THE VILLAGE ILWIDIOT
Walt Wiltschek
“Don’t stop meeting together with other believers, which some people have gotten into the habit of doing. Instead, encourage each other, especially as you see the day drawing near.” —Hebrews 10:25, CEB It happens every November, the first weekend of the month: We gather together as members of Illinois and Wisconsin congregations for our district conference. This year that takes place Nov. 1-2, with the York Center church in Lombard preparing to host us.
The event is a mix of worship, music, business, food, fellowship, learning, food, perusing exhibits, bidding on auction items, food, and more. Most important, though, is that simple (or not-so-simple) act of coming together—being under one roof, talking between bites of lunch or ice cream, “eyeballing” the others who are
part of our faith community.
That’s always been important, and perhaps even more so in our post-pandemic era, when so many things have moved to remote and virtual options. Those are wonderful ways to stay in touch across distances, but it’s not the same as bumping elbows and sharing space.
I talked at the recent district campfire about the value of community, and the importance of doing the hard work to maintain it in the face of all the things that seek to tear it apart. Our current election season is a prime example, with a stream of anger and attacks against particular groups or individuals. That divisiveness can be seen in various aspects of life, with church too often included.
Our Brethren ancestors had seen that sort of division play out across Europe, and they understood the value of community: forming a close-knit “gemeinschaft” that brought them around the table for love feast, in circles for studying scripture, and on even footing for worship as they sang in harmony. They did not always live it out perfectly, but it remained a central value. Even today, we say Brethren continue “the work of Jesus. Peacefully. Simply. Together.”
Brethren understood that as we draw closer to one another, we draw closer to Jesus Christ. And if we authentically draw nearer to God, we can’t help but be pulled closer to our neighbors.
I hope to see many of you in Lombard in a few short weeks. And as we meet, I hope you see Christ in one another, too.
“Don’t stop meeting together with other believers, which some people have gotten into the habit of doing. Instead, encourage each other, especially as you see the day drawing near.” —Hebrews 10:25, CEB It happens every November, the first weekend of the month: We gather together as members of Illinois and Wisconsin congregations for our district conference. This year that takes place Nov. 1-2, with the York Center church in Lombard preparing to host us.
That’s always been important, and perhaps even more so in our post-pandemic era, when so many things have moved to remote and virtual options. Those are wonderful ways to stay in touch across distances, but it’s not the same as bumping elbows and sharing space.
I talked at the recent district campfire about the value of community, and the importance of doing the hard work to maintain it in the face of all the things that seek to tear it apart. Our current election season is a prime example, with a stream of anger and attacks against particular groups or individuals. That divisiveness can be seen in various aspects of life, with church too often included.
Our Brethren ancestors had seen that sort of division play out across Europe, and they understood the value of community: forming a close-knit “gemeinschaft” that brought them around the table for love feast, in circles for studying scripture, and on even footing for worship as they sang in harmony. They did not always live it out perfectly, but it remained a central value. Even today, we say Brethren continue “the work of Jesus. Peacefully. Simply. Together.”
Brethren understood that as we draw closer to one another, we draw closer to Jesus Christ. And if we authentically draw nearer to God, we can’t help but be pulled closer to our neighbors.
I hope to see many of you in Lombard in a few short weeks. And as we meet, I hope you see Christ in one another, too.
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