What I Like about my Church

I really like the church I go to. I like the people and I like the leadership. I feel blessed to have known each and every person on the leadership team and in congregation. I like the direction we are heading. I like the acceptance that is practiced. Pastor Richard told us today that this is no bait and switch. This is the real deal. We are to form true relationships with all people, and most especially those who are in need. These relationships we develop with people that we would otherwise not associate with MUST be genuine. We are to throw away preconceived ideas and simply reach to those who are in need. This is to be done from the heart as a natural response, not as a show, but as a genuine reaction because we understan that very little seperates us.

We have a growing attendance of " Them". oh boy, first time I said "people like you" to my good friend Brenda, she called me on it...bless her heart. She made me stop and think about that word. That seperation that exists between...shall I say haves or have nots, or maybe those with homes and those without, or those with addictions and those without. Whatever the circumstance, we find ourselves lining up in our comfort zones and we divide each other. Lets face it...it can be awkward. People can be so differant. Yet when you associate or take interest in "needy people" ...doh...help me find a $&*%# correct word.....You find that they have value. The sum of ALL seems to be brought up when the least is cared for. I'm kinda wandering a bit because I am uncomfortable about the labels I am placing on the less advantaged people in our congregation. I am proud that they are accepted in our fellowship. I am proud that they are welcome. I am pleased that they are able to get up in the middle of a sermon to go for a quick smoke. I am pleased that no one looks down on them or passes judgement. We know in our hearts that some day they WILL be able to sit through an entire service without needed to go for a smoke. That will be on Gods time, not ours. I am pleased that that we have a light atmosphere with tables and gourmet coffee. I am really happy that a growing number of recovering people are attending our church and asking about God and wanting healing, deliverance, acceptance, growth, freindship.

I am so pleased that we continue to grow in numbers. Our numbers are growing with people genuinely seeking. People who knew God at one time but somehow got lost, people who know in their heart that our mighty God is worthy of the journey, people who have known God for a short time and people who have known God for a long time. All walks of life, poor, rich, middle, single, married, families. HHMM. We dont have many older people. That is a shame. We would benefit from elder people. They do however, have a number of churches in town that they attend. We are perhaps a little irreverrent or untraditional in our approach.. Oh and our music is maybe a little loud.

I love our Praise team! We have a bunch of really fine musicians. Today I led. The Theme of the day was Hot Seat Sunday. People have been submitting questions about our faith and our Pastor answers the questions. This was the second week and we have one more hot seat next sunday. I logged onto the CCLI website to pick the songs and there on the front page was CCLI Top 10 Worship somgs. So I picked the top 7. We had acoustic and electric guitar, bass, drums and a vocalist. We rocked. The electric guitar player knows how to make that instrument sing! I love high energy worship! I know its perhaps irreverent to suggest that we "rocked" but the reality is, each and every one of us loves to worship in this way. We love to worship with everything we got. We love to express our love for God through music, using the talents He gave us. I guess it comes down to cultural or traditional values.

A large number of teens come on there own. I know that many have parents who attend some of the other churches in town. I know some felt led here with no prior church experience. I know that they seem to bring a lot of freinds. I am pleased that our atmosphere allowsfor these teens to experience worship without judgement. Piercings, tattoos, wild hair colours, intersting fashion statements.....they all add to the wonderful mosiac of us God followers. What a wonderful kalidascope of people. Kids are smart. We value kids. We hired a youth Pastor as soon as we could. He is admired by all the youth in town regardless of spiritual beleif. He is engaging them and they are talking. Its cool.

I love my church because we celebrate communion every sunday. Our communion is self serve and open to all who beleive. Its between you and God so we dont pass judgement on anyone who does or does not partake. I especially love that after service, the kids pour out of the program and straight to the communion plate for fresh bread. I love it that they are not scolded for this.

I love my church because I beleive that this is the place He has called me to worship Him. He said in His word that there would come a time when we would worship, not here or there, but in the spirit and in truth.

Today our numbers were over 100. Our meeting place is still under construction. Only half the buiding is usable and we are meeting amidst dry wall and 2x6's. We finally have one working toilet after several weeks of a very cold "johny on the spot" outhouse.

New people continue to come. I love meeting new poeple. I love to welcome people. I love to have coffee and converse with them. Oh and now when I say "them" I mean everyone! Them is becoming an inclusive word and I have found that I am one of "them"