Have you ever wondered, what is the church according to the Bible? Many people think the church is a big building with walls, lights, and a cross on top. But the Bible teaches us something very different. The real meaning of the church is not about a place it’s about people. The church is made up of everyone who believes in Jesus Christ and follows His teachings. It’s a family of God’s children joined together by faith and love. The word church comes from the Greek word “Ekklesia,” which means “called-out ones.” It tells us that the church is made up of people whom God has called out of darkness into His light people who belong to Him and live for His purpose.
Many people think of the church as a physical place a hall, a chapel, or a grand cathedral. But according to the Bible, the real church is not made of bricks and walls. It is made of hearts that believe in Jesus. Every believer is a living part of the body of Christ. Whether we meet in a big church, a small room, or even online God’s presence is there because His people are there. The true church is alive wherever believers gather in His name.
The Bible gives a beautiful picture of what the church truly is the body of Christ. This means that every believer, no matter where they live or who they are, is a part of Jesus’ living body on earth. The church is not just an organization but a living connection between Christ and His people. Ephesians 1:22–23 says, “God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way.” This shows that Jesus is the center, and we, His followers, are united in Him through love and faith.
When the Bible talks about the church, it means the body of Christ living people filled with God’s Spirit, walking in unity, helping one another, and spreading His truth. So, whenever believers come together to pray, to worship, or to serve, that’s where the real church is. When we read the Bible, the meaning of the church in the Bible is far more special than just a building or a Sunday meeting.
Unity gives the church strength. When we stand together in faith and prayer, the Holy Spirit moves powerfully among us. Ephesians 4:3 reminds us, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Unity doesn’t mean we are all the same, but that we love and support one another despite our differences. In that love, God’s power and presence shine the brightest.
In that Unity, on June 14, 2026, at St. Stephen’s we will commemorate Juneteenth. The holiday’s name, first used in the 1890s, is a portmanteau of June and nineteenth, referring to June 19, 1865, the day when Major General Gordon Granger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas at the end of the American Civil War.
Early Juneteenth celebrations date back to 1866, at first involving church-centered community gatherings in Texas. They spread across the South among newly freed African-Americans and their descendants and became more commercialized in the 1920s and 1930s, often centering on a food festival. Participants in the Great Migration brought these celebrations to the rest of the country
The holiday is considered the “longest-running African-American holiday and has been called “America’s second Independence Day. Bloomfield will celebrate Juneteenth with a community event on June 20, 2026, featuring live entertainment, a parade, food, and family-friendly activities.
Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Gospel – Matthew 9:35-10:8 (9-23)
Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.
These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. [Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food. Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. As you enter the house, greet it. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
“See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”]
How to celebrate Third Sunday after Pentecost
Attend Liturgy: Participate in your local church’s service, either in person or via livestream. The liturgical color for the season of Pentecost is green, symbolizing growth and new life.
Study the Weekly Readings: The lectionary typically focuses on themes of courage, walking in the freedom of the Spirit, and avoiding the “desires of the flesh” in favor of loving your neighbor. Reflect on how these themes apply to your daily routine.
Engage in Acts of Service: Embody Christ’s teachings by actively serving your local community. This can be as simple as helping a neighbor, volunteering time, or donating to a charity.
Connect with the Church Family: Use this day to strengthen your sense of community. Host a fellowship meal, coffee hour, or picnic to connect with others.
Spend Time in Creation: The season of Pentecost emphasizes the Holy Spirit bringing life. Take a nature walk, tend to a garden, or spend quiet time outdoors thanking God for the world around you.
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church 