This past weekend Elizabeth and I had the joy and honor of hosting our BBQ at home! It was a time like no other to share together, to strengthen our bonds of friendship, and to open spaces of welcome between our two congregations, Crosswicks and Groveville.
We give thanks to God for the spirit of fellowship that was present among us and also for the wonderful weather that made the day even more special. We were especially blessed by the great privilege of having our District Superintendent, Rev. Ronell Howard, with us. Her presence and her joy as she joined in and enjoyed the delicious food reminded us that we are not alone, but connected to the wider body of Christ in the UMC.
We are deeply grateful to each and every one of you who participated, who brought delicious dishes, salads, desserts, and snacks to share. A special word of thanks goes to the Hadley family for their constant support in preparing logistics, cooking, and grilling. It truly took many hours of work and dedication. And thank you, Donna, for the cake that crowned the celebration so beautifully.
Sharing food with one another is a sign of friendship, and also a spiritual practice. Around the table we find Jesus, who broke bread with his disciples and welcomed all to join. When we share food, we affirm that God’s abundance is meant for everyone, and that no one should be left hungry, physically or spiritually. In this way, every dish we brought and every bite we enjoyed together was also a small act of justice, reminding us of the call to make sure that all of God’s children have a place at the table.
The message should be clear. This is just the beginning of greater unity and connection between our two congregations. It is the start of deeper fellowship and mutual support. Just yesterday, our committee with representatives from both churches gathered to begin planning shared activities for the coming year, including joint worship services. United we are stronger. United and connected we are more resilient, and together we can dream even bigger dreams.
This is the very spirit of the connectional system of The United Methodist Church. From our earliest Wesleyan roots, we have carried the conviction that faith is lived out in community, that churches are stronger when they walk together, and that connectionalism gives us the ability to multiply ministry beyond what we could ever do alone.
So let us keep dreaming awake with the plan God has for us. May this BBQ at the parsonage be only the first taste of a future filled with collaboration, joy, and mission together.
Warmly,
Rev. David A Gaitan
