As I sit in front of the blank screen, I'm asking myself why I'm writing this post. Well, first, writing a blog helps me clarify thoughts, ideas, hopes, dreams and concerns. The blogging process lets me explore and bring to the fore what's been percolating in my heart or resonating in my head. Sometimes it's cathartic; sometimes it answers questions with which I'm wrestling. Most times, I merely want to share what's on my mind.
Today's post is my way of articulating what I hope we'll accomplish, or at least, be heading resolutely toward in 2012. The list is not exhaustive nor is this my "Encyclical" to the church (as if I even had that place, authority or influence in the imagine community, or thought it important). I know, too, that imagine/Northampton is God's to do with as he wishes. I want him to be glorified in, through and by what we do: "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." He's the point. He's the means. He's the end. Ours is to obey what he desires.
Having said the above, I'm just sharing my heart a little bit:
1. We'd move to a new place where we could worship through song, where there's room enough to grow, play music with a Worship Team, and have a better place for imagineKIDS.
2. imagine/Northampton would grow, especially from new believers.Those who stay would be be plugged in and using their gifts in the Kingdom mission we have.
3. Young or new leaders would emerge and be equipped to take responsibility in leading the imagine mission in some way.
4. A Creative Arts Team would coalesce, and add to the quality, beauty and impact of our worship as well as connecting to Northampton and its arts community.
5. The CHAPTER TWO of imagine/Northampton's story (CHAPTER ONE being we're planting a church - we're planted), would be told and established effectively.
6. We'd take productive steps toward the vision of a 3rd Place in Northampton.
7. We'd grow our base of supporters, including internally.
8. 1FlightUP (our jazz trio) would establish a place in the Pioneer Valley arts community and make a difference.
9. All of us in imagine/Northampton be emboldened to graciously help anyone discover the God who is far more than they imagine.
10. Our ministry to kids would develop into one of the main reasons families come to imagine.
11. All of us would have a deepened love for Jesus, his way of life, and for people who don't know him.
12. The inward/OUTWARD Missional Small Group beginning in January would launch and establish a model for imagine's small group missional culture.
May it be as He has given, and may the above, be at the very least, a part of what He's given.
3 comments:
So you want a "church"? Really? Kinda like all the other churches in the valley with their money sucking facilities? their Sunday to Sunday obsessions with planning and decorating for their main events? their tax-exempt status and requisite hierarchies and power struggles? Easy. No problem. It's what most believers and nonbelievers imagine when they think of God and Christianity. It's the cultural default setting. Heck, in this country you don't really even need God to make one happen, given all the disaffected church hoppers who are ready, willing, and able to hop on board the next sweet new churchy thing and ride it til it proves no different than their last fifteen loose affiliations. I don't know, bro. But I hope you know I love you and am praying for imagine/Northampton. "Listen to Him."
Well, the fact is we are a church, no matter our cultural configuration. However, you need not fear we're bolting for safer harbors or the shifting winds of accommodation. We'll not so easily surrender our summons to the imagine Kingdom mission.
The heart of imagine/Northampton still beats strong. We are connecting. We are slowly becoming part of the fabric. We don't look like Churchianity very much. So, our Chapter Two will not read, "How We Settled for Status Quo 7.0.
At the same time, we still think Sunday morning (or whenever people worship),is given a key piece of the task of enticing them into the mysterium tremendum. Art, dance, music, play, laughter, prayer, teaching, and silence should quiet the restless heart, quicken the famished mind, and awaken the slumbering spirit. At its core, I'm still convinced gathering should be unabashedly galvanizing for mission the remaining 166 hours of the week. Sundays that leave imagineolians wide-eyed, illuminated, and drawing a spiritual bead on following Jesus, are Sundays we want to keep working toward creating.
And the 3rd Place I mention is where we want to plant an oasis in Northampton for the distracted, overwhelmed, burdened, and alone. We want a place where the table is full of grace, the food and drink are subtly amazing, and it all creates an atmosphere which opens a person to just sit a spell.
This place will also be an estuary for creative gestating and showcasing. Jobs will be offered, maybe even for people who toppled over in body and spirit long ago. We have the talent to do it this piece of the Northampton task...did I mention we need a poet and singer, hmmm?
Oh yeah, did I also mention a church might meet there on Sundays?
We just have to follow hard after the Spirit into his future for us.
So, we're not hopping the express to "new churchy thing." We're slow-footing it to where we've been trying to head since Day One.
Questions?
Good and holy Jesus, I love you, man! And I do trust your commitment to listening to Him. As you know, we too are listening and excited with you for the possibilities there. Rather than think of you as a church, I prefer to think of you as a minyan of the New Order—"wherever two or three are gathered" in Jesus' name—a local expression of the ecclesia tou theou. But perhaps I'm an incurable quibbler, a mere hair-splitter, a kid with a decades old aversion to churchianity. Can't wait until we can get in some hang time early in the new year..., and another round of place & possibility. Grace & peace.
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