The Art of Neighboring - Worship Series in May

What if we took Jesus' Great Commandment to love others as we love ourselves seriously? What would happen if we specifically answered Jesus' question from the parable of the Good Samaritan, "Who is my neighbor?"

Authors Jay Pathak and Dave Runyon took that challenge and the result is the book, The Art of Neighboring: Building Genuine Relationships Right Outside Your Door. Its premise is that Christians have stayed inside the church building too long. It's time to meet and get to know our neighbors. "When Jesus was asked to sum up everything into one command, he said to love God with everything we have and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Most of us have turned this simple idea of loving our neighbors into a nice saying, putting it on bumper stickers and refrigerator magnets and then going on with our lives without actually putting it into practice."

Beginning May 8, we will take three Sundays to explore the "The Art of Neighboring". On the first Sunday, I will ask if we are ready to take the Great Commandment to love God and love neighbor seriously. Each congregation member will be asked to write down the names of their immediate neighbors. We will discover that there is a culture of isolation that can be overcome. The authors of "The Art of Neighboring" report that after completing this exercise with thousands of church goers, that 10% can name their neighbors and that less than 3% know anything more about their neighbors than can be observed from their own doorstep.

On May 15, Bob Fuchs, Brighton First's Director of Discipleship, will ask the congregation to consider the time barriers that keep them from getting to know their neighbors. Bob will offer this simple challenge, "Start spending time in your front yard or shared public space where you live. See what happens."

And on May 22, Pastor Sherry will confront our fears that keep us from reaching out to our neighbors and offer each congregation member the biggest challenge of the summer.

The Vital Church Initiative Consultation group noted that the ministry of Brighton First has become isolated. We need to get to know our community and connect with others in meaningful relationships. Jesus reminds us that our connections start with our neighbors.

Plan to attend and be challenged to action by the May sermon series, "The Art of Neighboring".