Fall and Winter plans

Hey guys. It's time that we start thinking about our plans for the fall as our time at Festival Park will soon be up. There's a number of possibilities, but before we formally investigate any of them I thought we should have an in-house discussion on these things first.

First, we are thinking about cutting back to one meeting at Wayside per month. I think we've built up some incredible momentum having a regular meeting every week lately, and I think we might be better served (not to mention being able to better minister to others) by going to Wayside once a month and doing our meetings with lunch 3 times a month. We could meet all 4 weeks and make Wayside an "extra thing" on top, but given that we believe serving others should be part of the regular rhythm of worship for all of us, I don't think that's a real good idea. The last thing we want to do is make serving at Wayside become an "extra credit question" that only a few people care to do. Besides, I think the guests have really been touched that all of us, by our regular attendance at the center, have shown a vested interest in their lives. Another idea would be to set up a 2nd serving event in the city- this is something Julianne had mentioned. We are exploring all options at this point, and I am curious as to your thoughts.

With regards to a meeting place, we could go back to meeting at our house, but I actually think we shouldn't meet in a private home any longer. I fear that new people may be far less likely to consider checking the church out if we're meeting in the home of someone they've never met. To an outsider, it might seem a bit cultish. With that said, I think a public place is a better option. Some have mentioned renting a place, which we could do, but I would prefer a place that normal people hang out in like a bar or bowling alley. I think new people would be much more likely to check a church out that meets in a non-threatening spot like that (especially when followed by bowling!) . Given that we place a high value on redeeming places like this that the church usually forgets, I think such a place would be ideal. I tend to think you agree, but I am welcome to any dissenters.

So assuming you agree on this, we move on to discussing the geographic location where this should be done. It seems that right now, somewhat of a partnership is developing between ourselves and Wayside, and given that a few Wayside guests have been attending our meetings lately, it would seem a location not far from Wayside would work well. Given that many of them don't drive and that they need somewhere to eat on Sundays, I think a location close to them (like Elgin Lanes or a bar near Festival Park, for instance) might be preferred. However, I am nervous about the distance some of us would have to keep travelling. We never planned a location in Elgin when we started this whole thing, but up to this point, it seems that's how God has orchestrated things. If we didn't have any new people coming, we could meet anywhere, but I feel we may have to consider those new attenders as we pick our location....do you agree?

Anyway, I am curious to your thoughts on these things. What are your thoughts of only going to Wayside once a month going forward? Do you have any other specific thoughts on serving? What are your thoughts as to where we should meet? Let's get some discussion started here, and we can continue the discussion a bit this Sunday.

Sunday, Aug 30

We'll (Jess and Eli) bring the sandwiches this week. What's everyone else bringing?

Remember this week is the due date for the school supply boxes as well as the day Julianne asked us to have donations of clothes, etc ready for her to pick up!

See you then!

Some reflections

Hey guys- I was thinking about something after yesterday's meeting that I thought I'd share with you.
In 1 Samuel 22 we read about where David hid from Saul in the cave of Adullam. As David hid there in exile, we read in verse 2 that "everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered unto him....there were about 400 men with him." Maybe you're familiar with the passage, maybe you're not- but I thought of that yesterday and how that should be a description of the church. The church should be known as the place where those down on their luck, in debt, and in distress can find refuge in a dangerous world.

I thought it was so cool how Maureen, Sylvia, and Diane joined us for the meeting yesterday, and how they were able to share that in the midst of the tough time they're going through right now, we have been a blessing to them, and how they plan to continue attending. As they shared, they have experienced Christ's love through our community, and I am so thankful for that.

But as I left, I thought again about that description of David and those that rallied around him. How cool would it be, I thought, if someday, Festival Park on Sunday mornings became known as the place to gather if you're down on your luck or in distress- and it was the place where all those in distress, in debt, and discontented gathered to hear the hope available in Christ. Where the local enforcement was a bit confused as to how to handle this huge gathering that occurred every Sunday morning, where Latino, white, African american and who knows else who was down on their luck gathered together as one big family in Christ. It sounds crazy and impossible- but a year ago I would have thought turning a small group into a church that has homeless people coming to its meetings was impossible. I don't know about you, but the mere vision of that excites me more than you can imagine. Who knows what God might do?

Lunch for Sunday

What's everyone bringing for lunch this Sunday? The Steenlages will be out of town, so unfortunately you're on your own as far as coffee is concerned!

Remember the usual stuff, chairs, blankets, tables, extra bibles....

Is everyone remembering what Susie suggested on Sunday? If you weren't there, she suggested everyone bring EXTRA chairs this week and that we should all be praying daily that God fills them up, let's see what he can do!

Sunday Lunch

The Kirsch's are planning to supply the sandwiches again, what's everyone else bringing?

Remember your tables, chairs, blankets and extra bibles if you've got 'em!

see you Sunday!

Yielding to Christ

So building on our discussion yesterday, what do you think it means to yield to Christ in the everyday? As Ephesians 3 tells us, we're not called to try really, really hard to have inner strength, nor are we asked to try really, really hard to be loving- but our only job is to yield to Christ. When we learn to simply yield to the indwelling Spirit, He will make us strong, and it naturally follows that Christ will be really at home in our hearts. In turn, when Christ is at home in our hearts, His love fills every room in our house, so to speak, and His love will naturally exude out of our life.
So if our only task, our only "marching orders" to remember are to yield to Christ, exactly what do you think that means? What are your thoughts? Can you think of any examples we can learn from?

Church in the park this Sunday

Let's get the planning going!

Angela and Jeff will be providing the sandwiches again, this time from Jewel or maybe Subway. They have a family reunion this weekend and only Jeff will be there, so let's try, if we can, to show up a little early for Jeff's sake to get things set up before he plans to start so he can leave on time!

I also had the idea that we could be bringing some extra bibles to share/give to visitors if they don't come with them. This is probably a more important expense than a tent, what does everyone think? I bet we all have at least one extra one lying around at home somewhere!

As for food, Eli and I will bring coffee and snacks for the morning, as well as a pasta salad. What else do we need?

As for other supplies, bring your chairs, tables and blankets as usual. Were those Scott and Rikki's tables last Sunday? Does someone else have a table they can bring in case Scott and Rikki can't make it?

Other ideas? Do we have a plan for the kids this week?

here is a link to a website that offers cases of bibles at a discount price

this link offers bibles for CHEAP, but looks like its ONLY King James versions