Coming Together: The Importance of Church Community
You don’t have to look too hard in Scripture to see the value of community within the church. Early Christians met with others in homes to worship with and encourage each other.
We are a community of faith. We are Catholic. We live in, work in and serve the local communities across Hampshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands.
Our mission is to live out our Catholic faith and through witness and example bring people closer to Jesus Christ through His Church.
The parish lies at the heart of every community. Families, churches, schools, chaplaincies to hospitals, prisons. Parishes provide an inclusive hub for people of all walks of life to journey together in faith and to reach out to the wider community to serve in acts of social action.
Young people are visible in the Church. They are involved in parish life, school and university communities and the wider community, witnessing to their relationship with Jesus Christ. The Diocese supports young people to respond to the invitation of faith in various ways.
The fast pace of today's world often has us rushing through our daily life, with little direction or thought as to the kind of life we should be leading. Fortunately, the Catholic faith provides us with a solid moral compass and great many role models to help us find our way.
Got Questions? We believe that everyone should have the chance to explore the Christian faith, ask questions and discover their purpose in life.
Whether you want to offer your time and talents or support our vital work financially, it's all part of Christian Stewardship and you can really make a difference.
Good communication is really important to us. Wether it's sharing the impact of our community projects and sharing the witness of inspiring individuals, or reaching out to collaborate and dialogue with groups and individuals, and providing resources to enable others, we want to build long lasting effecting relationships and help people to develop their faith journey.
You don’t have to look too hard in Scripture to see the value of community within the church. Early Christians met with others in homes to worship with and encourage each other.
You don’t have to look too hard in Scripture to see the value of community within the church. Early Christians met with others in homes to worship with and encourage each other.
You have access to people who can actively encourage you and walk beside you in trials and joys. How can you expect to maximize your growth in Christ without learning from the wisdom and insight other believers can offer?
Another angle to consider is how the church community influences those outside the church. The church is active and present within the world, parishes that lie in the heart of local communities, whose members reach out in service to the wider community, inparticular to the lonely, poor, isolated and vulnerable.
How that takes place is important to address, but the “why” behind it is something that must be considered.
Paul discussed the unity and diversity in the church when he wrote to the Corinthians. He said that “the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:12). Throughout this part of the chapter, he asserts how all are part of the body of Christ, but individually, each are different members with different gifts. One person may lack in a certain area, but together the church, as the body of Christ, is stronger.
That’s why everyone takes part in supporting community within the church — each person has something different to offer, from new and experienced believers to lay and church leaders alike. The unity and diversity within the church enriches the church community, equipping people in the church for righteousness to glorify Christ and to spread the news of His love and salvation that extends to all people.
You may be wondering how you fit into the church. In that case, you should explore your gifts and how you can use them to serve others and Christ both now and in the future. Maybe you can commit to attending church regularly, devoting yourself to prayer and reading Scripture, and getting involved in a ministry at church. Or it could be time to step up into some lay or more formal church leadership role where you can more directly impact the church
If you’d like to start or develop your role in your parish community it starts with speaking to your parish priest.
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