Ok, So, Now What?

Yes, last week was that Sunday we’ve been talking about for like six months or something.  We called it “Redemption Sunday.”

When we planned Redemption Sunday, I’m pretty sure a lot of us were at home trying to avoid spreading covid, or trying to avoid getting covid, or trying to maybe just stay at home because we could.  (The introverts know who we are.)

But the question is now what?  

Seriously, It would be a huge mistake to consider Redemption Sunday just a day unto itself.  A single day of celebration at the end of summer.  Please don’t do that.

This is actually the beginning of something new.  A whole new ministry year is starting and we have some great new plans to move forward as a community.  And I want you to join us.

On Sundays this year we will have what’s called coffee corner from 9-10.  Join us and spend time chatting.  Have you ever noticed that if you go into most fast food restaurants in the mornings, there is a group of folks sitting and chatting?  You know why?  Because people long for community.  Whether its McDonalds, Starbucks, Tap-in Tavern, or the Main Street Bar the people are there for community.

If our mission is to move the kingdom of God forward in the world (and it’s supposed to be whether we feel that or not), then we can only do it by growing in community.  So that’s what coffee corner is for.

At 10 we will worship.  It’s been said that worship is really about the community of God praising God together.  It’s also how God shapes us and reminds us weekly who we are and whose we are.  Worship is crucial for shaping us because it’s one hour a week when we intentionally put our focus on something greater than ourselves.  We should do that more than an hour a week by the way, but I’m thinking that’s another topic for another time.

At 11 we will have this time we call “Discipleship Classes.”  After nursery age we will have classes for age groups all the way through elementary school.  One of my favorite things about these classes is that the adult leaders who are participating in the classes wont be considered “teachers.”  We are in the process of shedding the old idea that discipleship is a transfer of knowledge from an older person to a younger one.  Discipleship is a group of people learning to navigate life by the grace of God in Jesus Christ.  We never arrive and we can all learn from each other.  The hope is that the adults and young people in their “Discipleship Class” will be able to do just that.

Then the rest of us will be able to gather in the commons, get coffee and food while we do a very brief large group presentation, (this is a discipleship class too, but you can call it whatever you want) and then break up into small groups for discussion.  There will be small group specifically for our students to gather, but the students will be a part of the large group teaching and then their discussion will be in their small group.  I will be leading this time, but I would ask you to consider joining the same small group each time to help better facilitate your own growth in relationships.  Some of us may even want to consider being really adventurous and joining a group of people for this time that we don’t already know as well.

The primary focus this year is relationships.  We have suffered a great deal in that area these past couple years.  With all the separating and arguing that’s gone on in our world, it has been hard for many of us.  Now we must set that aside and strive to rebuild a community that reflects the gospel, the kingdom of God, and the story of redemption.  If you are reading this, you are welcome to come and be a part of that community.

Join us Sundays at 9, 10, or 11 (or all three) and let’s start redeeming these days together.