By Kim Sechler

Do you remember the TV show “Cheers”? The show made its debut in 1982 and became one of the most popular situation comedies. I didn’t watch very many episodes, but the characters and the nature of their interactions remind me of what the church could be like.

The setting was a Boston bar named Cheers. Let me refresh your memory who the characters are. Sam Malone, the Cheers owner and a former Red Sox pitcher. Diane was the waitress who had an on-and-off relationship with Sam. Then there was Carla, a waitress with an attitude and a razor-sharp tongue to go with it. Her wit didn’t lack any imagination. There were the regular patrons like Cliff (postman and mama’s boy) and Norm.

Remember coach and Woody? No bar scene is complete without Frazier, the neurotic psychiatrist, who was married to Lilith. Lilith’s presence was like a cold winter day.

Remember the theme song?

Wouldn’t you like to get away?

Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name

And they’re always glad you came

You wanna be where you can see our troubles are all the same

You wanna go where people know people all the same

You wanna go where everybody knows your name

The characters come from a variety of backgrounds with personalities to fit gathering in a place where they can let their hair down and be embraced for who they are; warts and all. What kept them coming back again and again? I bet it was the relationships and an atmosphere of acceptance and belongingness. If you listen close enough you’ll hear the hurts, fears, disappointments and failures.

Sounds like that is what the church should be. A place where misfits can gather to strengthen their vertical and horizontal relationships. A place where you can see our troubles are all the same and where people know people are all the same. It is when we isolate ourselves that we feel our troubles are unique to us.

Community Church is not Cheers so everybody won’t know your name, but we all have troubles. Stamped on everyone’s forehead is the invisible word fragile.

Take a risk. Join a group. Who knows? You’ll meet people who want to know your name.

Kim Sechler is a pastor at Green Bay Community Church