We are saved by God's grace and given new life in the death and resurrection of Jesus. Our lives are God's. Jesus called his followers into a 'household'' of faith, the church. Empowered by the gift of the Holy Spirit, this community of faith, IS the Body of Christ, God’s way to bring the Good News of Jesus to the world! “speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.”(Ephesians 4:15-16)

From the 1^st century to the 21^st century, across generations, countries, and cultures, there are a few common features of our faith life together as the church that remain constant and constantly essential to grow in faith, hope, and love and face the challenges of our day. These are the marks of discipleship. People describe them and divide them in all sorts of ways…   but they all include the following foundations.

FAITH FORMATION: We are called to daily mature in faith individually and together through prayer, study, worship, spiritual disciplines, and mutual support, encouragement and accountability.

SERVING IN THE CHURCH: God has called us to be many members of a single body, Christ's body. We are called to employ our best gifts to build up the church.

REACHING OUT TO THE WORLD: God has sent us into the world as agents of faith, hope, and love in Jesus ' name wherever we go.  We are called to employ our best gifts to serve needs and share Good News.

GIVING WITH GENEROUS GRATITUDE: We are called to offer up our 'first fruits' not our 'left-overs' to God. Supporting the church with our financial offerings is an act of faith, a show of gratitude, and a sacrificial commitment to God's mission

Over the next several days I'll be posting here, and sharing on Facebook, some practical and helpful ways that we can  be the church during the Covid-19 pandemic.