Koinonia

Koinonia: fellowship
The use of the original Greek word emphasises the strength and importance of this

concept within the Christian faith.

Koinonia means ‘that which is in common’ and is often translated as ‘fellowship’ or ‘community’. Other translations might include ‘union’,‘partnership’, or ‘being yoked together’. A yoke is a shaped piece of wood that goes across the shoulders, often linking two animals. By combining their strength, it helps work to be done and burdens to be carried.

Koinonia expresses the quality of relationship within the Christian community. It is based on fellowship with Jesus. Through him, Christians share the relationship that Jesus has with God. In John 17, Jesus prays that all his followers may be ‘perfectly one’ as he and the Father are one. Through him, Christians become sons and daughters of God and therefore brothers and sisters of each other. They are all members of the same family.

A central element of being a family is interdependence: all are needed and valued and
each person is important to the whole. The same message is found in Paul’s image of the Christian community as the body of Christ. Each member of the body shares the joys and sufferings of the others and each depends upon every else.

The foundation of Christian koinonia is Christ’s self giving on the cross, the supreme demonstration of his love for all. We love because he loved us first.

For the first Christians, this was expressed in a genuine common life with shared meals, shared possessions and practical support for the poor. The Christian church today continues to serve not only those within the Christian community but any who are in need.

In Term 2, the children who were voted by their peers to win the Koinonia award were:

Ladybirds - Rory

Butterflies - Nailah

Barn Owls - Charlotte

Red Squirrels - Finn

Hedgehogs - Louie K

Rabbits - Thea

Puffins - Abigail

Woodpeckers - Harry

Kingfishers - Haliya

Otters - Suri

Badgers - Alvin

Robins - Vidyan

Swans - Lylah

Foxes - David