This coming Sunday, October 4th, is the first of 3 consecutive Sundays of new members classes at Marble. If you are not a member, I invite you to become a member of our congregation. To those of you who are members already, this occasion gives us a chance to remember what our membership at Marble really means.

To be a member means that you are part of a single body. The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 12, talks about something called "The Body of Christ," which is the entity made up of all individuals who make a profession of faith in Christ and are part of a local church. If you are a member of a church, you are part of the Body of Christ.

What does that mean? A few things:

1) You are to do Christ's work in the world. Jesus isn't around—not in the flesh, at least! When Jesus left as a physical presence in the world, the plan was that his ministry—teaching, healing, praying, caring, loving—would continue. The work is shared by you and me—we are Christ's Body on earth. Being a part of the Body means doing the work that Jesus did.

2) You are never alone. When you are a part of a church , the relationship between you and other members of that church is sacred. If you could only see how Marble members mobilize to care for other members when they have needs, you would be astounded. To be part of the body means that you matter to others—they will walk with you through joy and disappointment--and they expect the same from you. As a part of the Body, you are never alone.

3) You have a share in glory. This one is the hardest to grasp, but it's perhaps the most important. To be part of the Body of Christ is to be part of God's movement to draw the world into a great and eternal circle of loving kindness. To be part of the Body is to have a share in God's future, which is beauty and justice and peace for all. In this life, through the church, we are granted glimpses of glory--union with God, life everlasting.

Join the Body. I hope it's Marble, but it can be any church. In doing so, you accept the incredible privileges and significant responsibilities of membership: you will love and care for the world, you will be there for others in need just as they will be there for you, and you will enjoy the life-changing blessing of experiencing the glory of God.

What's keeping you? Email me or Marian Patterson, Marble's New Member Coordinator, to ask questions about membership or to get signed up today!