Saturday at ZION

Clothing Giveaway and community cookout this Saturday from 9:00 to 1:00 pm. Over 20 Zion people have been engaged in the preparations for this grace event. A new group, the MOZ (Men of Zion) has formed. May GOD send neighbors to receive. May GOd contine to increase the spirit of generosity and openness to neighborhood currently working in some leaders at ZION.
There is a real spirit of renewal happening right now that I hope we can capitalize on it in the months ahead. There is energy, an amazing power. I pray that Saturday bears fruit that tastes so good that Zion people want more...When God's people taste the goodness of GOD experienced in mission, the spirit of service and generosity is contagious. May it spread like widlfire through the community of believers who gather at Zion this weekend. And I hope that I am offered an opportunity to proclaim, to share, and to welcome people. The one who began a good work in us will be faithful to complete it. maywe see the fruit of our ministry this weekend.

Bonnie and javateas

This morning Mark Rutter and I went to javateas for coffee and conversation, both of which were excellent. Mark is a great guy with great potential. Its interesting to hear someone reflect on themselves and their dreams and hopes for life improvement post-unemployment. Mark may join the national guard's army or air force band. That way he can get his college degree on the army's dollar. Good idea. He'll make a good high school band director in a few years.
So while I'm enjoying my warm double chocolate muffin and coffee, a woman enters. She is dressed in a long black tee shirt that said "Yay, God" in white. She had very long dark hair and bad teeth. She seemed anxious. She came in and out several times. As we're talking she overhears us. She approaches me and asks for prayer. She also asks to use my cell phone. So, I pray for her, let her use my cell phone, and give her $3.00 for lunch. Her name is bonnie. She is a poor soul in need of healing and help. i prayed that GOD would send people/angels to offer her God's grace and mercy. I pray that she seeks to walk in God's ways and to know God's constant presence and support.
Now, what evolved was a connection with Sara and Courtney, two christians working at javateas. They were concerned about what to do for bonnie. They were, I think, relieved that I was there to help, pray, etc...I told them to refer people to me, to use me as a pastor-in-residence. I think I need to be there every week or every other week as a third place, a mediating place, a front porch point-of-contact with the community. God has been sending me there for over a year now. Every time I ignore the call, something happens there to remind me that it is a place in which God is sending me in order to serve. I've led worship there on a Sunday night. We tried to initiate a Wednesday night conversation time. maybe its time to renew a relationship with them in order to meet people. No matter, its a great place to eat and drink and blog...

Leadership training Camp

I sent three senior high students to Christian leadership training camp. They came back and it changed them. They want more. More from their church ,more from themselves, more from GOD. We spent an hour making plans already. They want to lead worship on Sunday nights at 6:00 that is mission-focused, deeply relational, and highly participatory. They want intimacy in worship and in learning, with opportunities to serve in and outside the congregation. They want to hug and sing and make a difference. They want to feel like they are part of something bigger than themselves that also depends on them, even though it transcends them. They want to share what happened with the congregation in preaching next weekend. I am so excited about this! What will happen next? I intend to make the space they need to be the church now. I hope we have laid the foundation and that people around us are ready for something to happen. Because I believe it is happening now. And we can't stop it. We can try. but we will fail. This is a GOD thing. And God will be faithful to complete the good work begun in them,
They want to invite everyone. They want to listen, learn, share, worship, and live a new way. They are starting to get it. They need their spirit to become contagious enough to build a church here, a church which will emerge from their experience as a community of faith.
May the Spirit not be quenched by unbelief, fear, and a lot of other adult nonsense. May they find support, encouragement, and a wellspring of Spiritual power to do and be disciples of Jesus. "Let no one reject you becasue you are young, but set the beleivers an example in speech, action, and in the spiritual walk you are taking." May they hear receive this Word from GOD for them.

facebook

I'm new to this popular online community called facebook. Not sure what its worth yet. Wondering if it is a venue for interaction or not...I can see the potential of exponential growth as one gets connected to others through 'friends'. I can see how it can become a long-distance relationship tool, too. And a way to reconnect with people.
I'm not sure how it is being used by people in a relational way yet. I've not really had an opportunity, but I'm willing to see what happens.
Maybe this is a new way to build or be a church? An online community of faith? What might that be like? And what would be the downside? Is it even possible to belong to a community of faith that gathers only online? Or is there an intimate relational piece that requires physical proximity? Does the incarnational aspect of church assume bodily presence? And how is bodily presence mediated, as sacramental people? For Lutherans Christ is really present in, with, and under the bread and wine.This means that when we eat the rbead and drink the cup, Jesus shows us somehow, and this is a mystery. And this mystery is not to be solved but enjoyed for what it is. Could the web become a sacramental reality, mediating the body of Christ to a generation of people? Or is it a way to avoid the vulnerability and truth of actual closeness? How can you share peace and not touch? Does anyone have any opinions or experiences with this? I see how blogging has drawn people together in some regards, but I wonder about forming community online.