'In the shelter of each other, we will live' ...

Last week as I was looking toward Covenant Sunday in The Meadow, I pulled into the parking lot of Northshore's Kroger while listening to Love 89.1. The song on the radio had captured my attention with its chorus:

In the shelter of each other, we will live, we will live (you will never walk alone)

In the shelter of each other, we will live, we will live

 As I listened, two things became clear: first, this was a song that spoke clearly of an authentic faith community; second, this song was from a Jars of Clay CD that had been in my possession since late last summer. It was a pre-release promotional CD I had been given entitled, "The Shelter."

 The more I listened to the song, the more convinced I was that it was appropriate for today's Covenant Renewal Service at Green Meadow. This song, in fact, is the lyrical image of what it means to be in fellowship at Green Meadow.

I have been part of the community of faith that worships at Green Meadow for nearly nine years now. During that time, I have seen them "walk" with near strangers struggling with cancer, a fellow community member facing a double-lung transplant, the homeless, those in recovery, and countless others -- including their pastor, who six years ago was undergoing treatment for hepatitis C.

Truly, this is an authentic community of faith.

And we will never walk alone ...