First, a lament: Where have I been on our website for, lo, these many weeks — dare I say, months? Ugghhh. What a slacker. What a slug! Ah, me!

OK, that’s done. I am suitably self-chastened. Now, down to some business.

I have been doing quite a bit of reading lately. If you’re interested in what’s been passing under my curious eyeballs, you can click “What Dan’s Been Reading” under the “Reading” tab on the toolbar. Actually, the list isn’t truly up to date, but I’m adding to the list as I remember where I’ve been.

Presently, l’m reading The Aqua Church, by Len Sweet. The following quote caught my attention:

If community is that which is created by shared experiences, communities of faith are built from the sound up. Sharing the same mission, eating the same food, and singing the same melodies result in the experience of community.

Sweet, Leonard. AquaChurch 2.0: Piloting Your Church in Today’s Fluid Culture (p. 151). David C. Cook. Kindle Edition.

This is a simple way of describing the life of a relational church. I often advise people who want to build a church family to eat together and make singing a priority. Singing together calls a group of people to speak the same truths — the exact same truths — together at the same time. It is a community declaration of purpose. Far from a perfunctory component of a gathering, it is a needed opportunity to strengthen foundations and shore up the walls of faith.