Practice makes perfect

This past weekend highlighted what church is all about. It began with a surprise retirement party for Mary Brockway. Mary is not only an active member of the church family, she has also been an outstanding elementary school teacher for many years. She taught fifth grade at the Bishop School and watched several of her kids go on to achieve good things in life.

On Saturday her daughter, Amy, threw a party in Mary's honor at her home in Stonington. A few of us from church went down to mark the occasion. This is one of the special things that I have enjoyed in my ministry. Over the years I have been invited to participate in weddings, retirement celebrations, anniversary parties, graduations, Eagle scout award ceremonies and other family events. It is a reminder that church isn't just about Sunday mornings. It is about people.

Earlier this year several of us went to a fund raiser for Steve Ohlund's daughter, Anastacia. She was battling cancer and we went out to support Steve as much as anyone. When Shawn Rucker got the lead role in a play at the Spirit of Broadway theater we bought tickets and went as a group to support her. Later this summer Cassie Kane and Brandon Frechette will be tieing the knot and some of us will be on hand for that great moment.

We don't always get it right, but these events feature the church at its brightest moment. On Sunday I got to see it happen in Quaker Hill for our sister Baptist Church. Pastor Greg Hamby celebrated his fifteenth anniversary at the church and the 20th anniversary of his ordination. It was a great time. The people showered him with gifts and acknowledged the things he had done as their pastor. I know the feeling because we did the same thing here a few weeks ago on my 25th anniversary.

It's funny but a lot of people complain about the church and how often it fails them. But I think we get it right a lot more times than we get it wrong. Living the gospel as a community is a powerful thing. When we learn to be loving, forgiving, encouraging people within the church it becomes that much easier to do it out in the world.

One famous theologian once said that God created the church so we could practice Christian hospitality before we engage the world with it. I can tell you this: At First Baptist the practice is going well.

Cal