Last time I spoke, I described the church as a set of interlocking communities. We are:

• A community of peace,
• A community at mission,
• A community of care,
• A prophetic community,
• A community of witness.
• A community of power.

It is in this context that Jesus gave his instruction: I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." Our story of Peter from the first reading shows God speaking of a new way, with the past barriers broken down, and our second reading speaks of a new Jerusalem, a new holy city, a new heaven and earth.

The Christian community is to be a new community, different from those in the past. It is not an old community reformed, but a radically different expression of social interaction. The work of Jesus on the cross brings a new opportunity for relationship with God. This outcome is a community characterised by love. Love is the fundamental building block for the community of faith. The overwhelming growth of the early church came about because of their overwhelming love of the Christian community, not only for their own members, but the stranger, the sojourner and the alien.

An encounter with the Christian Community is to be an encounter with the love of God. This love - John 3:16 says it all - God so loved that he gave.

Do we have this love? Were a stranger to come among us, would they become aware of this love? Until this answer is an overwhelming yes, with no ifs or buts, we have still some way to go. Even though we are doing well as a church, there is still something more to aim for. We should not be satisfied with anything less.

Our purpose is to live in such a way that we enable the people of this area to encounter God. We are called to be more than a mutual admiration society; we are to be a people who reach outside to influence others. To be a people who focus on the other rather than ourselves.

Love is to be our motivator. It is not only those who belong that we are to love, but we need to emulate God who proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Our calling is to reach out in love; to be generous in love to bring others into the experience of the love of God.

This calling is both individual and corporate, and we will only achieve it corporately if you and I master this as individuals. We must concentrate on love, making it our priority to be known as loving people. This is not about the mushiness seen on our film screens, but about being people who are looking out for the good of others.

This is not easy, for no matter how good we feel we are at doing this, God will bring across our path someone who is difficult to love. It is easy to love some people, and to look out for them, but there are some people who seem to do everything to make it hard. And for each of us these may be different people. Some of you may know the series, "One Foot in the Grave" which can is now on the ABC on Monday nights. Perhaps I laugh because I know the world is full of Mr Meldrews. But it is these difficult people that help us to grow in Christ-likeness. We may not have the inner strength to deal with them, but that is not a problem, for when we reach the end of our resources, God promises to help. He has promised us his Spirit to help. Jesus who lives in us as Christians will love the unlovable for us, if we are prepared to allow him to do so. Often the other will have wounded us, and our response is quite justified. But the love that God demands must rise above it.

For us to be a community of love - we must take courage to deal with these persons. Let us spend a moment, and ask God to show us who they are, but let us not leave it there. We may not feel that we are ready to forgive them, so let us also ask him to love them for us. As we come to the Altar rail this morning, let us hand over to our heavenly father these difficult people and as we walk away, let us be prepared to leave the situation in God's hands.

Let us continue to build a community of love to the glory of God.