Loving and faithful God, as we prepare to hear your Word, quiet our hearts and open our minds. Today, as we reflect on what it means to be *rooted in love*, help us to see how deeply your grace grounds us, and how your Spirit calls us to grow, not alone, but together, as one body, one community. Let the words spoken now not be mine alone, but shaped by your truth, filled with your Spirit, and aimed toward your purposes. And remind us, again and again, that in you we have all we that need to flourish. In the name of Jesus Christ, our strong foundation. Amen
Gospel Reading: John 13:31–35
Good morning, everyone.
What a joy it is to gather together here today in worship as we mark the weekend of the East Pictou Fair. The fair is a time when we come together, not just as neighbours but as a family. We see familiar faces, reconnect with old friends, and welcome new ones. We share stories, food, and fun. And we remember the blessings of living life close to the land and close to one another. These are the signs that summer is in full swing, and that our community is alive and well.
So today, I want to talk about something at the very heart of all of this: community—what it is, why it matters, and how God calls us to live in it together. In a world that often feels divided and disconnected, today we pause to remember the beauty of community. Not just the kind you find on a map, but the kind you feel in your bones—the kind that shows up with a casserole when you’re sick, rejoices with you in times of celebration, and mourns with you when you lose someone dear.
So today, let’s talk about community—what it means, why it matters, and how God calls us to live it out.
Our reading from Paul’s Letter to the Romans contained this advice, “Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection… Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another… If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”
That’s not just a list of good manners—it’s a blueprint for life together. These are words that speak right into the fabric of a community—words that are as important in our small village as they are anywhere else. Here in the country, we understand community in a way that’s deeply rooted. We know what it means to lean on each other. So, let’s listen together for what God is saying to us about how to live as his people in community.
First, let’s recognize this: community is a gift. And for those of us living in the country, we may understand that more clearly than most. That’s the beauty of living in a place where you’re known—where people see you, where your name means something, where your story is shared. It’s not perfect—no community is—but it’s a treasure. And we should never take it for granted.
In our Responsive Psalm this morning, we read: “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” That’s not just a nice sentiment—it’s a truth that brings joy to the heart of God. We were not made to go it alone. From the very beginning, God said, “It is not good for man to be alone.” And so, he placed us in families, in friendships, and in communities. God didn’t design us to go it alone, so he gave us each other.
But how do we live well in community? How do we keep it strong, healthy, and rooted in what’s good? Our New Testament reading from the Book of Romans tells us, “Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honour.” You see, the heart of any true community isn’t found in its location—it’s found in its love. And not just sentimental love, not just a warm feeling, but love that shows up. Love that picks up the phone, that drops by with soup, that gives someone a ride to the doctor, that notices when someone is hurting and does something about it. In other words, Christian love isn’t just a feeling. It’s an action. It’s genuine. It doesn’t put on a show. It isn’t just polite nods at the post office or friendly waves from the car. It’s real. It’s honest.
In a small community, we see each other in all our moments—good and bad. That’s a gift—but it can also be a challenge. People remember your best days and your worst. Sometimes we carry old wounds or grudges. But Paul tells us, “Outdo one another in showing honour.”
Imagine if that were our goal: not to win arguments, not to get the last word, but to outdo one another in kindness. That’s the kind of community people are drawn to. That’s the kind of place that reflects God’s love to the world.
Paul also said, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” And what that means for us is that we show up. We celebrate the good times—weddings, birthdays, new babies, graduations. But we also show up in the sorrow—funerals, hospital rooms. We don’t have to fix it all—we just have to be there. That is the heartbeat of a godly community.
We’re used to helping each other through all the changes in life. We know that some days bring joy and others bring grief. And we walk together through them all. Community means presence. It means sharing the load. As Paul, in his Letter to the Galatians, says, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” That’s not just a command—it’s an invitation to love like Jesus.
Finally, we’re not called to be just a nice community—we’re called to be a Christ-centered one. That means our love, our welcome, our service, and our forgiveness aren’t just based on tradition or good manners. They’re rooted in the gospel.
Jesus gave us the perfect example. He came and made his home among us. He ate with outcasts, spoke to the forgotten, touched the sick, and forgave sinners. He formed a community not of the strong and the perfect, but of the humble and the broken people like us.
And then he gave us this command: “Love one another as I have loved you. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” That’s how the world will know who we are—not by our buildings, or our programs, or our social media presence, but by our love.
What would it look like if people came to the fair, or drove through our area, or visited our church, and said, “Those people, there’s something different about them. They really love each other. They really care.” That would be a witness more powerful than any sermon. That would be community rooted in Christ.
We’ve been given a precious gift in each other, so let’s not take it for granted. Let’s nurture it. Let’s live into the kind of community Paul describes—a place of genuine love, shared joy, shared sorrow, humble harmony, and deep peace. May we be quick to listen, slow to judge, ready to serve, and eager to love. And may our community, not just today, but every day, be a place where Christ is known, not only by our words, but by the way we live together.
Let us Pray:
Gracious God,
We thank you for the truth of your Word and the presence of your Spirit among us today. As we go from this time of worship into the joy and fellowship of the fair, may what we have heard not stay within these walls but take root in our hearts and bear fruit in our lives. Let our laughter, our conversations, and our kindness reflect your love. And as we serve and celebrate together, remind us that we are your people, called to live with purpose, to share the Good News, and to shine with the light of Christ. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.