Grad Sunday

So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. - Ephesians 2:19 (NLT) 

Last Thursday, May 21, Stacey and I attended the 5th grade graduation at Old Town Elementary. Two of our students from the Inspiriting Hope Learning Center were graduating, and we wanted to be there for them.  

It was a lot of fun to see everyone. Parents were dressed up and excited. Some had balloons, others had large cutouts of their kid’s faces, bigger than life size. Some had posters and banners with their kid’s name on it. When the students came into the room, families pointed and called out their student’s name even though they had probably just dropped them off a few minutes before. It was so life-giving to hear the families cheer and clap for their children as they crossed the stage. There was so much joy and approval in the room. Each family wanted their child to know they were loved and appreciated. That’s what families do.  

At Bridges, we are one family in Christ, brothers and sisters with Jesus in common. As with all families, we are to be here for each other, love and appreciate one another, united and life-giving. Relationships are at the forefront. That is the glue that holds us together. Relationships are what keep us together and keep us supporting one another. Love is the driving force of any family.  

This Sunday, May 31, is our Family Service/Grad Sunday when we are all together as one family. We will cheer on our graduates as they prepare for this new, next step in their lives. We will share a meal together as a family afterwards, and we can share stories and moments as we eat nachos and tacos. It is a time for family.  

I want to encourage you to come a few minutes early for the service this week and every week. Take time to introduce yourself to those you don’t know, get to know other people, share the news of the week, and check in on each other. Stay a little after the service, catch up with other people. See how they are doing. Offer to pray for someone. Linger for a while.  

Then this Sunday, gather together in the Fellowship Hall and meet even more people. This is our family, not perfect, but all heading in the same direction. Tell stories. Laugh together. Be the church. Be for each other and be with each other. Be a family. Enjoy.