Friday, November 21

Learning how to make the move…

Last evening our Staff and a few of our leaders spent a couple of hours in our new venue. This venue, (which is going to be an absolutely amazing place for us to be), is almost finished. We move into the offices on 12.1.08 and begin worshipping there on 1.11.09.

As we make this transition from our movie theatre there is much for us to consider and work through…

During our time last evening…we began by pulling out the easel pad and listing the things that make up a Sunday morning experience at Crossings.

There are some very obvious, tangible pieces: worship, teaching, common meal, kids’ city, hospitality table, info table, etc. Those are the plain to see, and they contribute to the experience but they are not the experience.

Below are some of the things we listed… The reason for doing this is as we make the move to Market Square things will not look the same. There are a multiple of things that will change, be switched, done differently, etc.

But what is crucial for us as a faith community is that the ‘most important things’ must continue to be the ‘most important things’ in this new venue. We cannot lose any elements of this ‘sacred environment’ God creates for us each week…

Look at the list…Crossings people, what would you add?

-An environment where there is equality in the journey
-Questioning is encouraged, we’re taught to think and dialogue about our faith
-Our five values are evident every week…(Story, Wholeness, Restoration, Authenticity, Creativity)
-A community of openness…incredibly welcoming…
-Kids love being there…there is great anticipation each week from our kids
-A place where we feel like we can bring anyone
-There is very little ‘shoulding’, it’s about the ‘want to’
-A great philosophy when it comes to giving money
-A lot of laughter, humor
-A place where those who consider themselves ‘black sheep’, can find a place to call
-A spirit of excellence
-A safe place, a place where you can be anonymous if you want to, or find community for the first time
-A place where messy people reconnect each week
-There is a great sense of ‘shared ownership’
-The emphasis on the arts…and the story
-And all of this, everything, every week centered around ‘helping people find their way back to God’

Mark Nelson at 9:22 AM 4comments

4 Comments

at 10:27 PM  Kristin said...

yeah...it's a good list. Every time i think about any of the things on it...I think about how much I love our community...and how thankful I am for it. I'm excited about the move.

 

at 11:17 PM  Nicole said...

An environment for taking risks...

 

at 8:53 AM  Anonymous said...

A place where there is opportunity to serve ...

Where teaching is about learning and about questioning and never about judgement, where "standing on the desk" is valued ...

A place where we can enter into this incredible, amazing story ... and still make room for fantasy footbal!

 

at 9:54 AM  Anonymous said...

how about, where the gospel lives? you know where orthodoxy and orthopraxy combine?

 

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