters in Christ. In this verse from Matthew, Jesus says when a few people gather together, He will be present. This doesn't mean that if you pray alone, He is not with you. Rather, it means that there is a special presence of the Holy Spirit when people gather together to grow in their faith as a community. Jesus was all about communal living- He gathered 12 of His best friends to learn and grow together. Look at what they accomplished after His ascension! Whether it is through family or friendship, community is powerful. Because I am a woman, I am focusing on sisterhood, but brotherhood for men is equally as important. Having a community of women brought together by faith is so different than simply having a group of friends. What I am talking about is a strong, intimate, and intentional community of a few people that challenge you to become your best self. For example, I have two wonderful women that have become sisters in Christ. We meet to have Bible studies, discuss our lives, and share our challenges in Faith. Having a group of two or three people gives you a second look at your own life. If allows you to journey with someone and challenge each other. It gives you the opportunity to discuss things like vocation, personal prayer, doubts, hopes, and desires. There is great joy in being surrounded by holy friendship! If you're feeling alone in your faith, or want to grow deeper in your relationship with Christ, find one or two people who inspire you - peers who also want to grow in faith and virtue. Whether through blood or through friendship, they can become your sisters in Christ. Ask God to bring holy friendships into your life, and look to the apostles as a model for communal living. Embrace the joy of sisterhood - it will change you! - Emily Gignac, Director of Faith Formation
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Having struggled through some personal hardships, I was feeling rather down on myself. In an effort to stop the "negative tapes" in my head, I would look up prayers, scripture, faith quotes of every kind to give myself positive reinforcement and affirmations. It occurred to me that there are more people in the world who need positive affirmation, and maybe don't get it verbally from the people in their lives. So I started making plaques from recycled wood with bright colors and textures with statements like, "You are...Beautiful. You are...Loved. You are...Special. You are a Treasure." These seemed well received at the art shows I attended as a vendor. Customers would buy them as gifts for people they had in mind. I think of these as messages from God, even though the receiver of the gift probably thinks of it as a message from the giver. That's OK. As long as someone can smile and feel good about themselves when they see the plaque. Then it occurred to me that God has other messages about the good news, about faith, about life. These may not be sought after by all my customers, but the messages are something I believe, and I have a unique opportunity to share my faith in my artwork. So I started making Bible verse plaques, and quotes about faith and life that spoke to me. One of my favorites is, "Accept what is, Let go of what was. Have Faith in what will be." I have this plaque hanging in my bedroom to remind me that starting over in life is not necessarily a bad thing. I can learn from the past to prepare for my future, and my future can be better without an emotionally destructive relationship. My plaques are available for sale at the Corner House Gallery in the Kenwood Plaza on First Avenue, Cedar Rapids. Feel free to visit my website at http://www.cjscreativedesigns.com to see samples of my artwork and jewelry. I can do custom orders as well. |
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