In Luke’s gospel, chapter 10, Jesus gives us the definition of who is our neighbor? He then tells the story of the good Samaritan. In the end the neighbor was the Samaritan who acted in kindness, . . . as God treats us! Jesus then replies “You go and do the same”. This was revolutionary! Before Christianity you could treat people badly—people that were different from you. You could mistreat them, and be justified for doing it. When Jesus showed up, everything changed! Our understanding of neighbor also comes from the German definition: the person that is closest to you at any particular time. My family is fortunate to have great neighbors living right next to us—the Trambley’s. Adam and I share a lot of “Hedge talk”, Jane and Laura share antidotes as being pastor’s wives and having two daughters, and our girls get to share fun on their trampoline, eating on our deck or just doing fun stuff as neighborhood kids. Adam and I get to share in more than a few pastoral connections together, with Budd Orphan board, West Hill Advisory board and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. It’s funny that we live, and also work within 50 ft of each other. We recently were asked to collaborate on an article for a new City of Sharon Newsletter that is being mailed to all Sharon residents. Adam and I go as involved pastors to bring hope and help cast vision for the City. Here is a reprint of that article.
Sharon is about HOPE!
Hope may not be the first thing that jumps into some people’s minds when they think of Sharon, but both of us really see the incredible opportunities and future for this community. We have seen young people walking around downtown looking at painted windows, thrilled to experience a different king of environment than the shopping malls of the suburbs. Hundreds of people have come together to clean up different street and neighborhoods over the past few months. Fifty people have given two Saturdays to talk about their dreams for our community and concrete steps to bring those dreams to a reality. Musicians are playing outside for Brown Bag Concerts and a second Blues Fest is in the works. Artists, businesses, churches and community groups are hosting new events in downtown Sharon. Standing on State Street on a Saturday as brides-to-be and prom-goers walk from store, the excitement is contagious.
Certainly, we have challenges, but we have the choice of how we face our difficulties. A despairing community, a community with no future, uses those challenges as an excuse not to bother. But a hopeful community made up of caring, hard-working people who are dedicated to themselves and their town doesn’t back down. A hopeful community pulls together to overcome their obstacles. A hopeful community knows that they will be stronger on the other side of their trials. A hopeful community knows that God isn’t finished with us yet, and whatever God has in store for us will be even better that what we have now, however different it might feel.Sharon is a hopeful community. We are hopeful enough to allow our challenges to pull us together instead of pushing us apart. We are hopeful enough to see a bright future that may not look exactly like the very good past. We are hopeful enough to do the hard work of change and growth to become a city in which our children and grandchildren will be proud to raise their children.
Sharon is about hope because our historic past is the solid foundation of our hopeful present and our vibrant future. We hope as you read through this newsletter, you’ll find something that you want to be a part. Together, we are transforming our present hope into our future reality.Agape—Rev. Richard Roberts & Rev. Adam Trambley
