Neighbourhood Pastor

Living the "Jesus Creed" compels us to not just look for opportunities to love our neighbours,
but to try and find new ways to show love for our neighbours.

We become "pastors" to our neighbours.
(Pastor means shepherd, and all shepherds know their sheep by name.)

What would it look like to start to see yourself as your neighbourhood pastor?
First, you'd probably get to know the names of your neighbourhood congregation.
Who are they, what's their story, what do they do?

Second, if you didn't know someone, you'd take the time to introduce yourself.
(Just to be clear, at this point it might not be wise to introduce yourself as the "Neighbourhood Pastor," that might freak them out a bit. Just introduce yourself as a neighbour.)

Then you'd simply see them through the eyes of a Shepherd, wanting nothing but the best for them, trying to find ways to bless them.

The toughest roadblock to living like a neighbourhood pastor might be familiarity.
You've lived in the same house for several years, and you still don't know the person who lives two doors down. At least once a week you wave the them and say, "Hi...neighbour," because you're embarrassed to admit you don't know his/her name.

Guess what- 99% of the time they don't know your name either!
They wish they knew your name,
but they are too embarrassed to make the first move.

If you do nothing else this week to love your neighbours,
just do this one thing:

Introduce yourself to a neighbor.
Take over a plate of cookies.
Offer to help them shovel their driveway.
Ask them about their kids.
Start living like the neighbourhood pastor.

(And like I promised on Sunday, I'll even come over and ordain you if you think that will help!)