I am on the launch team for our church plant "Crossings" in Acton. We have an awesome team. God has richly blessed us with talent and spirit of one-ness. Somehow, in the height of disagreement, there is concensus. While we all have differant ideas, likes and dislikes, we are united by Gods Holy Spirit. We have an amazing Pastor who is perfectly suited for the job. We have a number of families who's dedication to God and the vision to make Christ more visible in Acton, led them to buy a local bar. This wasnt just any bar. This was the worst bar for miles. It was nick named "the bucket of blood" and it was an absolute den of iniquity. Now Gods praises can be heard resonating from that building. Some people who used to frequent the bar, are returning under differant circumstances.
The music director, Tim, who is also on the launch team, decided to focus more on the music venue. Part of the plan is to have a community entertainment venue. We will bring in bands, hold concerts and functions in the Roxy Music Hall. Tim will focus on Roxy music as we get closer to opening. In fact, there will be an album release party there in a couple of weeks. The youth currently use the hall for open mic, once a month. This brings in about 100 youth per event. Some of these youth come out on Sundays now.
I was appointed the new music director. My function is to take responsibility for the praise and worship music program at Crossings Church. We have a number of fine and aspiring musicians. We also know that more will be coming. Many of these musicians are "new to Christ". As music drector it will be important for me to encourage and help grow our musicians.
We have announced a sign up sheet for anyone who wants to be on the Praise Team. We have been recruiting now for a few weeks, and it is time to begin. We have about a dozen people with varying musical talent. We have elected to have one Praise Team and rotate musicians, versus establishing seperate teams. There are pros and cons for each. We just think that right now we want to maintain a spirit of one-ness. Lesser musicians will have opportunity to play with good musicians. We will all come to the table with the gifts that God has given us and we will give back to Him in the form of praise and edification and glorification and celebration AND we will do it together. I must get to work with an agenda ASAP for our first meeting.
I am also on the creative worship planning team. We met last night for the first time. It has been very easy for us to put together Sunday service so far and this worries us a little. We want to be fresh and new and creative. We want to use all methods at our disposal to point our town to the living Christ. We felt it was important for us to begin to really plan for creativity, lest we get caught in a rut. It is important to us that every service have continuity and connectedness. Creativity yes, but also purposeful intent. We want the sermon or faith talk topic to be the centre piece. Scripture and music will support the theme. Creativity such as drama, film, decor, service order, apparel, should be use to accentuate and puncuate the message. We want simplicity yet complexity. While "production" can be a sore point for some, we want our services to be "produced" and almost like an "event". YET, our orthodox beleifs demand that we maintain some of the essentials. for example, we share communion every sunday.
Our message is ultra Evangelical. Our intent is not so much to equip our people, but to kick them out into our community to serve and learn as we go. We are tired of the concept of gathering in our safe places to "learn" while our towns and communities are dying. We believe that God wants us out in our communities serving so that people can see Christ through us. We dont want to be a come and see church, but a go and do church. We want a culture of community servanthood. We encourage interaction with "less fortunate" or those who practice alternate lifestyle. With love and a spirit of "non confrontation" or judgmentalism, we will serve and interact with a great big Jesus smile on our face. As we live our faith before others, they will see. They will sense. They will begin to yearn to return to the Father.
After 4 beers at a local tavern, one fellow finally got enough nerve to ask me a "religious" question. I knew it was a question that he had wanted to ask. I knew he wanted to talk. When he felt safe enough he did. I am not a drinker but I like a drink. I tend to nurse my drinks. I dont particularly care for the language and culture in the bar. In fact it makes me feel sad. As I over hear and listen to surrounding conversation I am struck at how much people truly need Jesus. I find myself wishing and praying that their lives would be changed. That "fun loving misery" always proves shallow and trapping. Its like a dog returning to its vomit. Through that, I see hurting, needing people. Having a strong sense of "Christ in me", I feel compassion and yes love. It makes me want to return to that sorry place. I know they know that I am a Christian and I think it puzzles them a little, yet they welcome me. Its like us Christians are aliens. I force myself to go there twice a month. I dont preach. I drink and eat and take part in conversation.
My friend Ron frequents the same bar in town. He is not a drinker either. He goes for the food. He has become kinda like "the wise man" amongst the bar gooers. They seek his advice and they download their problems to him. He is gracious and listens, provides guidance and advice. He also welcomes them to faith. He is NOT an evangelist in the term that we think, yet he is a quiet giant. He is not afraid of this place. He eats there daily with God's glow about him.
Well its late and I should actually go to bed. I tihnk I rambled a bit...oh well.
blessings to you and yours and remember to practice some form of random kindness today.
