As we begin to return to much anticipated in-person community,

A reminder that community can be hard.

We come to community from different places and in different head spaces.

We come weary and weird

We come cheery and chilled

We come in a spectrum of colors

We come not always either/or but both/and

We come grieving and celebrating

We come angry and invigorated

The kin-dom of God is one wild kingdom

That takes all kinds

Make no mistake about it

Everyone is welcome in the kin-dom of God

Because if everyone isn’t welcome, then it must be something other than the kin-dom

We know that community is not always pretty

We know that the work of healing and reconciliation can be messy

We know that through God and with God

We have the power to mend what has been ripped apart,

repair what has been breached

and make whole what has been broken

May we celebrate and revel in community restoring and renewing.

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Rev. Anne Russ is an ordained pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA), currently based in New York City. Doubting Believer provides tools and encouragement for the rollercoaster ride of your faith journey. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram and YouTube. You can also follow on TikTok. Get emails to keep up with all that is happening.