Community and Congregational

January 2025

Those 2 words can carry many assumptions, generalizations, and a lack of excitement in themselves. Before Jenni and I became part of Enterprise Community Congregational Church, I did a little research on this Enterprise church to see just what those words stood for. I’m sure that a lot of us have experienced the feelings of trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. This same sort of paradoxical confusion can happen in churches as well. I didn’t want that to happen here.

What is interesting about the National Association of Community Congregational Churches is each church is formatted to be part of their own community and have the right to be who they are through Jesus Christ. This was very pleasing to me as there are times when each of us can feel that we are locked into an uncomfortable church because we don’t or can’t fit in the paradoxical confusion that can happen in churches, and we end up feeling freeze dried.

Jesus’ love is unconditional and His desire for communities, churches, and individuals is to grow in Him, through Him, and be blessed by Him. This only happens with people who seek to find out more about Him and feel accepted for who they are. The Bible is the inspired word of God, 2 Timothy 3:16,17, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” This is what we teach. I invite each of you to come and check us out.

Any direction that I feel would be good for the church, must be approved by the congregation through prayer and God’s leading. It’s been awesome being here for more than a full year now and having the honor in putting together a Pastor’s Report for 2024. On it there is a list of 15 things that have happened in our church and touching our community. New members are joining, visitors are coming, worship is flourishing. Each of us plays a part in who we are as a church and what we are becoming through God’s grace, wisdom, and guidance.

Please come and be part of where He is taking Enterprise Community Congregational Church. The apostle Paul said it best to the Supreme court of his day.  Acts 17: 28a “for in Him we live and move and have our being.”

Carry His blessing wherever you are,

Pastor John Chamberlain