i am - encouraged
After returning from Nashville, where I attended the Emergent Convention, I have been struggling with myself to figure out how God is going to use me at Good Shepherd. I feel like I have been talking non-stop about the convention and about how I learned so much and was impacted, to the core, through different parts of the convention. Solomon's Porch being one of them. (IKON was pretty sweet too.)
While at the Solomon's Porch gathering, God totally showed me what it means to worship Him in community - what it means to break bread with one another - what it means to love each other as Christ has called us to. Incredible.
Today, while I was talking with one of the women in my office, I mentioned something to her about the youth retreat that I'm planning for this fall and having some form of "alternative worship" within it. She totally got freaked out by that name "alternative worship." She thought I meant some cult-like thing or, as she said, "alternative, as in, 'alternative lifestyle'?" From there I went on to explain the Solomon's Porch gathering as an example of alternative worship. She was totally blown away by the intentionality in it all. She was so, not impressed but intrigued by it all that she wants to attend something like it. Knowing that she and her husband are traveling to the UK next month, I suggested the alternative worship site that has a list of gatherings around the world. She was excited looking through the list of all of the places that she and her husband could attend. I was excited by the fact that this woman is in her late 40's early 50's and was excited about worshiping God "outside of the box."
It's encouraging to see people in my worship community have a light spark in them when I mention the emerging church and "new" (actually old) ways of worshipping God. It's encouraging to see people in my worship community as frustrated as I am about the state of the church.
I've said it so many times before - and I'll say it again -
Don't go to church - - Be the church.
peace all,
~Jenna
While at the Solomon's Porch gathering, God totally showed me what it means to worship Him in community - what it means to break bread with one another - what it means to love each other as Christ has called us to. Incredible.
Today, while I was talking with one of the women in my office, I mentioned something to her about the youth retreat that I'm planning for this fall and having some form of "alternative worship" within it. She totally got freaked out by that name "alternative worship." She thought I meant some cult-like thing or, as she said, "alternative, as in, 'alternative lifestyle'?" From there I went on to explain the Solomon's Porch gathering as an example of alternative worship. She was totally blown away by the intentionality in it all. She was so, not impressed but intrigued by it all that she wants to attend something like it. Knowing that she and her husband are traveling to the UK next month, I suggested the alternative worship site that has a list of gatherings around the world. She was excited looking through the list of all of the places that she and her husband could attend. I was excited by the fact that this woman is in her late 40's early 50's and was excited about worshiping God "outside of the box."
It's encouraging to see people in my worship community have a light spark in them when I mention the emerging church and "new" (actually old) ways of worshipping God. It's encouraging to see people in my worship community as frustrated as I am about the state of the church.
I've said it so many times before - and I'll say it again -
Don't go to church - - Be the church.
peace all,
~Jenna
posted by Jennifer at
4:15 PM
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