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Hernando Today

Why Join A Faith Community?

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By MAUREA SLEESMAN Hernando Today correspondent

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 21, 2009

Question: Why is it important for individuals and families to be active in a faith community?

I began with an early interviewee and favorite pastor, the Rev. Chet Okopski. For several years his Grace Presbyterian church roadside signage included quippish attraction, such as "Having trouble sleeping? Come hear our sermons."

He plays a mean blues harp too, and the church ice cream socials invite the community to enjoy the lighter side of life.

The church has a large puppet ministry that includes a minister, a look-alike "altar ego puppet" of Pastor Okopski. To lend a smile, both were asked to pose for this interview. (The puppet once pronounced married a husband and wife in nuptials requested by the bride who had attended the church since her youth.)

Seriously, Pastor Okopski reflected on the importance of worship: "From James Alison: Why we worship. Alison writes: 'God has no desire for us to worship him for his sake; he needs no worship, no adulation, no praise, no glory. No divine ego is flattered, stability maintained, nor is any petulance staved off by our worship.

"No, the only person for whom it matters that we worship God is ourselves. It is entirely to our benefit that we are commanded to worship God, because if we don't we will have no protection at all against the other sort of worship. We will allow our hearts to be formed by the desires of the contradictory social order that is around us, and that heart will eventually participate in its own heartbreak and self-destruction.'

"In short, Alison says that we worship for our own good. For without worship, human beings are inclined to worship the lesser things around us like money, power, prestige, our governments and political leaders ... Many folks have no spiritual home. If a party or a candidate represents God's truth to you, then (some people think) it's okay to be mean-spirited to others about your politics....

"Regular worship protects your soul from centering upon wealth, work, possessions, politics or relationships for its truth and life. It elevates our consciousness to a place where we can look from above at all of the things of the world."

Pastor Matt Ellis of First Baptist Church of Brooksville wrote: "Life's a battle! Anyone who would disagree isn't watching the news from around our country and world. In a battle, a commander would never think of sending a single soldier out to fight the enemy. It would be a suicide mission. But if that soldier is sent out with a group of other fellow soldiers, he may have a fighting chance of coming out victorious at the end of the day.

"The church is a great place to gain those sorts of relationships with other 'soldiers.' It's a place where we can come to celebrate how wonderful our Commanding General is, the God-Man Jesus Christ and realize that He has made a way for us to share eternity with Him."

Rev. Dr. Carlan Helgeson is the new pastor at Spring Hill United Church of Christ. He said, "At this church we don't judge people. We leave that to God. I have been in mission posts on three different continents and have seen the same longing for love in every culture. I believe that God wants us to draw near, together."

From a Jewish perspective, Sheila Friedman writes: "To answer your question of why it's important to belong to and be active in a faith community, here is my response.

"I was born Jewish and have always embraced my heritage. The first thing I did when my husband and I were planning to move to Spring Hill 21 years ago, was to seek out a Temple, specifically Temple Beth David, as it is the only Jewish house of worship in Hernando County.

"In these difficult times, being part of the Jewish community reinforces the ethical values with which I was raised and the opportunity to share the culture of the Jewish people. The socialization with like-minded people from similar backgrounds connects me to my Jewish roots through observances of life cycle events. My Jewish identity is highly personal and I receive comfort and feel a connection to God each time I enter the sanctuary."

As clergy and congregations encourage growth, there is a desire to help people to be in community and better relationship with God and each other. A first interview with Rev. Kristin Wee of Nativity Lutheran a few years ago put another good reason to join a faith community into perspective: "Jesus was hard at work breaking down barriers that separate people. Being a minister challenges me to not form stereotypes about other people, but to honor them as individuals.

"Having a stereotype might limit my ability to see clearly those individuals and their special gifts. As we learn about each other, let's build community within our places of worship and also throughout our community with respect, understanding and cooperation. We need each other."

Writer's note: After nine years of weekly interviews and writing about local faith communities, I must retire to be caretaker for my ornery Republican Methodist husband, as he is now an invalid. The good part is that we will have more time for Super Scrabble and hobbies. Our cat - Queen Ginny - can demand fresh kibbles 24/7, and I can catch her a redfish when the tides are just right.

So I moseyed through my steno scribbles and computer files and asked for some new quotes to focus on why it's important to be active in a faith community. I thank all of the amazing, kind and witty faithful people I have interviewed for adding such depth and breadth of faith to my own journey... I shall miss you, although you may see me quietly visiting some of your evening events.

Where do they meet?

In your neighborhood

When?

Often. Call office

Cost: Priceless

Next week's farewell column will focus on children, youth and charity outreach perspectives within faith communities.

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