Worship 3

Today was our first real attempt to explore emerging churches. They are sometimes hard to find and I'm not sure we really found one today. The church had been around for about 9 years. They are very casual, meet in a warehouse, have some really great music, love each other and love Christ. What more could you ask for?

It is obvious they value relationships. They list the starting time as 10:30 but that is when they gather to hang out, drink coffee and get ready. Maybe 15 or 20 minutes later they start to sing. After 5 or 10 minutes they greeted each other. But, it was different. The music stopped. The musicians came down and talked to people and all over they actually had conversations. We learned about the nurse behind us, the social worker who played the bass, and a few others. Their Mission Statement is: The Well, a community of people who seek to be formed around the scriptures and prayer... They seem to be that.

They read scripture several times, discussed it sort of back and forth for 10 minutes - they call it reading scriptures as a community. Then a visiting friend from Regent Seminary, he came home due to lack of funds, gave one of the best sermons I have heard in a long time. His name is Jason Ostrander, remember it, the Lord is going to use him in interesting ways down the road.

I am going to start another thread this week on "The Emerging Church", but one of the important things I have read and observed about this movement or trend is that they value authenticity. The Well, exhibited that today.

Interesting too that the pastor, Todd Hiestand, is also a student at Biblical. Probably in some classes with last week's pastor. I wasn't looking for Biblical grads or students but seem to keep bumping into them.

PS They served communion, again in intincture (947 style). Only this time you served yourself at the table and there was a loaf of French bread you took and tore off a piece before dipping it in the cup.

Worship 2

Yesterday we went to two churches - mother and daughter. The daughter, currently about 100 in attendance, was an interesting mix of casual and formal. The pastor spoke on the paradox of God choosing us even as we are called to choose him. (Very reformed.)

This church, which I thought was emerging (more on that later) was, by the pastor's definition missional (more on that too in coming blogs). The service was similar to our 947 but quieter and brighter. They even did communion in the same way.

The mother church was about our size, had two services, one very formal the other a blend. This particular blend seemed to be in conflict with itself. So which one was better. In both, the people were worshiping. In both they were fellowshipping. (The daughter church encouraged everyone to stay for coffee and doughnuts, the mother church encouraged folks to stay for water ice.) Perhaps the biggest difference was the message, it was really much more biblically based in the daughter church. But that had very little to do with style. Now I am prejudiced, but I suspect the key to worship, at least for me, is just that - faithfully hearing from God.

Worship 1

One of my goals this summer is to study different worship styles in all kinds of different churches. I started last Sunday by worshipping at North Point Community Church, where Andy Stanley is the Senior Pastor.

The church has multiple services at two identical auditoriums. This week Andy was starting a series on Directions. Really good stuff (downloadable from their website). The service started with some very cool video segments, then an interactive skit, stressing following directions. The Host was guided by a computer On-Star type voice and selected someone from the congregation who then "found" a reward worth $100. It was very engaging. The band and singers then led in about 20 minutes of singing, followed by a very efficient offering taken to a music video, then Andy preached.

It was a great teaching environment and a great teaching/learning experience overall. Andy's points from Proverbs 27 - "direction determines destination" and "the path trumps intentions" left no doubt about the meaning of the Proverb, and was the kind of message our world really needs to hear.

So, was that worship? Obviously it was for some.

Friends

Before actually getting started on this Sabbatical adventure, I planned some vacation time with my son Rob in West Palm Beach. We spent most of the time ripping out his kitchen and then wondering how to put it back together. (We're still wondering.) Other than work we just "hung out". We had a great time just spending the time together. However, while we were hanging out, I met some of his friends. He seems to have thousands. Great folks who just love being around for one another and helping one another. It was a very New Testament experience in a non church setting. No real expectations just a general sense of acceptance and love. It made me really appreciate friends.

Starting the sabbatical officially in Florida, where I had left my car, I met my friend (I have fewer of them it seems than my son) and we are spending the week driving. Our only planned destination is Atlanta to visit North Point and sit under Andy Stanley. More on that later. But traveling with this friend, who has been in my life for about 25 years and has been sort of spiritual big brother, is already turning out to be a great way to start this spiritual adventure. The idea of the church was and is after all fellowship - koinonia. More than just a chat over coffee, it seems to be just a simple ongoing investment in someone else's life. So here we are spending a week in each others lives, in an unhurried exploration of the world around us. It's actually a fairly unique experience for me. (lesson 1?)

Good Morning!

This is the first post in my new blog. My hope is that by posting my experiences this summer as I am on my sabbatical, I can allow those in the congrgation to easily follow my journey as God leads me.

Not only can read what I post on here, but you can respond once you've registered (a simple process). I'm looking forward to hearing from you.

Pastor Bob