Monday, January 12
An inaugural day...
Yesterday was our first day at our new venue at 4 Market Square. What a great day. Lots of excitement, lots of people, lots of thankfulness to God for such a great gift.We worshipped together, studied together (Jacob wrestling with God---the origin of the name Crossings), and dined together around the Common Table.
Below are some pictures…as well as some 'wins' that I received via different e-mails throughout today…
I've been thinking about this morning all day! I just absolutely love coming and being a part of a community that is real, that asks hard questions, and that invites God to attack us at the river. I love watching God work and I loved watching Him this morning! From Kid City to hospitality to every part of the worship service, it was evident that He was involved and a part of all of it! When I think about the last 3 years...and all that God has done...I am speechless. This community is incredible to be a part of and such a blessing!
One thing that yesterday was not, to my delight, was FRANTIC. It just wasn't. Almost like we all understood, corporately, that we can't fail for the same reason that we can't win. This is all God's. Even our response to what He is doing, the fact of our giving of time, talents and resources, is not ours. We're points along the riverbed. Everything we have came from somewhere upstream, beyond our horizon. We get to take part in the rushing of the healing water going by us, getting wet in the process, soaked, and wonderfully drenched in God's purposeful, joyful, raging, healing fury. It's all God's, all good, and we get to do it all again next week.
I was "working the stairwell" for Kids' City just as the first service was beginning yesterday. Upon the strike of Bill's first chord, tears started streaming down my face, and I couldn't stop them. Yesterday was a culmination of so much... we each have our own personal journey which has paralleled the journey of Crossings. It was like sending a child to kindergarten for the first time... that bittersweet feeling of overwhelming pride with a touch of loss for the memories and comfort of "the known. I am exceedingly honored to be on this journey with all of you.
Everything about the day was great... After wandering around Knoxville for 4 years trying to find a church home, I was pretty discouraged and frankly, pretty mad at God. How could I have imagined the bigger things he had in store for Debbie and me, it just had to be His timing, not ours. We are so fortunate to be part of this faith community, I look forward to lots more questions…
Mark Nelson at 7:40 PM 4comments
4 Comments
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at 4:48 PM
Kristin said... I'm still amazed at how God is working!
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at 4:17 PM
said... If the previous commentor is who I think it is, let me just say this....I don't think I've ever seen anyone in a more continuous state of "goosebumpyness" than she was last Sunday morning. It was awesome.
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at 10:14 AM
Derek said...
Hey Mark, I just wanted to take a minute to say how excited I am for Crossings, and in a very selfish way that I wish you were about 7 1/2 hours north in Indiana so we could be there to be a part of it every week and worship with you. It has been hard finding a church we feel connected with, and actually have a desire to go to and have some accountability with. I look forward to our next visit, during Johnson homecoming probably. Anyways for now, I will keep up with Crossings and your people through blogs and comments.
derek grant-
at 10:58 AM
said...
i miss you all so much! i was praying for you all yesterday morning! sooo glad it went well! costa rica says hi!
molly aper