Interested in Membership?
Finding a church home is a journey of the heart. We all long for a deeper connection to a community of faith that can help us discern God’s calling and our place in the world. The United Congregational Church of Tolland is home to a diverse community of faith that finds God in a variety of practices, not just worship on Sunday mornings. Our enthusiasm for community building, for welcoming the stranger or someone new to our particular church, and opening our hearts and minds to faith, is contagious -- and opportunities to serve God are blooming.
What does it mean to be a member of the church and why would one consider it? This is a question I often receive from non-church goers as well as folks who come to worship regularly but have never formally “joined” the church. One of the distinctive characteristics of Christian faith is that it is shared. It occurs in community, in the company of others. From the Old Testament – Genesis 12:2, “I will make of you a great people” to the New Testament – Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am in the midst of them,” this faith draws people into community with others who share their vision, story, values, hopes and dreams. While personal faith and individual commitment are important, it is God’s purpose to create a people who are the light of the world.
The church offers us opportunities to grow individually, communally, and relationally into authentic and grace-filled human beings. Why? Because we are created in God’s image and God’s image is community; three in one, three natures, three voices, all working together as One. For God, living as Trinity is nourishing and sustaining. For human beings, living in community takes work. Learning to accept and love another as God loves and accepts us requires a commitment to something bigger than ourselves. It moves us out of the world’s mentality of me and mine, into God’s realm of us and ours. As the Apostle Paul taught us, the church is the Body of Christ. We need each other’s gifts. Our faith is strengthened, tested, and deepened as we share in the life of a community of faith. And a commitment to discipleship assures that we are held in the thoughts and prayers of our community during the inevitable low and dry times in our lives.
Joining a congregation is an important step in the journey of faith. In becoming a member a person says, “Yes, I am a part of this church as a disciple seeking to follow Jesus. This community and this journey are central to my life.” A Congregation says, “Yes, you are a part of this congregation. We are blessed by the gifts and perspectives of persons who are new among us. How the Holy Spirit works and moves through each of us is central to our call.” Becoming a part of a church community is a coming home, a belonging, a knowing and being known. And this church community is one of the best homes I know! Come and worship with us. You just might find what you’ve been looking for. If you would like more information please fill out the form below.