Community, Belonging, and Participation
Hello friends. I was reflecting on the daily devotionals that were shared during Lent and once again had to acknowledge the amazing community we have at Edwards Church. So much talent, insight, knowledge, and caring. I have lived in many places, and from time to time would look for a church to attend, but I never could quite find the sense of community we have here at Edwards. I think you’d agree that Edwards Church is special.
Community
As my mind continued to explore, I wondered, “What makes a community great?” I did some Googling and found this; “First and foremost, community is not a place, a building, or an organization; nor is it an exchange of information over the Internet. Community is both a feeling and a set of relationships among people (Chavis & Lee, 2015 para. 4).” The authors go on to say, “Members of a community have a sense of trust, belonging, safety, and caring for each other. They have an individual and collective sense that they can, as part of that community, influence their environments and each other (Chavis & Lee, 2015 para. 5).”
Belonging
The word belonging jumped out at me. I have always felt that Edwards was a home, that no matter how long I had been gone, I still belonged and was welcomed home. Belonging is an essential part of wellbeing. Belonging helps us to see value in life and cope with the many things we face daily (Quirk, 2021). So how do we foster a sense of belonging in ourselves and others? An Edwards member shared something my father, David Roy, had said, “If you want to feel a part of something, get involved.” This is so true. I shared in one of my devotionals how I felt out of place in my new work environment. It was through participating in my new work community, committees, projects, and social gatherings that my experience of belonging and acceptance grew. Edwards Church is a wonderful community of truly valuable, amazing individuals, who work together to reach our shared goals, which fosters our sense of belonging and community.
Participation
Hmmmm, are you following my breadcrumbs? Edwards Church has gone through several significant evolutions over the past several years. We lived and managed through the pandemic with creativity, innovation, and a great deal of effort. We have seen changes in our Church staff requiring redistribution of responsibilities for both staff and members. To better meet Edwards Church’s needs and goals, we are undergoing a re-organization to better distribute the work and provide new opportunities for people to participate in more manageable ways given our busy lives.
Our Church Ministries, through their volunteers, have actively worked to support our church and wider community via internal and external outreach and we are doing GREAT THINGS!
- Making soups for those who could use some nutrition and warmth
- Working to do our part in combating climate change
- Supporting and advocating for those who are marginalized and discriminated against
- Connecting with those in and out of our congregation who need love and support during difficult times
- Maintaining a safe welcoming space for our neighbors to meet and be community
And much, much, more!
We have done a great deal but have so much more to do. Many hands make for light work; our Ministries need your help! As Dad said, if you want to feel a part of something, participate! From helping to set up and break down before and after coffee hour, bringing food to share, assisting in our planning and execution of our summer pool party, being a greeter, and so much more. Many of our volunteer needs are simple and do not require a big commitment; however, if you’re up for some serious belonging we can help with that as well.
Our Ministries
Ministry of Administration (Co-coordinators: Cesar Stewart-Morales and Kyle Shepherd)
This ministry facilitates work as it relates to congregational finances, campus management, staff support, reorganization team and campus rentals.
Ministry of Spiritual Life (Co-coordinators: Dawn Sorenson and Jeff Stewart-Morales)
This ministry facilitates service planning, the Chancel, Seeds of Grace, Music, and Faith Formation work.
Ministry of Outreach (Co-coordinators: Peggy Harrison and Fran Bogle)
This ministry facilitates our Justice and Love in Action team, Green Team, Antiracism, and LGBTQ+ and other efforts.
Ministry of Community Life (Co-coordinators: Lee Ann Friedman and Clair Ball)
This ministry facilitates congregational care, community building, Safety and Wellbeing, and Welcome & Hospitality efforts.
There are many opportunities to get involved in ways that work for your schedules and that will continue to grow Edwards Church’s internal and external community. I encourage you to reach out to Debbie Clark, one of our Co-coordinators, or myself if you have questions about how to get involved.
There is always much to do in our lives, and there never seems to be enough time. Making some time, even a small amount, to participate builds our community and enriches our lives as our sense of belonging grows. We need each other, especially now, to nurture the amazing Edwards Church community and each other.
Deb Roy
Edwards Church Moderator