church unplugged

Working with networks of churches in and out of Japan, we are seeking to streamline relief efforts.  See the facebook page Working and Praying for Japan earthquake victims.

I want to ask a simple question: What will service in the name of Jesus look like in a post-Christendom world?

1. Here’s the scenario.  For about 1,700 years–from shortly after the Edict of Milan in 313 until the twentieth century, the church (in a multiplicity of forms) was at the center of western society.  But arguably, not now.
2. I believe followers of Christ are not called simply to endure the evils of the world around us, nor to escape from them.  Rather, we are called to follow Christ into the most hurting parts of our world and meet God’s Spirit who is presumably already there working on the hearts of God’s beloved-but-fallen.
3. So what will that look like for ours and future generations?

What will it mean for the orphanage, hospital, retirement home, halfway house, etc. that no longer has the support of the big churches in town?  What will it mean for us when a large church’s participation in such a noble institution can no longer be the active participation of a few individuals and money from the rest?

Join us for dinner tomorrow (Saturday) night from 6-8:30pm in the home of Yukari and Daniel Garcia (2328 Avenue D).  Special guest Curtiss Proctor will be with us to share about opportunities for ministry with the local prison as well as a recovery house ministry.

This is it, folks.  It’s no good to talk about redemption and not practice it.  Come explore, and let’s equip each other for service.

Just bring yourselves, an appetite and an open heart and mind.  As always, kids are welcome.

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Sunday morning in Looking & Listening, we’ll begin with the question, “where have you seen God this week?” and move on to continue our discussion of the nature and centrality of the kingdom of God in the ministry of Jesus.  All are welcome!

Join us this coming Sunday evening in the home of Carolyn and James Thompson for a meal, fellowship, and to dialogue with Barbara and C. G. Gray about the After School Reading Program–a ministry that serves children with various reading challenges in the public school system.

When C. G. first shared some anecdotes about this ministry with me, I was impressed by the simplicity of this unassuming service.  He shared with me about a little second grader who was, in addition to his learning challenges, not really being treated fairly by the school.  I was waiting to hear what would happen when this little boy entered third grade this year… when C. G. jumped to the part of the story where that little boy is now married–and he and C. G. still keep in touch!

If C. G. didn’t have my attention yet, I saw him the next week at the church building with a couple of the young students he is currently reading with–when both boys suddenly recognized me!  One is my neighbor, the other visits his grandmother in our neighborhood.  Talk about close to home.

The After School Reading Program is currently seeking volunteers to read with school-aged children.  Come join us and find out how you might help!

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Tomorrow in Looking & Listening at 9AM, we will be picking up the discussion of what it means for the church to be part of God’s mission with this question:

2.  Let’s assume the central message of Jesus’ ministry was the kingdom of God/heaven.  Okay, so what is it?  How do we know?  Is it here already?  Still coming?  Both? (By the way, here is a good intro to the subject, if you are so inclined.)

Bring your Bible to class, forward this message to your friends, and may God bless you by working through you this week!

LOFT

Thanks so much to Bicky and Carin for coming and sharing with us about the awesome ministry to which God has led you!  It is inspiring to hear of the transformation God brings about–not only in the lives of the single moms and their families, but also in yours and others who are touched by the community LOFT is fostering.

Two things stood out to me from our discussion: the first is that you demonstrate the possibility of ministering to/with others whose situation is different from your own.  Neither Bicky nor Carin are single moms, yet they have made the jump across the barrier of diverse experiences and formed meaningful relationships with these ladies.  Secondly, by ‘just doing it’ you are chiseling away at the barriers created by an image of an overly-tidy church.  None of us has it all together, and in our heart of hearts, we know that.  But sometimes those on the other side don’t know that or get that impression.  Thanks for not surrendering to the power of a facade that none of us wants anyway.

*** Please watch the menu bar at the top of this screen for an upcoming link to Opportunities to Serve where you can find details for how you can get involved on the ground.

First of all, it’s going to be organic (as opposed to petrified…), meaning we’re a work in progress and we know it.

That said, the vision is basically what’s already been presented on churchunplugged.org, but here’s a little more for how I hope the flow will go over the next few weeks:

I’d like to start within existing churches (in this case University Church of Christ) and help connect young adults with existing ministries that serve the community beyond the church. UCC has several, so we’ll start there (like an ESL program, a ministry for single moms, an after school reading program, Spanish ministries, and the Christian Service Center). On Sunday mornings, we’re going to explore what it means to be part of Gods mission to transform the world according to His will. On weekend evenings (like the dinner some of you came to last week) we’ll bring in different representatives of the aforementioned ministries and investigate ways we might get involved.

That’s the beginning anyway. We’re working toward community transformation on one side and church paradigm shift on the other.  And we’re looking for long-term, sustainable service.  So it may take just a little while to get rolling.  But we will.

Suggestions?