Together we have two pennies
There is a prevailing notion in our society that churches often don’t really do anything meaningful, that they are not concerned about the community or that they are really irrelevant, often locking out those that need it. In my two years here in Ambler, I have found one of the most active and faithful group of ministers and layleaders I have ever experienced, the Wissahickon Faith Community Association.
The most beautiful gift that this group of colleagues brings to the table is the fact that we all come from different faith traditions, theological backgrounds, and ideologies; however, I have never seen a group that is more concerned with the larger community. The concern is not to proselytize or to convert, but to really be a source of human companionship, to relieve suffering, and to find long term solutions to problems that are plaguing the area in which we live.
At our last gathering, and after some general catch-up among those present, we spent the majority of our time talking about food scarcity, the need for afterschool programs, and affordable housing (especially for seniors). The particular thing about this group is that don’t just sit around and talk, they are ready to get involved and actually do the work.
The number of houses of worship that are involved in helping organizations like Mattie Dixon Food Cupboard or Family Promise of Montgomery County is incredible. And even though each of us as individual communities struggle with our own lack of volunteers or financial resources, we all realize that we are called to contribute to the needs of our community as an example of our own faith journey, as a witness of the Creator God’s love for us. And we know that working together we can do more, and provide for more, than we can on our own.
When I was much younger, my parish priest and his wife had three young children, and as an Episcopal priest and a school teacher did not make a great deal of money. They would often do things with another family and his wife would say “we have a penny and you have a penny, together we have two pennies and we can do more with two than one.” The value of working in a community was a huge influence on my life, and the faith leaders of this community are living examples of this.
So first, I challenge you to thank them. Thank them for their leadership and their hard work. Thank them for having to learn and do things that were foreign to them before COVID, for stepping outside their own comfort zones to continue to be present to you during these challenging times.
And second, get involved! Check into their social outreach or mission programs. Find out how they are really active in the community, and truly investigate how you might help. You don’t even have to be a member of one of our churches, synagogues or mosques … you can be a person that does not even believe in God, you can be a believer that does not want to be part of an organized religion but wants to be part of something larger than yourself. Check us out, call one of our members and find out what the need is and see for yourselves how involved we are in the community! It might surprise you.
Remember, together we have two pennies … and we can do so much more!