My oldest friend and I have known each other for more than twenty years. We have been friends through many of life's momentous occasions - births, bereavements, weddings, funerals, Celebrations of all kinds...
But our friendship wasn't grown during those big, important, life changing moments.
Our friendship was grown during shared pots of tea, watching TV together, popping round to each others house to say hello, going to the tip together, texting random song lyrics, long and boring train journeys, keeping each other company in Asda, phone calls, assembling flat pack furniture, getting lost trying to get out of Leeds, freezing half to death at Bryan Adams concerts, plotting to put up the Christmas tree in July, sharing M&Ms while watching dodgy horror movies, dressing up for the Sound of Music, going to keep fit classes together, singing along to Bowie's finest creation (the Laughing Gnome track, of course)...
In short, our friendship was built on the ordinary, the routine, the humdrum, the everyday. That's how all friendships are formed. I can turn to my friend in life's big moments, because we have built a relationship in the little, ordinary moments.
And that is what Connect groups are all about. Building relationships through spending regular time together. The Connect group that meets in my home every Monday doesn't feel life changing. It doesn't feel like a momentous event. But friendships are being built, connections are being formed. And that is how church is built.
Relationships take time. They take commitment. I certainly couldn't build real relationships with anyone during the hustle and bustle of a Sunday morning service, in fact big crowds like that can be very lonely places.
So, if you are not in a Connect group, ask yourself why. And ask yourself on what you could be missing out on.
