Friday, August 28
The Roseto Mystery…
I began last Sunday’s teaching with these words: “In the book Outliers, Malcom Gladwell tells the story of a small town in Italy called Roseto Valfortore.” At that point I had the crowd practice with me saying “Roseto Valfortore!”, with as much Italian flair as a bunch of Knoxvillians could muster.I told them if we said it the right way, it would suddenly feel like Italy in the room…
At the cue, the song ‘O Sole Mio’ came up, about a dozen people began walking through the audience throwing out Italian bread and goodies, people were dressed in chefs outfits, a dinner table right off of Mulberry Street was set up on stage, and a backdrop was dropped from the ceiling. (Chase and Emily Doane, once again, came through for us by painting this beautiful canvas which hung above the stage.)
After the Italian transformation was complete we entered into the story of Roseto, Pa and spoke of the power of community.
The morning was designed around the big idea of how being in community changes our lives. We had a small group push with our yearly ‘Taste of Small Groups’ event after worship. (we had more signups for small groups that Sunday than any other ‘one’ day before)
It was a great day.
The story of Roseto found in Outliers is wonderful. Very few things I’ve ever seen illustrate the power of community better. It’s much too long to post here on my blog, but here’s a link if you’d like to read it. (or go and buy the book, the whole thing is great)
Mark Nelson at 10:36 AM 4comments
4 Comments
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at 10:10 PM
poogenaris said... You probably don't know who I am but I went to JBC and occasionally attended Crossings. For some reason when I was thinking about my favorite books tonight I thought about "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien and then even stranger, I thought about you. Just wondering if you've happened to read that one? For an even stranger reason, I feel exhilarated when I meet someone who has read - or will read - a book that I love...just to share in the experience I guess. I don't know. Anyway, I like reading your blog...your approach to Scripture and teaching is refreshing to me. If you haven't read the book, I think you might enjoy it.
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at 10:40 PM
said... i loved that sunday! could you put that quote you used by c.s. lewis in a reply to this? it is a grrrreat quote.
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at 11:37 AM
Mark Nelson said...
Betsy...here you go.
It's a quote by CS Lewis in response to Charles Willaims, one of the Inklings dying...
“In each of my friends there something that only some other friend can fully bring out. By myself I am not large enough to call the whole man into activity; I want other lights than my own to show all his facets. Now that Charles is dead, I shall never again see Ronald’s (Tolkien’s) reaction to a specifically Charles joke. Far from having more of Ronald, having him “to myself” now that Charles is away, I have less of Ronald…”-
at 11:40 AM
Mark Nelson said...
Poogenaris...
No, I haven't read 'The Things They Carried'...I just looked it up on line, it looks great, lots of accolades...
I am exactly the same way when I find someone who has read something I love...(that's why I feel like Buechner readers everywhere are a part of some great fraternity)...it's like you speak the same language...
Glad you like the blog...
I'll try and check out the book...