This is community

I was beginning to get mournful about the fact that no-one had left any comments on my blog (wondering if perhaps I had promoted Tschaka's too strenuously). Then a couple of people pointed out that only blog members were allowed to... so I've changed the settings now: comment away.

A truly historic sort of day yesterday as the elders of White Stone met with all other Jesus Army elders at Cornhill (one of our 'flagship' community houses). The thrust of the day was the 'rebirth of New Creation Christian Community': a launch into new enthusiasm and growth potential for our community. We've been growing as a church, but community has been static (stagnant?) - now's the time for a renaissance.

One of my fellow elders (and my dear friend - we sometimes joke that we share a single brain) and I had written a song about community some yearts before, but never finished it. As we heard our main apostolic leader speaking about community rebirth, we turned to each other and agreed that the day had come: the song was to be finished! So we got together that lunchtime, borrowed a guitar (in fact, it was none other than the 'lyre of Zion', a guitar belonging to 'Overcomer', a seasoned bard of the church...) and shut ourselves in a room to finish the song. It's based on New Testament scriptures on the community theme and a prayer that our community should grow to exceed a thousand people - or even three thousand (as happened on the day of Pentecost in a single day!)

Later that evening, we sang the song to the other elders and it was well received. Here's the words:

More than a thousand people in community (x3)
Oh, this is community

Jesus Has said 'Seek ye
first of all the kingdom - this is community
Greater love has no man than he
lay down his life for his brother - this is community
Oh, this is community

More than a thousand people in community (x3)
Oh, this is community

No man can be my disciple unless he
forsake all that he has - this is community
Come out from the world and be
set apart for the Lord - this is community
Oh, this is community

More than a thousand people in community (x3)
Oh, this is community

One in heart and soul, we agree
to share all things in common - this is community
The Lord our God is one in three
blessed holy Trinity - this is community
Oh, this is community

More than three thousand people in community (x3)
Oh, this is community

I'm a community enthusiast: there may be other ways to work out living out the teachings of Jesus and the apostles in the New Testament, but I know none better than living together, sharing everything we own and being 24/7 church for anyone and everyone to come to and find the reality of God in Christ.