Saturday Church??

Hey there my fellow planter / bloggers...ploggers maybe?

At my meeting with Craig (our coach) last Wednesday, he suggested that we have a conversation about doing church on Saturday evening as opposed to Sunday morning. One enormous advantage is that there are a couple of "Sunday morning only" churches in our location who might be willing to let us use their facility and their equipment on Saturday night for a small fee. This would save us all of the work of setting up / tearing down each week--which for a small church would be a lot of work for us.

The biggest concern I have about this is whether or not people who are unchurched would be willing to make a commitment to a Saturday night gig.

However, one of our options might be to do the Saturday night thing for the first 6 months and then find someplace else when we felt like we had a few more of the startup bugs worked out.

I'd love to hear your thoughts about this. But, I'd also like for us to talk it through. Would it be possible for us to meet next Saturday morning, the 4th of November? Say 9:30? Where? I'm not sure. You're all welcome to come to our place, although I know that's a bit of a hike for many of you. Let's hear some replies on the Saturday meeting AND on the Saturday church. Thanks everyone!
Ryan

Salt & Light

Here’s another name for everyone to try on. Forgive me for being hung up on Jesus’ parables. I guess there are worse things, right!?

Salt & Light: A transformational, missional community of Christ followers

Matthew 5:13"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

I like it because I think the parable really speaks to who we are seeking to be. Transformational—if we lose our saltiness, what good are we? Missional—let your light shine before men… Community—gives light to everyone in the house.

Process and pray my friends. You’re in my thoughts today…and everyday.

-Ryan
[10/19/06]

Journey

I enjoyed this writing for a couple reasons.

#1 - It's a testament to the "journey" (now that I really have Crystal/Brooke/Shannon's attention) that we're all on in that not one of us will ever have it all figured out or have all the answers. And, we should be comfortable with that.

#2 - Because I used to struggle w/ legalism (and still do occasionally, although it hasn't been externalized in years), I'm so grateful for what Grace has done in my life.
Check it. Hope you dig. >>>

-Amos
[10/18/06]
http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god_article.php?id=7233

Vintage Faith Site

http://www.vintagefaith.com/links.html#blogs

Honestly, I'm praying that we'll all 'know' the name when we hear it. I'm not sure we've stumbled on it yet. Keep thinking and praying!

-Ryan
[10/18/06]

Re:Fresh

In reading through my Twelve Ordinary Men study (leading through it with my men's group), I came across Levi's calling into discipleship once again. But, I read the 17th verse of Mark Chapter 2 in a new way this time. Emphasis in parentheses in that passage is mine.

The Calling of Levi
13Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. 14As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him. 15While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the "sinners" and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"

17On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but
(re:fresh) sinners."

True to the "emerging" model, this plant isn't intended to directly reach those who have are well, but to clarify the Call to those who are sick.

Also re: "re:fresh"...
an agency: http://www.refresh-agency.com/
a spa: http://www.24hourfitness.com/html/company/refresh/
a vineyard: http://www.vineyardrefresh.com/
a conference: http://www.refreshconference.com/
a party: http://www.emcdc.com/images/email/09-28-06-lush.jpg

-Amos
[10/17/06]

The Bloc

What do you guys think of these?: They might need a word in conjunction to complete the message.

The Bloc: "a: a combination of persons, groups, or nations forming a unit with a common interest or purpose b: a group of nations united by treaty or agreement for mutual support or joint action"

Traverse: "to make one's way through, across, or over" Synonyms: cover, crisscross, cross, cut (across), follow, go, pass (over), proceed (along), travel

Native Rapport: "relation marked by harmony, conformity, accord, or affinity" Synonyms: communion, fellowship, rapprochement Related
Words: accord, agreement, concord, harmony; oneness, solidarity, togetherness, unity; affinity, empathy, sympathy, understanding; amity, chumminess, companionship, friendship; reciprocity, symbiosis

-micah
[10/17/06]

Mustard Seed

OK, I have a name suggestion. I'm holding on to this loosely, so if you guys don't like it, you won't hurt my feelings. Give it a taste, swish it around, let it soak in and then give your thoughts. Cool? Here goes...

Mustard Seed Church: A transformational, missional community of Christ followers

Or, it could just be Mustard Seed...without the church. Check out Matthew 13:31 and Matthew 17:20 to understand some of the symbolism that I feel is fitting. I welcome your thoughts.

-Ryan
[10/3/06]