Konoba or Koinonia?
Monday 8th July
Morning all - hope you've all had a great week!
You may or may not know, but we've been away on our holibobs this past week - and just yesterday got back from a very special week in Croatia together! (It goes without saying that this morning was quite the shock to the system!).
First off - a HUMUNGOUS thanks must go to everyone who stepped up and served in different ways (up front and behind the scenes) in order to allow me the time off; knowing the place was left in such good hands just added to the huge blessing of the week!
If you have never been fortunate to go - Croatia is absolutely beautiful! There is so much that we all adored about the place, but it was the people we met there who will forever hold a very special place in our hearts. There was such a warmth of welcome, and a different way (and pace) of life, that made the whole experience just so impactful.
Lost in Translation...?
One of the things I love about travel is trying to pick up just a little bit of the language - which, as the family will tell you, often produces hilarious results!
One of the days we were looking for a restaurant with the name
Konoba Fortin, and walking along the harbour front noticed that a lot of the cafes and restaurants had the word:
Konoba in front of them. Once we've found the place (thank you google maps!) I did a quick google search (what did we do before google?!) to see what the word meant.
It is used to describe a type of tavern or inn - but it actually is better translated as a "refuge" than "restaurant". Rather than simply describing a place where food and drink are served,
Konoba is an atmosphere of welcome, comfort and rest.
"Konoba is a place where respect for human work, the art of creation, and the art of living are expressed."
There are even old Croatian songs that sing about
Konobas as holy places - where people are embraced and known, where the community and it's story is kept and honoured, and where deep conversation and laughter are held as an essential and sacred part of life.
This was definitely our experience of the
Konobas we visited, and a huge part of the way of life we fell in love with!
After eating at one Konoba the waitress brought over some complementary drinks for us all. These were after dinner drinks that her father has perfected as a way of welcoming guests to his wife's Konoba. It was delicious, so I asked if it was for sale - but it wasn't - it is only available here in this one specific place.
It struck me as special that we weren't being offered a free sample of her dad's side-hustle - it was simply a gift to add the experience of Konoba.
Konoba or koinonia...
All of which got me thinking about life back here in the UK... and especially about Church Life.
There has been a trend over the past decade or so of producing bigger and better "church shows"... services and events that are attractive by nature - but very much focused on what's happening on stage, at the front, and can be very performance-driven.
There is nothing wrong at all with wanting to give our very best to God in worship - but there can definitely be a really unhealthy focus on numbers
for numbers sake rather on the people themselves. We're in danger of trading
Konoba for
conference -
doing-life-together for
Sunday-services -
walking-together for
running-church...
There's a stunning picture of the early church in Acts 2:
"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.
All the believers were together and had everything in common.
They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.
Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.
They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people.
And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."
ACTS 2.42-47
The Greek word for this is koinonia - a shared (or common) experience... a shared life.
At the route of the word is:
common - (we get our word
community from this) and captures the idea of that which is held in common. It's also where we get the word
commitment from - because community takes commitment... everyone participating and investing together in the vision of a shared life!
In the Konobas we experienced there was a lovely sense that it mattered that
we were there, and not just another body taking up another chair. I wonder how often people get that experience of church - that there is a genuine interest in
them and
their story.
The older I get, and the longer I'm in ministry (20 years this September believe it or not!), the less interested I become in putting on the best "church show" in town, and the more hungry I am to be part of this type of Konoba life ...this koinonia ...this God-honouring, Christ-inspired, Spirit-fostered fellowship.
A place where welcome and embrace are held as a sacred duty
A place where can truly be known - and truly know one another
A place where serving others is a joyful privilege and not a tiresome chore
A place where everyone's gifts can be appreciated as participators and not spectators
A place where it matters that
you are here, as part of the life and story of the place
I think the
Konoba vision is far closer to
"koinonia" that we see in Acts 2. It is the kind of community the Holy Spirit builds, and speaks powerfully to our deepest human needs.
Koinonia takes commitment.
It takes openness.
It takes welcome.
It takes everyone.
What one step could each of us take this week to share a deeper sense of
koinonia with our church... and our community?
