Community as Sacrament???

As I recently mentioned, I've been thinking about such things as "church" and "community." As I got out of bed this morning, this question popped into my head: Is being a part of a "local church body" a sacrament?

I've never considered encountering the community of people at church as a sacrament. I mean, you have the sacrament of baptism and of communion (Catholics include some additional ones). But going to church--is that in itself a sacrament?

I was reading a book that referenced Thomas a Kempis' The Imitation of Christ. The way the author spoke, I sensed that reading this booked helped him such that more of Jesus got inside him. I liked that idea. And I ordered the book.

But this morning, as the craziness of life has begun to settle and I'm re-entering the sacred space, I see that I am spiritually "scattered." I've been in church detox for over three years now. This was a good and necessary season, and my relationship with God has grown stronger because of it. But, I feel scattered in a way I don't think I'm supposed to be.

And the question God gave me this morning to help me "chew" on this was: Is being a part of a local church body a sacrament?

The answer, I think, is yes...it is. The sacraments are all about marking the reality of the crazy fact that Jesus somehow "gets more in us." And by not being an active part of a "local church body," Jesus is not "in me" to the degree that He wants to be. Hence, the "scattered" feeling.

So, it appears I'm in transition time, yet again.

Jesus, thank you for your nearness to me through every season of life. Thank you for how you've pruned me during my time in church detox. But thank you for showing me how I now need to be in more active relationship within a local expression of your Body. Holy Spirit, please lead me and the missus to the place where we need to both be nourished and to nourish. Please help us "get more of Jesus inside us." Amen.