Community Come-Together (12/17/2025)

Last evening, my husband and I hosted the neighborhood Holiday gathering. We called it the Christmas Come-Together. We live in a condo association, and annually, we try to gather twice a year: in December and in July. It is wonderful coming together with neighbors we haven’t had a chance to visit lately. And while some would call it a “party,” well, we know it really is a community-builder.

Oh, there was food, lots of food, a spread of all kinds of dishes, brought by the different neighbors who had the same thing in mind, conversations with friends. Some sat at the table, some stood, some sat in the den, but everyone was talking. No one sat alone, silent. I loved it. I stopped a time or two as the hostess to step to the edge and look over the come-together to make sure no one was left out, no one was alone. But every time, to my delight, I found that everyone was partaking of the opportunity to build community, to build relationships. Did I mention there was a lot of laughter?

After everyone left and the left over food and dishes were cleared, I went to the porch to give thanks for the day and for the gathering, the coming together of neighbors, the building of the community. And as I sat and prayed and meditated on the purpose of this season, I recognized that Jesus came to make us whole again, to reconcile us so we were no longer separated from our LORD and to conquer sin and death. I realized all over again that one of the best ways to celebrate His gift is to seek to bring wholeness to our own corners of the world in His name and for His glory.

As we continue our advent journey built on faith, buoyed by our hopes, and fueled by our love for Him and one another, let us keep in mind His desire that we be one not only with His loving Father but with one another. Let us seize the opportunities that arise to build stronger and more loving relationships with one another and to bring them to the LORD in prayer for blessing.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.