My friend Janine and I were recently talking about the topic of community in a healthy church. There is something about a healthy and growing community of faith that encourages deep relationships. It doesn't matter if you are a new attendee or a long standing member, relationships begin to develop.
She introduced me to a quote from Thomas Kelly in his book A Testament of Devotion:
When we are drowned in the overwhelming seas of the love of God, we find ourselves in a new and particular relation to a few of our fellows. The relationship is so surprising and rich that we despair of finding a word glorious enough and weighty enough to name it. The word Fellowship is discovered, but the word is pale in comparison with the rich volume and luminous bulk and warmth of the experience which it would designate. For a new kind of life-sharing and love has arisen of which we had only dim hints before. Are these the bonds of love which knit together the early Christians, the very warp and woof of the Kingdom of God? In glad amazement and wonder we enter upon a relationship which we had not known the world could contain for the sons of men. Why should such bounty be given to unworthy men like ourselves?
