One of the things that drew me to become a member of MudFire was the fact that they were interested in building community, not just running a business. Even their bumper sticker I stuck on my car says: “Imagine Community.” I love that!
I do a lot of thinking about community. I believe community is the only way for the Church to truly be alive. There are some things that all communities need; by borrowing from the MudFire Clayworks Studio Handbook, we can learn a lot about what Christian Community could and should look like:
“Our world is big and fast and demanding and overly complex. As a society, we feel disconnected. We are programmed to consume – not to create. We fall prey to a numbing routine and are increasingly isolated. Consumerism is on the rise, community on the decline.”
Core Community Values That Are Priceless:
- Trust
- Respect
- Gifts – both tangible and spiritual
- Kindness
- Meet people and build intentional relationships
Community life needs to be communal (living together) – having time and space for playing, relaxation, socializing, and exploring together. Community needs to be respected and cared for by everyone who enjoys it. Community exists for self-expression, play, therapy, learning and friendships (more like family relationships).
We were created for community. We help build community by learning, experimenting, and sharing knowledge. We are in community to celebrate each other and our God, to escape the worries of this world, and relate to one another and to God.
It is up to the individual how they will relate to the community. We need each other. We cannot live the life God is calling us to live without one another.
The community you are a part of is your community. You must feed it, nurture it, participate, and contribute.
What are your ideas about community?